News

Children to receive domestic abuse support from schools

Published

8 years ago

February 15, 2018

CHILDREN and young people in Pembrokeshire who witness the distressing scenes of domestic abuse are now receiving support from their school the very next day.

About one in five children in the UK are exposed to domestic violence according to the NSPCC – and following an incident, they often go to school with little or no support.

‘Operation Encompass’ seeks to combat this.

The scheme means that the police will provide a report for schools before 9am the following day when a pupil has been exposed to a domestic abuse incident the previous evening.

The information is given in strict confidence to the school’s designated safeguarding officer to enable support to be given dependent on the needs and wishes of the child, said Alastair Birch from Pembrokeshire County Council.

“The key adult won’t raise the issue with the pupil but they will keep a very close eye on them and if there are any issues, practical or emotional, they will step in and help,” said Alastair, Equalities and Safeguarding senior system leader.

“The approach is ‘be aware, be prepared’.

“If they turn up with no uniform, they’ll be given a uniform. If they haven’t had breakfast, they’ll be given breakfast. If they want to talk, the adult is there to listen.

“It’s absolutely vital that we give early, quick support to that child or young person.”

Operation Encompass has been set up jointly by Pembrokeshire County Council and Dyfed-Powys Police.

Pembrokeshire is the first authority in Dyfed-Powys to introduce the scheme. It already operates in several force areas in England.

Kate Evan-Hughes, Director for Children and Schools at Pembrokeshire County Council, said: “Children do come to school upset, distressed and can have an awful day and there may appear to be no clear reason for it. But actually there’s a whole background to why they’re behaving that way. Encompass lets them know if something has happened at home and it’s affecting the child.

“It allows the school to put into place the pastoral care for the child, discreetly and immediately and ensures that someone understands why the child may be behaving differently.

“Just having staff knowing makes a big difference.

“In many cases where a child has witnessed domestic violence that information has often not been shared with a school until many weeks after the event – this may have led to a lack of understanding about a child’ s behaviour and inappropriate consequences. Operation Encompass puts the child first and will help to make sure that support and understanding is there straight away.

“We are excited to be the first in the area to introduce the programme and look forward to sharing our learning and experiences with our partners on the regional safeguarding board.”

Detective Inspector Elaine Bendle, Dyfed-Powys Police, said: “Protecting vulnerable people is a priority for Dyfed-Powys Police and I am pleased to work side-by-side with Pembrokeshire County Council on Operation Encompass.

“This model is recognised as best practice and has the potential to make a real difference to some of our county’s most vulnerable children.

“The feedback so far has been promising; a full review will take place in a few months and if this pilot is successful we hope to roll Operation Encompass out across the whole force area.”

A local headteacher said: “As part of ‘Operation Encompass’ we have to date received important information at the start of the school day. The information has been very valuable to us as a school.

“We are grateful for the support of ‘Operation Encompass’ in helping us keep our pupils safe. It is reassuring to know that there is a system in place to safeguard our children both in and out of school.”

Business

First wind turbine components arrive as LNG project moves ahead

Published

2 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE FIRST ship carrying major components for Dragon LNG’s new onshore wind turbines docked at Pembroke Port yesterday afternoon, marking the start of physical deliveries for the multi-million-pound renewable energy project.

The Maltese-registered general cargo vessel Peak Bergen berthed at Pembroke Dock shortly after 4pm on Wednesday, bringing tower sections and other heavy components for the three Enercon turbines that will eventually stand on land adjacent to the existing gas terminal at Waterston.

A second vessel, the Irish-flagged Wilson Flex IV, is due to arrive in the early hours of this morning (Thursday) carrying the giant rotor blades.

The deliveries follow a successful trial convoy on 25 November, when police-escorted low-loader trailers carried dummy loads along the planned route from the port through Pembroke, past Waterloo roundabout and up the A477 to the Dragon LNG site.

Dragon LNG’s Community and Social Performance Officer, Lynette Round, confirmed the latest movements in emails to the Herald.

“The Peak Bergen arrived yesterday with the first components,” she said. “We are expecting another delivery tomorrow (Thursday) onboard the Wilson Flex IV. This will be blades and is currently showing an ETA of approximately 03:30.”

The £14.3 million project, approved by Welsh Ministers last year, will see three turbines with a combined capacity of up to 13.5 MW erected on company-owned land next to the LNG terminal. Once operational – expected in late 2026 – they will generate enough electricity to power the entire site, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.

Port of Milford Haven shipping movements showed the Peak Bergen approaching the Haven throughout Wednesday morning before finally tying up at the cargo berth in Pembroke Dock. Cranes began unloading operations yesterday evening.

Weather conditions are currently favourable for this morning’s arrival of the Wilson Flex IV, which was tracking south of the Smalls at midnight.

The abnormal-load convoys carrying the components from the port to Waterston are expected to begin next week, subject to final police and highway approvals.

A community benefit fund linked to the project will provide training opportunities and energy-bill support for residents in nearby Waterston, Llanstadwell and Neyland.

Further updates will be issued by Dragon LNG as the Port of Milford Haven as the delivery programme continues.

Photo: Martin Cavaney

Crime

Banned for 40 months after driving with cocaine breakdown product in blood

Published

2 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A MILFORD HAVEN woman has been handed a lengthy driving ban after admitting driving with a controlled drug in her system more than ten times over the legal limit.

SENTENCED AT HAVERFORDWEST

Sally Allen, 43, of Wentworth Close, Hubberston, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Dec 4) for sentencing, having pleaded guilty on November 25 to driving with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the prescribed limit.

The court heard that Allen was stopped on August 25 on the Old Hakin Road at Tiers Cross while driving an Audi A3. Blood analysis showed 509µg/l of Benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine. The legal limit is 50µg/l.

COMMUNITY ORDER AND REHABILITATION

Magistrates imposed a 40-month driving ban, backdated to her interim disqualification which began on November 25.

Allen was also handed a 12-month community order, requiring her to complete 10 days of rehabilitation activities as directed by the Probation Service.

She was fined £120, ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge. Her financial penalties will be paid in £25 monthly instalments from January 1, 2026.

The bench—Mrs H Roberts, Mr M Shankland and Mrs J Morris—said her guilty plea had been taken into account when passing sentence.

Local Government

Sewage leak at Pembroke Commons prompts urgent clean-up works

Published

3 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Council pollution officers say they have no enforcement powers over Welsh Water infrastructure

SEWAGE contamination on the Commons in Pembroke has prompted an urgent response from pollution officers, after a leak was reported by a member of the public on Tuesday.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Pollution Control Team confirmed they were alerted yesterday afternoon to sewage surrounding a manhole cover on the site. The Herald understands that officers immediately notified Welsh Water (DCWW) network technicians to investigate the incident “as a matter of urgency”.

County councillor Jonathan Grimes, who represents Pembroke St Mary South and Monkton, said the authority had been clear that it holds no enforcement powers over Welsh Water assets.

“Whilst we work constructively with Welsh Water, we have no authority to intervene on their apparatus or to carry out enforcement action against them for such pollution incidents,” the Pollution Control Team said in a statement shared with the councillor.

Urgent works underway

Council officers visited the site on Wednesday morning alongside contractors and Welsh Water technicians to assess clean-up options. According to the team, works will include cleaning the contaminated ground in and around the manhole cover and fencing off the affected area “until safe”.

Cllr Grimes said officers would return to the scene on Thursday to check on progress and ensure the area is properly secured.

Residents who notice any further issues have been urged to contact the Pollution Control Team directly.

Further updates are expected later this week.