Police pledge over estate safety - despite recent stabbing and drugs bust
POLICE have reassured residents that Sketty Park is a safe place to live — even though it has been the scene of two alleged muggings, a stabbing, and a major drugs bust in the past few weeks alone.
Two pensioners were allegedly mugged by a woman in separate incidents in the area earlier this month.
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One of them was alleged to have been stabbed when she refused to hand over her handbag. And a Sketty Park man, Marcel Dean Edwards, 43, of Beaconsfield Way, has been remanded in custody accused of conspiring to supply "very significant amounts" of cocaine and amphetamine.
Despite these alleged crimes, Acting Sector Inspector for Gower, Martin John, told members of the community at a Pact meeting the area was safe.
"I have patrolled these streets for four or five hours at night and I can see the tumbleweed coming down the street. It's a safe area."
But a Beaconsfield Way resident, who did not wish to be named for fear of reprisals, was not reassured.
"It has made us frightened. One of my neighbours is too afraid to come out of her house."
Christine Kathleen Maher, aged 29, of Gwent Grove, Sketty Park, has appeared in court accused of the alleged muggings, but did not enter pleas and was remanded in custody.
Mr John praised residents for supplying police with pieces of information that had led to an arrest within 36 hours.
He said police would be visible in the area.
"We will be out reassuring people and patrolling," said Mr John. Referring to the drugs case, he said: "Sketty Park doesn't have a big drug problem — I would say the problem is use of drugs rather than supply. It's not as bad as you think."
Ward councillor Rene Kinzett said he accepted that people could walk around Sketty Park at night without looking over their shoulder.
But he also told the meeting about an incident of anti-social behaviour.
"I was walking along Rhyd-y-Defaid Drive, and there was a large family group walking along and being quite rowdy," he said.
"Two of the lads began urinating against the wall. I did try to phone the police but my call was put in a queue."
Another Gower Road resident, who did not wish to be named, asked why a sex offender had been housed at a high-rise flat in Clyne Court.
Phillip Kenning was living in Llandeilo until child porn pictures were found on his computer, but later moved to Clyne Court.
He was jailed for six months in March this year.
Swansea Council housing officer Dave Richards said a number of residents had been evicted recently and there was an in-depth process for housing sex offenders.
Mr John told residents: "Say someone was found with two wraps of heroin. Evicting them for that would put them on the streets and in a downward spiral. If they are in houses, we know we can monitor them.
"You can't put them all in one place and build a wall around them."
9 Comments
by tim, swansea
Sunday, May 02 2010, 8:42PM
“haha at dave i would like to see you sort out these so called "crimanals" yourself!and what happend to innocent untill proven guilty?none of these people have been charged so this article is a load of crap!”
by Funny or what, Swansea
Saturday, May 01 2010, 9:32PM
“hahaha well the police don't live there do they?
By the way "tough" to you lot is "soft" to London estates because there they would make mince meat out of the Sketty Park bullies. Mince meat!”
by dafydd, swansea
Friday, April 30 2010, 6:55PM
“EP why show a picture of the council tower block? residents of beaconsfield complaining/ previously complaining about the council houses. hello, it was one of your neighbours arrested for conspiracy to supply significant amounts of drugs, perhaps a photo of beaconsfield way would be more appropriate”
by dave, swansea
Friday, April 30 2010, 5:15PM
“The police won't help so it's time for ordinary citizens to sort out these criminals themselves. Give them a taste of their own medicine.”
by Bob Roberts, Sketty
Friday, April 30 2010, 2:07PM
“Touche! :-)”
by Jonathan, Sketty
Friday, April 30 2010, 1:38PM
“Anon of Mount Pleasant - firstly, have the guts to use your name if you are going to criticise people.
And no, I totally disagree with your comments how you perceive I think. The vast majority of people in every subrub of Swansea and across the UK are good, decent, hard-working people who simply wish to get through life with some peace and quiet and not having to worry about crime in their areas.
If the Post article had been about many other areas of Swansea then my thoughts would have been the same - my point being that we seem to now live in a city where a small number of people increasingly cause noise, nuisance, crime and fear for the majority - a line needs to be drawn in the sand by both Police and Council. We need the New York City zero tolerance attitude right across the city.
I am proud of Swansea and proud of 90% of Swansea people!”
by Anon, Mount Pleasant
Friday, April 30 2010, 1:00PM
“Bob, Sketty - I dont know why people from Sketty think they are above everyone else? There are drug and crime problems in every area of the city, be it in council or private housing. There are also law abiding, hard working, non drug using people in Sketty and every other area in Swansea. It would be social engineering not to house people with issues in Sketty, just because its Sketty.
Presumably you think you have more rights than the good hard working people of Blaenymaes, Penlan, Bonymaen, Dyfatty? Get over yourself.”
by clarysage50, Somerset
Friday, April 30 2010, 12:46PM
“It saddens me to think that an area which was once an extremely well respected area has sunk so low...”
by Bob, Sketty
Friday, April 30 2010, 11:13AM
“It is obvious that what has happened to Brynmill and The Uplands is now happening to Sketty and Derwern Fawr. It seems in Swansea, rather than drawing a line in the sand and stopping areas from going downhill, that the Police and Council seem intent on some kind of social engineering to bring everyone and everything down to the lowest common denominator. Within a few years I suspect Sketty to be no different to Brynmill, Derwern Fawr will be on the downhill slope and then Killay will be 'targeted'.”