EditorSWANSEA: Crime down 12% and anti-social behaviour down 69% as Dyfatty crackdown delivers early results
The results cover the period between 15 January and 15 March, the first two months of the Clear Hold Build initiative, which was launched by South Wales Police and partners in late March with a pledge to take back the streets from organised crime.
South Wales Police say that in that period, officers carried out 28 proactive arrests for offences including assaults, robberies, drug dealing and possession, fail-to-appear warrants and weapon-related offences. A further 45 stop searches were conducted, 15 of which produced positive results leading to arrests or out-of-court disposals.
Police say 38 people were issued with directions to leave the area in response to anti-social behaviour, and four community protection warning notices were issued to repeat offenders with no legitimate reason to be in Dyfatty. Officers also executed five misuse-of-drugs warrants at identified addresses during the period.
The 69% reduction in reported anti-social behaviour incidents compared to the same period last year is particularly striking given the scale of the problems that preceded the operation. Residents had been living with the effects of organised crime for years — a situation Chief Superintendent Stephen Jones described as “long overdue” for action when the operation launched.
Acting Chief Inspector Andrew Hedley said the results reflected the strength of the partnership approach established between police, the local authority, support services and the community. “Our continued presence in Dyfatty is making a real difference, and we are committed to building on this progress to ensure residents feel safe and supported,” he said. “This is only the beginning, and we will keep working together to deliver long-lasting improvements for the area.”
The Clear Hold Build model, backed by the Home Office, follows a three-phase approach. The first — Clear — involves a year-long police-led crackdown targeting offenders and disrupting criminal networks. The second phase, Hold, focuses on stabilising the area and preventing gangs from returning once enforcement pressure eases. The final phase, Build, brings long-term investment to tackle the root causes of crime and support economic growth.
The force says the Dyfatty project is the flagship scheme for the Swansea Public Services Board and builds on similar operations delivered elsewhere in the South Wales Police force area, including in Merthyr Tydfil, Adamsdown, Roath and Butetown.
The Hold phase will be led by Swansea Council working with all Public Services Board partners, and police and partners say it will focus on maintaining security, preventing criminal re-infiltration and strengthening community confidence. The Build phase will begin during the Hold phase and continue over the longer term.
The operation is being coordinated through the Swansea Public Services Board, which brings together South Wales Police, Swansea Council, Swansea Bay University Health Board and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service. Council leader Rob Stewart had pledged at the outset that the project would run alongside a separate regeneration programme expected to bring up to £20 million of investment into Dyfatty over the next decade.
The early results suggest the intensive enforcement phase is having a tangible effect on the ground. Police have not yet detailed how many of the 28 arrests have led to charges or prosecutions, but the volume of activity in just eight weeks underlines the scale of the operation.
The force has signalled that work will continue in the months ahead, with the stated aim not simply of making arrests but of achieving lasting change for residents who have long borne the brunt of crime and disorder in the area.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Dyfatty crime crackdown: Major police operation targets Swansea hotspot
Our original report on the launch of the Clear Hold Build operation in March.
Dyfatty set for £20m investment boost
The regeneration plans running alongside the police operation.
Dyfatty flats set for major upgrade
Multi-million pound plans to improve ageing council tower blocks in the area.
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