Author: Rhys Gregory

On 16 October, professionals working on addressing Modern Slavery from across Wales and beyond met at Conwy Business Centre in Llandudno Junction and online for Anti-Slavery Wales 2025. This annual event, which was being held in North Wales for the first time, brings together organisations and experts to share learning and insights about tackling this crime. The conference was hosted in partnership between the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for North Wales and the Welsh Government. This year’s event also marked the 10th anniversary of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. For the past three years, the Office…

The Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, Jack Sargeant MS, has officially opened Blas Cymru / Taste Wales 2025, Wales’ flagship food and drink trade event, at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Wales, Celtic Manor, Newport. The two-day showcase brings together over 150 Welsh food and drink producers and around 300 invited buyers from across the world, offering a platform for the industry to continue with its impressive growth since the first biennial event was held in 2017. Speaking at the opening, Welsh Government Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, Jack Sargeant MS said: “Blas Cymru / Taste…

This story is also available in Welsh – click here to read it. Work is nearing completion on a development of 24 new eco-friendly homes in Carmarthenshire following a £3.27 million loan from the Development Bank of Wales. New Generation Developments Ltd has already agreed sales off-plan at the second phase of Park View Drive, in Kidwelly. Work on the site, which comprises 24 three-bedroom bungalows, began in 2021, with New Generation Developments Ltd financing the development of the second phase of the project with the seven-figure loan from the Development Bank, along with support from the Development Bank’s Green…

A man from Swansea has been jailed after exchanging sexual messages online with an account he believed to belong to a girl under 16 years old. 55-year-old Christopher Jones, from Swansea Docks, had in fact been messaging a decoy account operated by an independent online child protection team. Jones pleaded guilty to the offences of attempting to incite a girl aged 13-15 to engage in sexual activity and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. He has been sentenced to 28 months in prison. Detective Constable Tim Davies said: “Christopher Jones’s message to the decoy account were abhorrent…

Anthony Nash has been sentenced to life imprisonment for multiple rapes of two children and an adult in Cardiff. His offences were reported to South Wales Police when the victims bravely came forward. Two days later Nash was arrested at his home address in Birmingham. The 47-year-old denied the allegations when interviewed but was charged and later pleaded guilty to all 13 rape offences. He was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday, October 15 to life imprisonment and was told he must serve a minimum of 15 years before being considered for release. The court heard that Nash had…

A woman from Swansea has been jailed after setting a fire inside the city centre’s McDonald’s restaurant. 39-year-old Leah Hocking, of no fixed abode, entered the fast-food restaurant at Castle Square on March 4, before proceeding to light a fire on a table. She also stole a mobile phone from another diner at the eatery during the same visit. During her arrest, Hocking then aimed multiple kicks at a police officer. On July 28 she pleaded guilty to arson, theft and assault by beating of an emergency worker. She also pleaded guilty to criminal damage under £5,000 after admitting to…

Young boys who lent a bike to an officer in pursuit of a fleeing offender have been commended for their actions. Harry Jones and Jack Clews, aged 11 and 10 respectively, and who both live in Rhyl, were recently riding their bikes through the town. Shortly after finishing school, the pair were making their way towards the Marsh Tracks Bike Park when they encountered PC Hart. He and a fellow officer were involved in a foot chase, pursuing two males suspected of shoplifting and drug possession. PC Hart stopped suddenly to speak with the boys and asked if he could…

A new Community Rail Partnership has been launched in South East Wales, funded through Transport for Wales. Based in Merthyr, the ‘Three Valleys Community Rail Partnership’ is hosted by Voluntary Action Merthyr Tydfil (VAMT) and includes representatives from the voluntary and tourism sectors, healthcare providers, community partners and rail industry. Its objective will be to promote sustainable travel, health and wellbeing, tourism and economic development along the railway lines linking Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr with Cardiff. By focussing on local projects, the partnership aims to make a real difference to the people and communities it serves. Melanie Lawton, Strategic Lead…

A bus service linking Mawdlam and Kenfig Pool with Bridgend and Porthcawl is set to be reinstated following approval by Bridgend County Borough Council’s Cabinet. The new service will be known as Service 63B and operated by First Cymru Buses Ltd as part of the existing supported bus routes contract. It will see one journey per hour, between approximately 9:41am and 3:39pm, Monday to Saturday, diverted through Mawdlam and Kenfig Pool. The route was last served by a public bus in August 2019 and funding for the reinstated service has been secured through Welsh Government’s Bus Network Grant, with no…

Two hundred recycled laptops have been distributed this month to young people who would otherwise not have one, thanks to a partnership between DVLA and Swansea Council. DVLA donates refurbished digital equipment it no longer needs to local authorities for redistribution. Launched in 2021, the scheme has enabled DVLA to become one of the first signatures to sign the UK Government’s IT Reuse for Good charter, which promotes refurbishing IT devices to encourage greater digital inclusion. The scheme supports the growth of vital digital skills for all and helps to ensure that young people aren’t faced with digital exclusion. The…