A man who was wanted on recall to prison for two months, and took a "considerable amount of police resources" to try and trace, was found wandering around with a claw hammer in his pocket near a school.
The 31-year-old, who South Wales Police said was wanted on recall for breaching the terms of his sentencing conditions, was discovered walking around with a claw hammer in his pocket at Pendarvis Street in Aberavon , which is very close to Sandfields Primary School.
He was spotted by the force's Operation Sceptre team. Police have not released the man's name.
Operation Sceptre is a targeted approach across all 44 forces in England and Wales that is aimed at tackling knife crime and raising awareness of its impact.
A South Wales Police spokeswoman said: "Police in Port Talbot responded to reports of a man carrying an offensive weapon in the town on Sunday afternoon (July 28).
"The Op Sceptre team was deployed alongside response officers and a 31-year-old man was arrested in Pendarvis Street, Aberavon.
"The man was also found to be wanted on recall, and has now been returned to prison."
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Police officers tweeted about the incident shortly after arresting the man.
South Wales Police Swansea wrote: "Op Sceptre Team have signed off the week with locating a man wanted on recall to prison and was walking around with a claw hammer in his pocket, great arrest and protected the community from future crime."
And Operation Sceptre sergeant Beynon responded: "SWP Maesteg will be glad to know about this male who we have arrested, been a wanted man for two months and taken a considerable amount of police resources to try and trace.
"Glad the old sergeant could finally catch up with him so he was not one that got away."
