News
MP backs Bill which will protect emergency service workers
STEPHEN CRABB MP has backed the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Bill with an open letter explaining his reasons.
The Preseli Pembrokeshire MP says that more must be done to protect those who work tirelessly to protect those in his constituency – and around the country as a whole.
Mr Crabb wrote: “Emergency workers such as the ambulance service, the fire brigade and the police do an outstanding job in putting their lives at risk to ensure our safety. They do this under very difficult circumstances. In recent months, their importance has been highlighted through their excellent response to events such as the Grenfell Tower disaster and the terror attacks.
“Pembrokeshire has one of the lowest crime rates in the UK, thanks to an excellent team of local police officers and PCSOs. Personally, I have had the privilege of accompanying the police on Saturday night shifts in my constituency and have seen and experienced first-hand what they go through, increasing my respect for them all the more.
“Yet for all the risks and difficulties that come with the job of being a police officer, being on the receiving end of assaults by members of the public, the very people they work to protect, should not be one of them. Sadly, this seems to be the case.
“The Police Federation of England and Wales estimates that a police officer is assaulted every four minutes. This is worrying and plainly unacceptable.
“As Calum Macleod, PFEW vice-chair notes, ‘Police officers are people too, and can be broken. They are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters and sons, and none of them deserve to go to work and get assaulted’.
“This is why I am proud to co-sponsor Chris Bryant’s private member’s bill – The Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Bill 2017. The Bill has received cross-party support and seeks to introduce new offences including wounding or assault when perpetrated against an emergency worker (or someone assisting them) in the performance of their duties.
“It further seeks to address situations where those suspected of assault may pose a health risk, including spitting. In this regard, they will be compelled to undergo blood tests. It will also be an offence to refuse to undergo such tests and it will lay down tough sentences for those convicted of these new offences.
“I have had a longstanding interest in policing. I have fought for fairer funding for the local police to ensure that they can work effectively across a large rural area. I have also hosted joint surgeries with PCSOs in some of the major towns in my constituency. Supporting this bill is another way of acting on this interest and standing in solidarity with the police who do an excellent job.
“The subject matter of the bill was the highest in response to Chris’s request for suggestions from the public when he came first in the private member’s bill ballot. The Protect the Protectors campaign, launched by the PFEW, highlights the assaults on police and is aimed at tackling this worrying trend of assault of police officers.
“The campaign seeks better protection for the police through a change in legislation, tougher sentences, better training and access to equipment, more accurate data on police assaults and improved welfare support.
“In addition to our recent increase to their pay, supporting this bill further demonstrates to the public and to our very able police forces that we listen to their concerns and act on them.
“The Conservative party is fully committed to protecting the public and the country’s public services, and supporting this bill is consistent with that aim. This is why I hope that many of my colleagues will support the bill so that it becomes law in order to truly protect those who protect us.”
Crime
Police appeal for information after several tractors stolen
POLICE officers in Pembrokeshire investigating a theft from several tractors, which happened overnight between April 17-18, 2024.
The tractors had been in a field near to Loch Turfin, Haverfordwest.
Included in the stolen items were vehicle keys, tools and waterproof clothing.
A spokesperson said “Police are now appealing for anyone with information that could help them with their investigation to contact PC 772 Boyt either through a direct message on social media, online at: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected] or by calling 101.
“Quote reference: 24*355571”
Community
Pembrokeshire firefighters help deliver fire engines to Ukraine
FIRE services from across the United Kingdom have rallied together to donate vital firefighting equipment to Ukraine, amidst ongoing conflicts that have seen local fire stations and firefighters come under direct attack.
The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) was at the forefront of this international goodwill effort, donating three fire appliances and dispatching nine of their personnel to ensure safe delivery.
The initiative, coordinated by Fire Aid UK, involved a total of 11 UK fire services. Over a grueling 5.5-day journey that spanned several countries—starting from Kent Fire and Rescue Service and moving through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and into Poland—33 fire appliances were transported to a location just 20 miles from the Ukraine border. They left Kent on April 23.
This convoy, laden with not just fire engines but also 3000 items of critical firefighting gear including cutting equipment, fire hoses, first aid kits, and generators, was a sight of resilience and humanitarian commitment. Watch Manager Rob MakePeace, a Business Fire Safety Officer, and Watch Manager Keith Jenkins, who is retired but still oversees part-time personnel at Haverfordwest, played pivotal roles in the operation from Pembrokeshire.
Speaking on the experience, Keith Jenkins expressed the profound impact of the mission, “It was a fantastic experience to be involved in. The convoy itself was an amazing sight, but the people we met, places we stayed and the reason we were delivering the appliances was something we will remember for a long time.”
The donation comes at a critical time for Ukraine, where daily attacks have not only jeopardized the lives of local firefighters but have also devastated much of the essential infrastructure needed to fight fires effectively. The additional appliances and equipment from the UK are expected to significantly bolster the capabilities of the Ukrainian fire departments, providing them with the necessary tools to save lives and protect property under dire circumstances.
This act of generosity and the strenuous efforts by the UK firefighters underscore a deep commitment to aiding those in peril, transcending borders and showcasing the best of international cooperation and humanitarian assistance.
News
Protest outside Stephen Crabb’s office over Rwanda deportations
SUPPORTERS of West Wales Stand Up to Racism group will attend a protest outside the office of Stephen Crabb MP in Market Street at 6pm on Tuesday evening (May 7).
The protest is to highlight the inhumane scheme to send refugees to Rwanda.
Since the Rwanda Bill was finally passed last week, refugees have already been identified, detained and are being prepared to be flown to Rwanda to have their asylum claims processed there.
Rushi Sunak has said “To detain people while we prepare to remove them, we’ve increased detention spaces to 2,200.
“To quickly process claims, we’ve got 200 trained, dedicated caseworkers ready and waiting. To deal with any legal cases quickly and decisively, the judiciary has made available 25 courtrooms and identified 150 judges who could provide over 5,000 sitting days.”
The protestors are asking: why is all this money being spent when these vulnerable people could have their asylum claims dealt with in the UK?
If the Prime Minister hoped his Rwanda plan would help get more votes for the Conservative Party in the recent elections, it would appear he was mistaken.
A new report from the Refugee Council warns that the UK Government’s flagship Illegal Migration Act and Rwanda Plan will lead to another catastrophic “system meltdown”, trapping over 100,000 people in permanent limbo while costing taxpayers billions.
West Wales Stand Up to Racism has campaigned against the Government’s plan to send refugees to Rwanda from the time this scheme was first suggested.
Supporters have previously met with Simon Hart MP and attempted to deliver a giant postcard to his office.
The group has taken part in the online Hands in Protest project organised by Artisan Avenue, Tenby which allowed everyone to express on line how they felt about Rwanda by submitting drawings of their own hands. The collective Hands In Protest gives a powerful message that the Rwanda plan should be stopped.
The organisers said: “Supporters will be once more taking the giant postcard on Tuesday, to protest about the Rwanda scheme. We will have small post cards for supporters to write messages to Stephen Crabb, telling him how strongly we feel about this.
“All over the UK, anti-racists are picketing Home Office buildings to show their opposition to the Rwanda scheme and are trying to prevent arrests and giving support to the refugees being arrested and detained.
“West Wales Stand Up to Racism supporters want to make their voices heard too.”
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