News

Five shouts in 18 hours to kick off the Bank Holiday weekend

Published

3 years ago

April 29, 2023

ANGLE RNLI has had a busy start to the bank holiday weekend, responding to five separate incidents in just 18 hours.

The first call came at 9:10 pm on Friday, when the all-weather lifeboat was requested to launch in response to a report of an overdue windsurfer at Dale. Despite heavy fog, the crew made their way towards the location, only to be stood down when the windsurfer was found safe and well ashore. The Dale coastguard rescue team also assisted with this incident.

The crew were called out again at 6:09 am the next morning, when a yacht ran aground at Brunel Quay in Neyland. The lifeboat crew deployed the Y boat and liaised with the yacht’s skipper, who decided to remain onboard until the tide refloated the vessel. The lifeboat was then stood down and returned to station.

Shortly after, at 10:02 am, the crew received another call from the coastguard to search for a missing person in the Wards Pier/Rath area. The lifeboat launched and conducted shoreline searches up the Haven, alongside other coastguard rescue teams, police officers, and the fire service. While conducting a search in the South Hook Point area, the crew came across another incident where a person was in difficulty on the cliffs below the coast path. The coastguard and other assets were requested to assist, and the lifeboat stood by.

Finally, the crew was tasked to search for a vessel with possibly intoxicated crew and a young male onboard, making its way in somewhere on the Haven in poor visibility due to the fog. The lifeboat and the Water Ranger located the vessel near the Valero oil terminal, and after a welfare check of the persons onboard, the vessel was escorted to Warrior Way, Pembroke Dock, for recovery.

The all-weather lifeboat returned to station after a combined eight hours at sea. The RNLI crew and the staff of MRCC Milford Haven Coastguard ops room were praised for their coordination and dedication in responding to multiple incidents on what was an incredibly busy day around the coast.

Crime

Neighbourhood policing boosted across Dyfed-Powys

Published

32 minutes ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE has announced a significant expansion of its Neighbourhood Policing and Prevention Teams (NPPT), with more officers being deployed to frontline roles where demand is greatest.

From Monday (Mar 16), teams across the force area have been strengthened, with a renewed focus on tackling antisocial behaviour and preventing crime at its source.

The force says the move is aimed at reducing repeat demand by addressing the root causes of offending, rather than simply responding to incidents.

To achieve this, a number of officers have been redeployed from central departments back into frontline policing, while new posts are also being created to bolster capacity.

Temporary Chief Superintendent Steve Davies, head of uniform policing, said: “These changes are about increasing frontline visibility and ensuring we have the right resources in the right places.

“They form part of a wider programme of improvements across the force to enhance effectiveness and efficiency, while also supporting the wellbeing of our officers and staff.

“This is positive news for our communities, who will benefit from stronger neighbourhood teams focused on local priorities and proactive policing.”

The expansion has been made possible through Home Office funding under the Neighbourhood Guarantee scheme, which is designed to strengthen community safety and crime prevention.

Dyfed-Powys Police has been allocated £1.4 million for 2025/26, enabling the recruitment of police staff and freeing up officers previously in support roles to return to operational duties.

As a result, four sergeants and 29 police officers have now been reassigned to neighbourhood teams across the force.

Each NPPT area will also have a named officer, with full team details available via the ‘Your Area’ section of the Dyfed-Powys Police website.

The force has also secured early access to 2026/27 Neighbourhood Guarantee funding, which will see a further 12 officers recruited between April and the autumn—adding to overall officer numbers in the region.

Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said: “Neighbourhood policing is about more than numbers—it’s about relationships.

“Greater visibility helps build trust, strengthens community ties, and reassures the public that policing is present, responsive, and committed to keeping people safe.

“I remain committed to improving police visibility across our communities, and these additional officers will help turn that ambition into reality.”

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

37 minutes ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.