'We can fix Wind Street' says Swansea's top police officer
SWANSEA'S top police officer has promised his force is doing everything it can to make the city's party heartland a safer place to be.
The reassurance follows the release of surprise figures which branded Wind Street as the second worst in the UK for all crime.
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Swansea's top police officer has promised his force is doing everything it can to make the city's party heartland a safer place to be.
Chief Superintendent Mark Mathias admitted that drunkenness and disorder along the road which is home to 30 or so pubs and restaurants is a "significant problem".
He also acknowledged that policing the area was a big drain on his resources.
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But he said he wanted to reassure the public his officers were doing everything they could to make the area safe.
As part of the crackdown, the coming weeks will see ten extra officers permanently transferred into the city centre — at the expense of numbers in Gorseinon, Penlan, Morriston, Gower and the city's Eastside.
His comments come after the launch of a new crime mapping website — www.police.uk — which allows people to see the levels of reported crime on individual streets for forces across the country.
The site shows Wind Street has the second highest level of incidents of any street in England and Wales, with some 148 recorded in December.
Mr Mathias said: "I acknowledge that Wind Street is a significant problem for the police — that is evidenced in the figures.
"But I want to reassure the public that we are doing everything we possibly can to address it.
"We know that we have high demand in Wind Street — we have to take into account the number of licensed entertainment venues."
The immediate area of Wind Street can cater for up 16,500 people — with its pubs, restaurants, fast-food outlets, two hotels, and other facilities.
As part of the crackdown on rowdy behaviour, the Post understands police are looking at ways of turning groups of drunken revellers away from the area before they even get to Wind Street, while there is also going to be a greater input from the health service in helping to determine licences for premises. The Post has seen a breakdown of the figures for Wind Street during December, and they show there were 91 recorded crimes in the 31 days.
The other 57 reported incidents were of antisocial behaviour, some of which may have also resulted in crimes being recorded, and so were effectively double counted.
Such recorded incidents can range from a group of young men being refused entry to a club to a full-scale brawl.
Of the 91 crimes, five were for serious assaults, 11 were for assaults occasioning actual bodily harm, 17 for public order offences and three for possessing cocaine.
There were also 45 reports of theft — many of these are thought to relate to a two-day spree when mobile phones and cameras were taken from revellers in bars and clubs. Three people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Mike Darrel, duty manager at the Peppermint bar, said: "I think there is always going to be trouble where there is nightlife, and I suppose that is a reflection of the people who are out on the street. But police do the best they can — they try to prevent trouble and they do make arrests. I would still say it is a safe place for a night out".
Comments
by Heather, Mumbles
Thursday, February 03 2011, 9:35PM
“meirion, Swansea, maybe if you used correct grammar I'd be able to understand what it is you are trying to say.
To those who think my comment is disgusting: tough. Grow up.
Drunks are costing the NHS millions, they are also diverting the police from protecting those who deserve protection.
As for being ashamed of my comment: NO I am not. Sorry !”
by meirion, Swansea
Thursday, February 03 2011, 4:15PM
“Heather if you did not put so much hatred of ethnic groups into your posts! Maybe you would not be so paranoid when there is a reduced number of police in mumbles. Paranoia is a form of fear after all!”
by SPIDEY JONES, Planet earth
Thursday, February 03 2011, 2:31PM
“Lots of fuss about nothing. people need to get out more if they think wind street is a dangerous place.
If we let a few fights scare us from leaving our homes we may as well all give up the ghost,”
by Jason, Swansea
Thursday, February 03 2011, 12:15PM
“John, How can you put blame on the security staff to reduce crime. Do you know the numbers for security? 2 security staff for the first 100 people in then 1 for every 50 after that. Every fight has at least 2 people in it so they are in a losing battle from the off. Then the SIA license is strict on persons allowed to apply. Then there is the added bonus of Joe Public knowing they are licensed and putting in false claims against staff that have ejected them, you are then suspended from any door work until the claims have been investigated which can take up to a year or so. They get spat at, kicked, punched, verbally abused and worse. So leave them out of the arguement as the work they do is hard enough as it is.”
by Tony, Neath
Thursday, February 03 2011, 11:48AM
“Patrick, Swansea
commented on 02-Feb-2011 12:39
Step one - install temporary urinals that can be easily removed before daytime. This will reduce urinating and vomiting in the street.
Step two - Put a water cannon on top of a police van. Doesn't need to be powerful, just enough to soak the fools and end their night.
Step three - Police dogs. Any sniffer dogs will have countless targets, and nothing like an Alsation to scare a drunk.
And at last someone has come up with a realy good idea Swansea Council and police make a note”
by john, john
Wednesday, February 02 2011, 10:54PM
“A ship is only as good has its captain and officers!! But if the crew is made up of degenerates and morons the job is made a lot harder!!!”
by Bill the builder, Swansea
Wednesday, February 02 2011, 10:09PM
“Jan, even the most educated citizen turns into a violent, dribbling mess after 20 pints
It tends to be our more educated student population that cause the most problems.”
by Jan, Swansea
Wednesday, February 02 2011, 10:06PM
“Kathy
Many thanks for your comments, I do know only to well what these persons are like, I have visited numerous homes in the early hours of the morning, with drunken, abusive parents and little children crying, due to the violent and aggressive behaviour they have been woken up to. However, I certainly do agree with your comments regarding the persons who frequent Wind Street are probably not of that category. But like you so rightly stated, it is all alcohol related incidents that become evident. To take things back to the start of this debate whereby Chief Superintendent Mark Mathias stated ¿We can fix Wind Street¿, I still maintain there is no need for such a high police presence, as all clubs, pubs have their security staff in being and could radio for assistance should they need it. Once again I will state the police have had extra officers on duty in Wind Street for over a year, the problem remains the same, perhaps if they pull out and assist when a call for assistance is required perhaps things might calm down there. I beg to differ with you on that one as regards a Police presence reduces crime, we might put it to the Chief Superintendent to monitor the situation.”
by Kathy, Swansea
Wednesday, February 02 2011, 9:40PM
“And yes, a police presence does reduce crime.”
by Kathy, Swansea
Wednesday, February 02 2011, 9:37PM
“Jan, you're welcome. And I agree with what you're saying, however some parents are not like you and me, they don't educate their children about anything and have little education or life skills themselves. Some parents are alcoholics or drug addicts and don't care about the way they or their children live their lives. When these children grow up to be abusive drunks, it is hardly surprising and I think it's reassuring that that the police are around to keep them in line sometimes. we are talking about wind street here though and i would say a majority of these people have come from good backgrounds and are educated enough to know what alcohol is about, unfortunately people from all areas and backgrounds can be idiots when they drink too much alcohol or take "party drugs" So yes, if there were harsher punishments, maybe this would have an effect on the crime rate on Wind street.”