30 people have been arrested in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot during Operation Barracuda
DOORS have been knocked — and some kicked-in — across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot today as police from South Wales Police's western division carried out the latest "day of action".
From PCSOs to specialist officers, police were out in force on Friday and by 5pm some 30 people had been arrested — with more expected over night.
Crime prevention also featured in the operation — code name Operation Barracuda — with officers raising awareness of how residents can keep themselves safe from opportunist criminals.
The man co-ordinating the operation, sergeant Steve Pritchard, said the day had gone well — and should send out a message to wrong-doers in the community.
Speaking from the command room in Swansea Central police station he said: "This operation was about targeting individuals wanted for various crimes and disrupting the activities of those involved in crime.
"We also took the opportunity to raise awareness of how people can keep themselves safe by taking simple crime prevention measures.
"Tackling crime and arresting suspects is very much daily business for us but these days of action bring together a range of different teams to work together to target individuals.
"The day was a success in cracking down on crime and taking action against individuals involved in various forms of criminality across our area."
The 30 arrests were for a range of offences including domestic assault, theft, drugs and recall to prison.
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Operation Barracuda involved a number of drugs raids — including at addresses in Dyfatty in Swansea and in Sandfields in Port Talbot — and substances seized by officers are now being analysed.
Alongside the police crack-down the day saw student police volunteers from University of Wales Trinity St David (UWTSD) working alongside PCSOs and the community safety team in Port Talbot to chat to residents across the town offering crime prevention advice.
Police also used social media — and especially Twitter — to give regular updates on the operation.
Today's crackdown was the latest in a series of crime-blitzes held across the division.
A similar day in November saw more than 20 arrests, along with a number of joint raids organised with council trading standards officers targeting the sale of counterfeit designer goods.
October's day of action — Operation Elder — resulted in a total of 38 arrests, 23 in Swansea and 15 in Neath Port Talbot.
Those arrests led to 22 people being charged, nine bailed pending further investigations, and six being released without charge.
One of the suspects was recalled to prison.
Sergeant Pritchard said he wanted to thank the members of the public who had provided information and intelligence to officers to make the days of action a success.
He said: "I would once again like to thank the communities who continue to provide information and intelligence to us in order for us to target and arrest these individuals.
"We will continue to target and disrupt those who are involved in criminality in order to protect our communities."
"If anyone has any information about people involved in crime or concerns about crime in the community then they should contact the police or Crimestoppers and they can be reassured that we will take action."
He added: "All information provided will be treated confidentially."
Can you help? Call South Wales Police in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111
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