Shopping centre security guard Les Owen has worked in security for thirty years. The 53-year-old started his job at Swansea's Quadrant Shopping Centre nine weeks ago and claims he's already been assaulted by a teenager in the past month. Les works in Swansea Central, which had the highest rates of anti-social behaviour in the whole of Wales last year.
"They cause riots. They're bored. Riding bikes through here and in general just causing a nuisance. They're insolent- you can't talk to them anymore. We're totally ignored. When I was growing up you wouldn't dare answer an adult back. Now it's the norm."
"But there's a lack of things to do for kids. There's no community centres for them to go anywhere. The events they put on for teenagers are very few and far between." You can get more Swansea news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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Last year, Swansea Central- a neighbourhood which covers the city centre and areas including Swansea Marina and Mount Pleasant, had the highest rate of anti-social behaviour in Wales with 79.1 instances per 1,000 people. The second highest was Stow Hill in Newport, which was close behind with 78.9. Just a fifteen minute drive away from Swansea city centre is the neighbourhood in Wales which had the lowest rate of anti-social behaviour, the thriving village suburb of Killay. You can read more about Killay here.
Swansea Central also had the second-highest crime rate in Wales with 472 crimes per 1,000 people, which is significantly more than the second highest (the Swansea neighbourhood of Cockett, with 137).
Les' colleague Wayne Cole, 54, said anti-social behaviour has been "terrible" in the city centre recently. "The bus station's having really bad trouble every night. I think it's getting worse. I've been here for eight years and we've never had none of this. In the last six months there's been a spate of 30 kids outside. Battering and fighting people."
Here are the ten neighbourhoods in Wales which had the worst rates of anti-social behaviour in 2022:
Earlier this year, South Wales Police pledged an increased police presence in Swansea to target unruly teenagers loitering in Castle Square and Swansea Bus Station. Part of Operation Viscaria, a wider operation to reduce anti-social behaviour in the city centre, youth causing problems in the area were to be moved on when appropriate, claimed police.
But the issue of anti-social behaviour in Swansea is not just caused by young people. Cattle & Co Swansea is an American BBQ restaurant perched on the edge of Castle Square on Castle Street, Swansea. The manager of the restaurant, who did not wish to be named, said he has worked in bars and clubs on the often rowdy nightclub strip Wind Street for many years but since working in the Castle Street restaurant he has been shocked by some of the behaviour he has witnessed in broad daylight.
"We've had a fair bit [of anti-social behaviour]. It seems to be a loitering area. I've seen a few fights out there in the middle of the day. It's not really a good look [for the business], but it's also away from it. It's just a Swansea thing. There seems to be key areas at the moment. The bus station, High Street and Castle Gardens. I've seen my fair share working on Wind Street. You see issues in clubs but you wouldn't expect to see it at 12pm on a Wednesday. In the school holidays it's younger people. Kids have gathered in front of the restaurant and we've had to ask them to move on."
On the other side of town, another business has witnessed a rise in anti-social behaviour over the years. I asked the owner of Just Spex opticians on Shoppers Walk, Paul Weston, 69, if he was surprised that Swansea Central is the worst area in Wales for anti-social behaviour. His shop, which he has owned for 20 years, is located opposite the Grand Theatre, not far from Swansea bus station and the seating area outside it which is often cited as an anti-social behaviour hotspot.
"No. Because I see a lot of what I would call down and outs, shouting and and screaming on the streets. Anytime of the day. I open at 10am so anytime from then. I wouldn't say younger people- it's middle-aged people really and women too, not just blokes."
Paul, who travels to different areas of the UK regularly in his campervan, said: "It doesn't seem to be such a problem elsewhere. It's particularly a problem around the bus station because there's so much seating there. They took it away and it seemed to cure the problem of people hanging around there but they put it back again for some reason. But a lot of elderly people want that seating there and why should law-abiding, tax-paying people be punished?"
The business owner said he often sees people loitering outside the bus station and Wilko who appear to be drunk or on drugs at all hours of the day. "I don't like condemning these people though. You don't know what's happened to them in their life to get them to that place. It's got worse over the past 10 years. There's a lot more of it. It was better during the pandemic, I think it was because the council was housing more people in B&Bs and hotels so they had somewhere to go."
