Video of speed camera in Swansea being cut down with angle grinder goes viral on social media

The speed camera, outside the Kings Head pub on Llangyfelach Road was totally destroyed in the attack.

The video shows one man cutting away at the tall camera with sparks flying from an agle grinder. A second man is seen filming the destruction.

The video ends with the camera toppling onto the road.

A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: “We are aware of footage circulating online which appears to show individuals cutting down a speed camera on Llangyfelach Road, Treboeth, Swansea.

“This incident is currently under investigation.

“Anyone who witnessed this incident or who can offer information is asked to contact South Wales Police quoting 2400149066.”

A number of people on social media have reported recently receiving warning letters for travelling in excess of 20mph past the speed camera site.

A petition which clocked up 469,570 signatures – the most in Senedd history – following the role out of the controversial road regulation in September 2023 is due to be debated in the Senedd on 22 May.

The Welsh Government’s new Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Ken Skates has announced that 20mph guidance for councils would be revised so that some roads can switch back to 30mph.

Go Safe, the organisation which runs speed camera operations in Wales said advice letters have been adopted for all fixed cameras across Wales where enforcement is taking place in a 20mph speed limit.  Fixed cameras are installed where the risk of a fatal or serious collision is highest.

A spokesperson for Go Safe said: “We recognise that most people want to comply with the speed limit in their communities.  However, if they were unaware of what the speed limit was, they may be regularly passing a fixed camera unknowingly breaking the law and be at risk of losing their licence by doing so.

“By offering advice letters for fixed cameras, this allows us to engage first and inform the public of the correct speed limit.  This will only be offered once and will not be repeated.  Any subsequent offences will be prosecuted.

“By doing this, we are supporting our aim of achieving compliance with the speed limit for safety reasons, and only using enforcement as a last resort.”

On the vandalism of speed cameras, the Go Safe spokesperson added: “Highways Authorities install these cameras in order to reduce the risk of road death on the road.  Any vandalism is a crime, and results in public money being spent to make the area safe, investigate the crime, deal with the offenders and replace the infrastructure damaged. 

“The sole purpose of these cameras is to make roads safer for communities, not to catch people out, and their removal results in an increased risk of harm to vulnerable road users.”

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