A trader on St Helen’s Road in Swansea says he and his family “don’t feel safe at all”, with trouble on the street several times a day and what he describes as open drug dealing.
His account comes after the second serious assault on the same stretch in two months, which closed the road for much of a Thursday morning.
South Wales Police told Swansea Bay News that officers are working constantly to build intelligence for enforcement action, and that surveys will soon give shop owners a direct route to flag the problems facing them.
The trader, who asked not to be named, said problems on the street happen several times a day, and that at times staff cannot leave the shop to make deliveries to customers.
“We don’t feel safe at all,” he said. “Every day we have a problem.”
He has young children, he said, and the street’s problems have left him fearful for his family.
He described what he said was open drug dealing happening in the street.
‘Report it at the earliest opportunity’: what the police say
Swansea Bay News put the trader’s account to South Wales Police. Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Stephen Pritchard said officers are “constantly working to build intelligence to help bring enforcement action” against those involved in criminal activity affecting local shops and businesses.
He encouraged anyone experiencing drug dealing or suspicious activity anywhere in the city to report it “at the earliest opportunity”.
The force will soon issue South Wales Listens surveys in the area, he said, giving members of the public and shop owners the chance to spell out the issues they face in their day-to-day business.
Insp Pritchard said the force continues to work alongside its partners to “identify and address shared issues robustly”, to provide the service the people of Swansea deserve.
Shop owners are encouraged to report any theft, offence or anti-social behaviour on 101, and to always call 999 in an emergency.
Two serious assaults on one stretch since June
An increased police presence was seen on St Helen’s Road after this month’s assault. How long extra officers stay in an area differs case by case, Insp Pritchard said, and is determined by assessing community tensions after an incident.
He said this month’s assault “was an isolated incident which involved two parties who were known to each other”, and was dealt with “robustly and professionally”.
Craig Godfrey, 36, from Waun Wen, has been charged with Section 18 wounding with intent and possession of a sharp pointed article in a public place. He is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on 14 September.
In June, a 35-year-old man was charged with attempted murder after a knife incident on the same stretch of road.
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I live in swansea center.there are never any police to be seen on the streets drugs are everywhere just take a look at the vetch park