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.

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."