Latest news with #WalesPolice
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Police warn woman and dog in matching sweatshirts may be using criminal tactic
Police are warning residents in Sturbridge of a woman in a sweatshirt and her dog, also in a sweatshirt, asking for help. While the woman appeared non-threatening, the Sturbridge Police Department wrote on Facebook, it could be part of a criminal tactic. 'We urge all residents to call the Sturbridge Police if a stranger comes to you in need. Criminals use these tactics to surveil property or if she needed medical services we could have provided her care,' the police department wrote. Around 7 p.m. on Thursday, people who live on Goodrich Road contacted the Sturbridge Police worried about a woman in their driveway. The woman was dressed entirely in black, wearing a hoodie and surgical mask, and had a white dog, who was also wearing a sweatshirt. The woman told the family that she wasn't feeling well. The family gave her water and she left. About two hours before, Sturbridge saw a high of 84 degrees on Thursday. By 7 p.m., it was only slightly lower at 83 degrees. A second family reported that a woman with an identical description asked to use their restroom around the same time. They let her inside, police said. Similar reports were received during the overnight hours of July 14-15. Sturbridge Police, Wales Police, Southbridge Police, and Massachusetts Police Troopers have been going door-to-door and searching wooded areas but have been unable to find the woman. The police department is asking residents call the police department if she is seen again. 'While the individual's behavior raises concerns, no criminal activity has been documented at this time,' police said. More News Emmy Award-winning soap opera star diagnosed with cancer Conn. casino winner: Second big jackpot won on the same game in a week Mass. weather: Relief from heat, humidity finally arrives on Friday Mass. father's chilling voicemail before family murder still raises questions about motives Bridgewater women to face charges after leaving dogs in hot car, police say Read the original article on MassLive. Solve the daily Crossword
BBC News
29-04-2025
- BBC News
Cardiff: People taken to hospital after Careau house fire
A number of people have been taken to hospital after a serious house fire in services were sent to the incident in Treseder Way, Caerau at 03:45 BST on were reported to be in the house as the fire took Wales Police say the incident is ongoing and are advising people to avoid the area. A Welsh ambulance service hazardous area response team, emergency response doctors and paramedics were all called to the fire crews, an aerial ladder platform and a water bowser also Wales Police added "there is currently a heavy emergency service presence in the area".
BBC News
16-03-2025
- BBC News
Bangor: Police crackdown on notorious cannabis farms high street
A high street that has become notorious for empty shops, street drinking and cannabis farms is the focus of a new police crackdown.A team of six police officers and a sergeant has been set up to do more visible patrols of the high street in Bangor, Wales Police said it had also carried out several raids in the city over the past two weeks and arrested 17 people."Bangor isn't any worse than other parts of north Wales for drug crime, but it's in a key location, so supply lines for drugs to Gwynedd and Anglesey come through Bangor," said Supt Arwel Hughes. The Hirael and Maesgeirchen areas will also have increased police patrols as part of an operation called Renew Bangor."Over the next few weeks we will be building up a better picture of the problems that go with the trade in illegal drugs, and targeting those as well," said Supt Hughes. The force said it was keen to improve the image of Bangor's high street, which has had problems with street drinking and antisocial behaviour in the cannabis farms were raided in the city in the months leading up to April 2023, two of which were in abandoned shop buildings on the high street. Mayor of Bangor Gareth Parry said: "We've heard a lot in recent years about cannabis farms operating on the high street and that preys on people's minds, that organised crime has been going on underneath our noses."Seeing the police presence, and hearing about this police operation has been really reassuring and will give people on the street confidence in our city again."A similar approach in Rhyl last year saw crime fall there by 14%. Officers said they could not reopen Bangor's empty shops, but they could make the city feel safer and a more attractive place to Antoniazzi, who runs a cafe in the city centre, said: "I've been working on the high street for many years and seen plenty of problems, but not enough of the police."There's no substitute for them getting out of their cars, walking the streets and listening to the community - it's really good to hear they will be doing that more often." Supt Hughes defended the police's record in dealing with crime in the city."Historically, we have tried to deal with crime by making lots of arrests – while that got us some short-term results we know that it isn't a long term solution," he said."What's different this time is that we want to listen to the community and spot problems as they start to emerge - and then work with the council and the NHS to make sure they don't come back."
