Swansea police chiefs hail Operation Advent a success in reducing festive disorder

POLICE chiefs have hailed Operation Advent a success for helping to curb festive disorder and violence on Swansea's streets.

Officers put in place measures including a "meet and greet" service at a designated drop-off point along The Strand for coaches and minibuses bringing revellers into the city.

Two bus-loads of partygoers were turned away from the city centre during the operation as the passengers were drunk.

Superintendent Phil Davies, head of operational policing in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot, said the operation, which was run in conjunction with different agencies had been crucial.

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He said: "We had a robust operation in place called Operation Advent which ran throughout December.

"We had buses and minibuses coming into the nighttime economy who were taken to one area of The Strand.

"They were met by the police and members of the local authority to look at the drunkenness of the passengers at that point and to make sure there were urinals and bottle banks there.

"There were incidents of people being arrested at that time.

"We aimed to provide a safe environment."

Pictures of drunken revellers out in Wind Street on New Year's Eve hit the headlines this week.

However, Mr Davies said he believed the reason that there were only nine arrests in Wind Street when revellers were out celebrating New Year was due to the impact of the operation.

"The initial indications are that there were lower arrests compared to previous years because of the success of the operation," he added.

The superintendent said plans for policing next year's festivities were already being considered and they always ensured sufficient officers were drafted into Wind Street. He said they had been working with licensed premises during the operation.

"Resources are an issue but we plan well in advance for Christmas and the New Year," he added. "The planning for next Christmas and New Year is already under way.