Figures released today show the number of children in Wales being arrested by police has fallen by 40 per cent in four years.
Wales' four police forces held 172 children each week according to figures released by the Howard League for Penal Reform.
Research by the charity shows officers made almost 9,000 arrests of seventeens and unders in 2011 in Wales.
It says it's pleased with the drop in numbers which the charity says are due to a change in culture which is "more focused on public safety than targets.”
South Wales - 49 a week: 2551 in 2011 - 28% fall since 2008
Dyfed Powys - 32 a week: 1643 in 2011 - 45% fall since 2008
Gwent - 41 a week - 2163 in 2011 - 32% fall since 2008
North Wales - 50 a week - 2596 in 2011 - 53% fall since 2008
Gwent Police confirm plans to close 17 front-counter services
Gwent Police has announced it will press ahead with plans to close front-counter services at 17 of its stations.
It is part of ongoing cutbacks to save the force 34 million pounds by 2015. Some have condemned the decision but the authority says its presence will remain as strong as ever.
"The Government is trying to change the face of British policing"
More than a thousand off duty police officers from across Wales are in London today to protest against proposed changes to policing across the UK.
It comes as the UK Government looks to make 20% savings in the force.
The Police Federation says the budget cuts are ‘criminal’ and will jeopardise public safety.
They hope today’s march will force the Government to listen to their fears.
The Home Office says existing police pay and conditions were designed more than 30 years ago and they will continue to ensure that police officers are rewarded for doing an exceptional job.
The officer threatened to arrest a Welsh shopkeeper for breaking an Australian law. The officer accidentally googled the laws for New South Wales instead of South Wales for selling smoking paraphernalia.
Gwent Police have apologised to the shopkeeper from Bargoed, near Caerphilly.
Police Federation to ballot members on industrial rights
The Police Federation of England and Wales national committee today voted unanimously to hold a ballot of its membership on the question of whether police officers want full industrial rights.
We greatly regret having to ballot our members in relation to the right to take industrial action but they are incredibly angry at this sustained attack on their terms and conditions, their take-home pay and their pensions.
Every other emergency service is allowed to take industrial action and many police forces in Europe can do likewise. If the status of constable as a servant of the crown, and, therefore, the protection afforded to that status, is removed, police officers will understandably seek parity with other employees.
– Steve Trigg, the Chair of the South Wales Police Federation
The Federation’s 135,000 members will be provided with all relevant information and the ballot will be held as soon as possible. In tandem, the Police Federation will explore all the consequences, including the legal position, with regards to police officers obtaining full industrial rights.
