News

EXCLUSIVE: Interactive map plots all reported crimes in Pembrokeshire

Published

7 years ago

June 20, 2018

USING crime statistics provided by the national police database, The Pembrokeshire Herald has created an exclusive interactive map which plots all recorded crimes in Pembrokeshire.

Our interactive map shows where and when a crime was committed, the type of crime which was reported, and the last known outcome of the investigation.

The data for the map is from July 2017 to April 2018.

The map shows approximately 10,000 recorded crimes in the county.

The largest towns in the county – including Haverfordwest, Milford Haven, Pembroke and Pembroke Dock, and Tenby – are where the most crimes have been reported.

Using the freely available data provided by Dyfed-Powys Police, our technical team were able to generate the interactive map by taking the longitude and latitude coordinates of the reported crimes, and then linked each one to the date the crime was reported, the category of the crime, and the last known outcome of the investigation.

Each month is a different colour marker on the map, allowing you to see if certain times of the year result in higher or lower crimes in your area.

The Herald’s IT Technician, Glenn Alcock, said: “There was a huge amount of data provided, so the first challenge was organising it to see what would be of most use to the general public.

“Obviously it was vital for the location of each crime to be recorded, so we used the longitude and latitude of each crime to ensure that the marker was placed on the exact location on the map. It would have been pointless if, say, all crimes reported in Haverfordwest were just marked on the centre of the town. Using our map, you can zoom in and see all criminal activity in and around your street.

“Once we realised we could place the markers on a precise location, it was then a matter of pairing the location data with the date the crime was recorded, and of course what the type of crime was. This was a long and arduous process – with lots of technical challenges along the way – but we got there, and then it was just a matter of adding the notes from the police about the progress of the investigation.”

What do you think about the crime data for your area? Let us know on our Facebook page!

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

Published

7 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

14 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

15 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.