City centre safety initiatives
Swansea
The Help Point - Swansea
The Swansea Help Point is a specialist treatment facility, which provides care to vulnerable people requiring First Aid treatment. Situated at the Strand car park in Swansea city centre, it is staffed with nurses, paramedics, St John Ambulance, police and student / support volunteers for South Wales Police.
The Help Point is open every Wednesday and Saturday from 10pm until 4am, as well as on other key dates throughout the year including Varsity, Beaujolais Day, bank holidays and key sporting events.
As well as medical treatment, visitors to the Help Point can access mobile phones chargers and water, making it a place of safety for anyone who finds themselves in a vulnerable position when visiting Swansea by night.
Cardiff
Cardiff Safety Bus
The Cardiff Safety Buses patrol the city centre on Wednesday nights during academic semesters, and on Friday and Saturday nights year-round. They support everyone and anyone within the night-time economy who may be vulnerable, and are not restricted solely to students. The buses are also around on various 'event' days such as Varsity, Pride, and sporting and music events.
The buses, which are staffed by officers and volunteers, carry essentials such as First Aid kits, phone chargers and water. The initiative has helped ensure hundreds of people who have found themselves in a vulnerable position or where their personal safety was at risk, have been taken to their homes or another place of safety, such as the Alcohol Treatment Centre.
Since September 2022, more than 700 people have been assisted by the Safety Bus teams, with South Wales Police volunteers having given 2,400 hours of their time to help keep pub-goers, students and other visitors to the city centre safe.
Due to their city-centre base, the buses have previously been considered student safety buses, but anyone who finds themselves in a vulnerable position, regardless or age or gender, is urged to seek the team's help.
Outside of the set patrol days, the team will advertise the buses' availability on social media (see South Wales Police Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan on Facebook), so it is always advisable to check on these before heading out for the evening.
They also work closely with bar staff, door staff, street pastors and taxi marshals, amongst others, who will be able to signpost the public to the Safety Bus team. Such partners are also able to contact the Safety Buses on an individual's behalf if deemed necessary.
LGBTQ+ Partnership Scheme
A partnership which aims to encourage members of the LGBT+ community to report hate crimes, which was launched in October 2021 by South Wales Police and the SWP LGBT+ Network. Regular events are held at the LGBT+ venues in Cardiff city centre for community members and those who work in the venues to feedback any tensions or concerns, to feel reassured and supported by SWP.
We are also working with licensed premises throughout the city centre to help upskill their staff on LGBT+ and Hate Crime issues so identification and reporting will improve further.
General safety advice
If you’re heading out be sure to plan ahead to make sure you get back home safely.
Driving should never be an option if you’ve been drinking so both public transport and taxis and private hire are good options.
But there are always precautions you can take to ensure you’re using only licensed operators.
Local authorities are responsible for licensing and it is always worth checking out their websites for details on their licensing conditions, how to identify a licensed vehicle, official taxi rank locations and hints and tips for safe travel.
While some details may differ dependant on area, following these steps is wise regardless of where you’re travelling:
- Use official ranks or private hire offices to arrange your journey – always pre-book where possible.
- Check the unique licence number of the vehicle before you get in – if possible, take a photo of, or make a note of the number on the door sticker or rear plate.
- A licenced driver should be wearing an ID badge containing licence number and expiry date. A second badge should also be displayed in the vehicle. Be sure to check them.
- Check / agree the likely cost before travel.
- If in any doubt, don’t get in to the vehicle.
All local authorities will operate a complaints procedure, but any criminal matters should also be reported to police.