BBC News
18-02-2025
- BBC News
Six child sexual image offences a day in Wales, new figures show
Welsh police forces logged six offences a day relating to child sexual abuse images last year, new figures campaigner has criticised the use of disappearing messages on apps such as Snapchat, after the app was noted in 50% of cases involving social media charity NSPCC have called for tougher action from politicians and social media companies, as there can be "no excuse for inaction or delay".The UK government said it was "committed to the robust implementation of the Online Safety Act", and had already passed laws to crack down on child sexual abuse online. Home Office figures showed 2,194 child sexual abuse image crimes were recorded in Wales last year,South Wales Police recorded the most with 964, followed by North Wales, which had were 503 child sexual abuse image crimes reported to Gwent Police, and 192 to Dyfed-Powys Police. It covers a wide range of offences from possessing, making, distributing or publishing child abuse material, to sharing or coercing someone under-18 to send indecent a separate Freedom of Information request, the NSPCC found that of the offences in England and Wales where a social media platform used by the perpetrator was recorded, half had taken place on social media sites included 11% on Instagram, 7% on Facebook and 6% on year Childline delivered 903 counselling sessions to children and young people relating to blackmail or threats to expose or share sexual images online - a 7% increase compared to 2022/23. Snapchat offences 'a wake-up call' Mared Parry from Wales, who now lives in London, was 14 when she was groomed online by men who manipulated her into sending sexual images of presenter and journalist is also an online safety campaigner who has worked with the NSPCC, and described the scale of the problem as "horrifying"."Evolving technology seems to have made it easier for groomers to get away with their crimes when it should be the opposite," she said."Online abuse has very real consequences." Snapchat being the platform used in half the recorded offences should also be a "wake-up call", said Ms Parry. "Its disappearing messages, lack of accountability, and emphasis on privacy create the perfect conditions for abuse to go undetected."It's already difficult enough for victims to prove abuse, and features like this just make it even easier for offenders to cover their tracks."Yet, tech companies continue to prioritise user engagement over safeguarding, and the consequences are devastating." What should you do if you are threatened online? Being threatened online when it comes to sexual images can be a frightening experience. The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has the following advice: Remember that you are not at fault if approached or threatened online. The person trying to blackmail or sexually extort you is the one who is in the wrong, lots of other young people have been in a similar all contact with anyone who is trying to threaten you, and do not share any more images or videos or pay any money of any sort. If you have been communicating on an app, there should be in-built tools to block and report the will not be in trouble with the police - report what has happened to your local police on 101 or by making a report to the National Crime Agency's CEOP Safety Centre, where a child protection advisor will make sure you get the help you need. You can use an online tool called Report Remove. The IWF will then try to have the sexual images, videos, or links removed from the internet. You can also talk to Childline, who have provided support to others in the same parents, it is also vital to have open and honest conversations with your children about the risks online and to listen to their concerns. Tech bosses 'let off the hook' The NSPCC have issued a joint call with other charities, including Barnardo's and the Marie Collins Foundation, for the UK government to give regulator Ofcom greater user-to-user services are only required to remove illegal content where it was "technically feasible", according to Ofcom, something the charities have criticised as an "unacceptable loophole".The charities said children will not be protected from the worst forms of abuse on private messaging services under Ofcom's current plans. But with most of the offences taking place on private messaging sites, the NSPCC also claim companies need to introduce "robust safeguards" so their sites are not "a safe haven for perpetrators of child sexual abuse". "These offences cause tremendous harm and distress to children, with much of this illegal material being repeatedly shared and viewed online," said NSPCC chief executive Chris Sherwood. "It is an outrage that in 2025 we are still seeing a blatant disregard from tech companies to prevent this illegal content from proliferating on their sites," he added. "Having separate rules for private messaging services lets tech bosses off the hook from putting robust protections for children in place."This enables crimes to continue to flourish on their platforms even though we now have the Online Safety Act." In a statement, a Home Office spokesperson described child sexual exploitation and abuse as despicable, and said tech company design choices cannot be used as an excuse not to root out "heinous crimes". "UK law is clear: child sexual abuse is illegal and social media is no exception, so companies must ensure criminal activity cannot proliferate on their sites."We have already introduced four new laws to crack down on child sexual abuse online and we will not hesitate to go further to protect children from vile online predators." A Snapchat spokesperson condemned any sexual exploitation on the platform and said it works with law enforcement agencies to identify information and content if necessary. "Whether that's through our proactive detection efforts or confidential in-app reporting, we remove it, lock the violating account, and report to authorities."Snapchat is designed to make it difficult for predators to find and interact with young people and has extra safeguards in place to help prevent strangers from connecting with teens."Our Family Centre also allows parents to see who their teens are friends with and talking to on Snapchat. "We work with expert NGOs, and industry peers to jointly attack these problems and don't believe the methodology used in this report reflects the seriousness of our collective commitment and efforts."
