Pop-up shop is a chilling reminder of what Christmas could cost you

The display of items tells stories of crimes committed over Christmas. 

South Wales Police has opened their own pop-up shop at the Quadrant Shopping Centre, Swansea, giving members of the public the chance to view items on display which have been based on real stories, and speak to officers about crime prevention advice over the festive season. 

The pop-up has opened as part of the “Cost of Christmas” campaign which explores the possible consequences in which crime could cost you. Whether it be a life lost, a written-off car, a petrified women or a prison sentence, the force is raising awareness of what the real could cost could be, if you were to commit a crime. 

Cost of Christmas is a space that officers are encouraging people to visit over December, to learn from real stories which have happened over the Christmas period to people in South Wales and what the cost was for the perpetrator and victims. 

Neighbourhood Policing Inspector for Swansea Central, Andrew Hedley, said: “At this time of year, a lot of us are out enjoying ourselves and buying gifts for friends and family, but sadly this will not be the same for everyone at Christmas. 

“By opening our pop-up shop, we hope to raise awareness of crimes we see over Christmas, including domestic abuse, drink/drug driving, night-time economy-related violence, scams and acquisitive crime. 

“We really want to get people to thinking twice about committing these crimes and to illustrate the consequences by showing how much crime could cost you. We also know that some people will be at risk of becoming a victim of abuse or another form of crime, so it’s important we are here to provide safety advice.” 

Our partners at Swansea City Council’s Community Safety Team will also have a presence over December. There will be a range of Safer Swansea partner organisations attending ready to speak to Christmas shoppers and answer any safety concerns they may have. 

Hayley Gwilliam, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Support, said: “We’re very pleased to be joining up with South Wales Police in the countdown to Christmas. 

“By highlighting the impact of committing crime this time of year alongside what you can do to prevent it, we hope even more of us will be safe and happy throughout the festive season.” 

The pop-up will be manned by officers during opening times, who will be happy to speak to anyone with concerns. There will also be visits from departments from South Wales Police including the Roads Policing Unit, Police Wellbeing Dogs, Cyber Crime team and Rape Investigation Team. These visits and a schedule will be published on the Cost of Christmas webpage. 

The shop will be open from Friday 29 November to Tuesday 24 December every day between 10.00am and 4.00pm. It can be found opposite WHSmith near the Nelson Street entrance. 

For more information about the campaign, safety advice and support visit: https://www.south-wales.police.uk/police-forces/south-wales-police/areas/campaigns/campaigns/cost-of-christmas/