South Wales Police
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| South Wales Police Heddlu De Cymru |
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| Coverage | |
|---|---|
 South Wales Police Heddlu De Cymru area |
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| Area | Bridgend, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea and Vale of Glamorgan unitary authority areas |
| Size | 2,074 km² |
| Population | 1.2 million |
| Operations | |
| Formed | 1968 |
| HQ | Bridgend |
| Budget | {{{budget}}} |
| Officers | 3,316 |
| Divisions | 8 |
| Stations | |
| Chief Constable | Barbara Wilding |
| Website | www.south-wales.police.uk |
South Wales Police (Welsh: Heddlu De Cymru) is one of the four Home Office police forces in Wales. Its headquarters are based in Bridgend.
Covering Wales' capital city, Cardiff, as well as Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Swansea, and the western South Wales Valleys, it is the largest police force in Wales in terms of population, and the seventh largest in the UK.
The force was formed in 1968 by a merger of the Glamorgan Constabulary along with the borough forces for Cardiff, Swansea and Merthyr Tydfil. [1]. In 1974, with the re-organisation of local government, the force's area was expanded to cover the newly-created Mid Glamorgan, South Glamorgan and West Glamorgan.
In further local government re-organisation in 1996 the force area lost the Rhymney Valley area to Gwent Police. Today it covers the principal areas of Bridgend, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea and the Vale of Glamorgan — most of what was the ancient county of Glamorgan.
Glamorgan Constabulary had itself been established in 1841. A separate Neath borough police existed until 1947. [2]
Under proposals made by the Home Secretary on February 6, 2006, the force would merge with North Wales Police, Gwent Police and Dyfed-Powys Police, to form a single strategic force for all of Wales.[3]
The South Wales Police has participated in the World Police and Fire Games since 1995, except for the 1999 Stockholm Games.
The current Chief Constable is Barbara Wilding QPM, CBE, CCML.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Welsh Police Football Association—Teams. Retrieved on 2006-11-01.
- ^ Glamorgan Constabulary records. Retrieved on 2006-11-01.
- ^ "All-Wales police force confirmed", 6 February 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-01.
