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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Richard Youle

The deserted town centres of Wales that would usually be packed with weekend drinkers

Saturday nights just aren't the same anymore, as these images of town centres across Welsh towns drastically show.

Dyfed-Powys Police has rolled out dozens of new cameras, which are monitored by a team at the force's headquarters near Carmarthen.

But instead of revellers spilling out of bars, there appears to be little to see during the coronavirus pandemic.

In one of the images, a fox saunters across Church Street, Llanelli, seemingly without a care in the world.

Elsewhere, from Carmarthen to Tenby, the places where people used to congregate resemble ghost towns.

One image of people out in Builth Wells during the Royal Welsh Show last year contrasts vividly with the emptiness now.

Outside the Metropolitan Bar, Station Road, Llanelli, in the early hours of Sunday, April 19 (Dyfed-Powys Police)
A fox glides along the road at Church Street, Llanelli (Dyfed-Powys Police)

A spokesman for Dyfed-Powys police and crime commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said the cameras were still being monitored.

He said there had been a "significant" reduction in crime, although the force was receiving a lot of reports of people not following instructions on non-essential travel and social distancing.

The spokesman added: "Our anti-social behaviour levels are higher than they are usually at this time of year, and that increase is attributable to Covid-19 related calls."

He said ensuring compliance was a big focus for police officers, and that road checks have led to drug seizures, including a "significant amount" of what was thought to be a Class A drug from a car at St Clears, Carmarthenshire, in the early hours of April 18.

The driver was arrested on suspicion of drug-driving and of possession of drugs.

High Street, Builth Wells, during last year's Royal Welsh Show (Dyfed-Powys Police)
High Street, Builth Wells, in the early hours of Sunday April 19 (Dyfed-Powys Police)

Like the rest of us, police officers have had to make adjustments, according to Gareth Jones, chairman of Dyfed-Powys Police Federation, which represents officers.

He said officers had staggered start and finish times to minimise contact with fellow officers and staff.

Another difference was not having so much of the face-to-face or other personal contact with victims of crime.

Castle Square, Haverfordwest, in the early hours of April 19 (Dyfed-Powys Police)
Tudor Square, Tenby, in the early hours of April 19 (Dyfed-Powys Police)
The normally busy Lammas Street, Carmarthen, in the early hours of Sunday, April 19 (Dyfed-Powys Police)

And then there was the challenge, he said, of dealing with the minority who showed a "total disregard" for the coronavirus lockdown rules.

Mr Jones said there may have been a slight reduction in administrative work for officers - and estimated a 20% to 30% reduction in crime across the board.

Asked if he felt police were getting more or less support from the public now than before the lockdown, he replied: "Our members feel that they get support from 99% of the general public.

"This is evidenced by the supportive messages put on social media and also from verbal feedback to staff when on patrol, and also from management feedback."

Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth, in the early hours of April 19 (Dyfed-Powys Police)
Regent Centre, Newtown, in the early hours of April 19 (Dyfed-Powys Police)

But he added: "Officers are however still being assaulted across the force area.

"They are being coughed at and spat at as well as other forms of assaults committed upon them.

"The courts have been giving custodial sentences to offenders, which is pleasing to see."

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