South Wales Police Fifty Years of Keeping South Wales Safe

South Wales Police Fifty years of keeping South Wales safe Heddlu De Cymru Pumdeg mlynedd yn cadw De Cymru’n ddiogel South Wales Police Fifty years of keeping South Wales safe South Wales Police Introduction For South Wales Police, 2019 marks an familiar to their predecessors fifty years important milestone. It is 50 years since ago but there have also been increased 1st June 1969 when the police forces and different demands. of Glamorgan, Cardiff, Swansea and The challenges that come from on line Merthyr Tydfil came together to form crime, offences involving sexual abuse South Wales Constabulary. The force together with the increased would later gain its current title. sophistication of organised criminality As well as being a landmark for the and the growth in domestic extremism organisation, the passage of these years have meant that, against a background marks a period of incredible change in of financial pressure, new methods of our communities and in policing. working have had to be developed. There have been times of stress, challenge, In addition, the South Wales area has difficulty and success in the lives of itself changed over the years. Gone, in individuals, families and communities and large part, are the heavy industries of South Wales Police has played a key part the past. The ways in which people live in many of them. This year’s anniversary and work are significantly different. gives us the opportunity to reflect on half a century of economic, political and Our villages, towns and cities reflect the social changes that have demanded a changes which have occurred. Cardiff, in great deal from our Police Service. particular, has been transformed over the past fifty years with the re-development During the year, much is being done to of the city centre, the Cardiff Bay mark the anniversary with police officers development and the city’s massively and police staff reflecting on the past, increased role as a venue for significant what it means to be part of South Wales public and sporting events as well as Police today and, critically, looking to the being the home of the National Assembly future and the lessons we can learn from for Wales. The story of the force goes our past. beyond the capital city, of course, and Several themes are being explored as touches lives along our coastline and into part of the anniversary so that our wonderful valleys. developments in relation, for example, In this booklet we have sought to capture to uniforms, vehicles and buildings are the story of the past fifty years. It is considered. The major changes in impossible to do full justice to it in these technology and the scientific support for few pages and we will dive deeper into crime investigation are also covered. this history over the year. However, even Police officers and police staff today deal a “snapshot” like this gives a flavour of with many matters which would be some of the key events and 2 Fifty years of keeping South Wales safe developments that have shaped our proud of South Wales Police as one of history during that time. the best performing police forces in Throughout, however, one thing remains the country. constant and that is the importance of • The people of South Wales, who we are people: privileged to serve, and for whom we • Our own people and the commitment will continue to do all we can to keep which successive generations have safe in the future as we have done in given to policing so that we can be the past. We extend our gratitude to you all for your support “Diolch yn fawr” Matt Jukes Alun Michael Chief Constable Police and Crime Commissioner 3 South Wales Police South Wales Police –– a brief history Organised policing in South Wales can force. There was a degree of controversy be traced back to the early nineteenth in the matter since Cardiff City Council and century. Before then policing rested others thought that, in light of its status as with local communities through parish the capital city of Wales, it should retain constables and watchmen. its own police force. They also wished to see the headquarters of any merged force In 1829 Sir Robert Peel, as Home being located in Cardiff. Secretary, established the Metropolitan Police and as a result of subsequent Eventually, and after a public inquiry, legislation police forces began to be set the Home Secretary made the necessary up in boroughs and counties in England order for the forces to merge and the and Wales. South Wales Constabulary came into being on 1st June 1969. The Police forces were established in the Headquarters was to be based at the boroughs of Cardiff, Swansea and Neath, former Glamorgan Constabulary in 1836, and in the county of Glamorgan, Headquarters in Bridgend. at first on a limited basis in 1839, and then for the whole county in 1841. The first Chief Constable of South Wales was Melbourne Thomas, formerly Chief When Cardiff became a city in 1905 the Constable of Glamorgan, and the first name of its force changed to the Cardiff Deputy Chief Constable was Gwilym City Police and Merthyr Tydfil established Morris, who was the last Chief Constable its own police force when it became a of Cardiff. He later succeeded Mr Thomas county borough in 1908. Up to that as Chief Constable of South Wales and date it had been policed by the was knighted. Glamorgan Constabulary. In the years that have followed since The Neath Borough Police was very small 1969 there have been many and only had 45 officers when it organisational and other changes such as: amalgamated with Glamorgan in 1947. • Geographical command areas have By the early 1960’s concern was growing changed several times from the eight that there were too many police forces in original divisions each with their sub England and Wales and the Police Act of divisions, to today’s four Basic 1964 gave power to the Home Secretary Command Units. to require police forces to merge if they didn’t do so voluntarily. • The roles and responsibilities of chief officers have changed in response to In South Wales it was proposed that the changing demands. This has included Glamorgan, Cardiff, Swansea and Merthyr the creation of police staff chief Tydfil forces should merge to form one officer roles. 4 Fifty years of keeping South Wales safe • In 1996 the area covered by the Finally, it is important to recall that Rhymney Valley Council was transferred whilst the Chief Constable is responsible to the Gwent Police. This prompted a for the day to day operational activity change in the name of the South Wales of the force, there has always been a force from South Wales Constabulary to system of local oversight of policing. South Wales Police to reflect a more Prior to amalgamation, in the boroughs, modern terminology. this was in the form of watch committees which were made up of councillors, • Many changes have taken place in the whilst the county force was governed by number and location of police stations a joint committee of county councillors including the development of new and magistrates. buildings in Cardiff, Swansea, Merthyr Tydfil and Bridgend. In 1969, along with the creation of the South Wales Constabulary, the South • South Wales Police at one time owned Wales Police Authority was formed to several hundred police houses for use fulfil the oversight function for the by police officers and their families combined force, and whilst its but these have over the years been membership and structure changed over disposed of in line with changing the years, it remained in being until 2012 social requirements. when it was replaced by an elected • In recent years there has been an Police and Crime Commissioner. increased emphasis on collaboration between police forces. Whilst such collaboration is not new (the former Regional Crime Squads had been established in the 1960’s to tackle serious cross border crime), several joint units have now been created between police forces in Wales such as the Wales Extremism and Counter Terrorism Unit (“WECTU”), the Regional Organised Crime Unit (“TARIAN”), Joint Firearms Unit and Joint Legal Services. Gareth Madge • The role of women in the police service has changed substantially with greater (We are grateful to Glamorgan representation at all levels and Archives for their support in the involvement in all aspects of policing. production of this booklet.) 5 South Wales Police Report of the public inquiry. 6 Fifty years of keeping South Wales safe The Amalgamation Order. 7 South Wales Police South Wales Police through the decades headquarters building in Cathays Park, opened in 1968, became the “Support The 1960’s Headquarters.” The new force had a total strength of 2391 officers of whom 65 were women. The 1960’s was a decade of great change, not least in the policing of It policed an area of 523,314 acres and South Wales with the amalgamation a population of 1,258,450. on 1st June 1969 of the Glamorgan, A new combined police authority was Cardiff, Swansea and Merthyr Tydfil also created to oversee the new force, police forces to form the South Wales made up of local government councillors Constabulary. and magistrates. The authority owned 788 houses and other premises for occupation by police officers and their families. During 1969, the new force was immediately faced with challenges: • The Investiture of the Prince of Wales at Caernarfon on 1st July required support from the Welsh police forces and there were demands arising from the policing of Royal visits to South Wales in the wake of the Investiture.

Load more