Another local business owner, Deborah Reed, has worked in The Leather Shop on Oxford Street since 1976. Deborah said she tells relatives who help out in the shop to keep it locked until she arrives as some fear for their safety. She added many drunken people congregate daily outside a nearby nightclub and behind the other shops on her street.
In response to the high rate of anti-social behaviour in Swansea Central, Chief Inspector James Ratti of South Wales Police said: “The city centre has thriving day time and night time economies which have seen significant investment in recent times resulting in increased footfall in the area. This brings additional challenges for local policing but I can assure the public that local officers are working closely with the ‘Safer Swansea Partnership’ to ensure that Swansea remains a safe place to visit whether it is during the day or night."
But some of those working in the city centre day-to-day feel it is struggling to attract the same numbers it once did. Dawn Floyd has worked in the Donut Den cafe in Swansea market for many years and has witnessed the changing landscape of the city. "The centre of Swansea is no more basically. We need better and bigger shops. There's nothing in Swansea city centre to bring people in. We saw a big downturn in our takings when Debenham's shut."
Local taxi driver Clive Sampson, 60, echoed Dawn's sentiments and said more shops were needed in the city centre as there was less and less footfall. When we spoke at around 2 o'clock on a Thursday afternoon, he had made just £24 despite starting work at 10am. "That's less than minimum wage," he said, shaking his head.
Chief Inspector James Ratti of South Wales Police said: "Operation ‘Viscaria’ is a multi-agency initiative to target anti-social behaviour, substance misuse and criminality in the area and in conjuncture with the Swansea Business Improvement District we are trialling a new recording and intelligence platform that will hopefully improve communication and the sharing of information between businesses and local officers, thereby improving our ability to identify and target specific locations and individuals.
"Whilst the city centre statistics may show an increase in anti-social behaviour, I am pleased to point out from February this year to May, we have seen reductions in some crime types, most notably, violence where injuries were sustained, other sexual offences and Business & community burglaries which are down 38%. There remain challenges in other crime areas which the local neighbourhood team continue to address.”
A Swansea Council spokesperson said: “Anybody witnessing anti-social behaviour should report it to the police. It isn’t exclusive to Swansea but we do take the issue seriously. ASB shouldn’t be allowed to make people feel intimidated or threatened. Our ongoing work with the public, businesses and a wide range of organisations, including the police and Swansea BID (Business Improvement District), continues to ensure that Swansea city centre is a safe and welcoming place to be.
“Our city centre rangers, part-funded by BID, help businesses and the public to enjoy visiting the city centre and its many excellent shops, cafes, bars and service providers. Our work together has resulted in the city winning the Purple Flag for a ninth consecutive year, highlighting how visitors can always expect an entertaining, diverse, safe and enjoyable night out. We’re one of only two places in Wales that can fly the flag.
“Public Space Protection Orders are in place to help keep people safe and, as part of the city’s £1bn regeneration programme, millions of pounds have been spent to upgrade Wind Street and Kingsway. Improvements are also planned for Castle Square, making it greener and welcoming to all.”
These are the neighbourhoods with the highest anti-social behaviour rate in their areas (instances of anti-social behaviour per 1,000 people last year):
- Swansea: Central Swansea (79)
- Newport: Stow Hill (79)
- Denbighshire: Rhyl North (71)
- Conwy: Colwyn Bay North (70)
- Cardiff: Cathays South & Bute Park (70)
- Merthyr Tydfil: Gelli-deg & Town (55)
- Torfean: Cwmbran (49)
- Isle of Anglesey: Holyhead (45)
- Wrexham: Hermitage & Whitegate (43)
- Gwynedd: Bangor City (41)
- Caerphilly: Blackwood (40)
- Neath Port Talbot: Neath Town (39)
- Flintshire: Connah's Quay North (39)
- Pembrokeshire: Milford Haven West (36)
- Carmarthenshire: Llanelli South (35)
- Ceredigion: Aberystwyth North (34)
- The Vale of Glamorgan: Barry Island (30)
- Blaenau Gwent: Blaina & Nantyglo (30)
- Rhondda Cynon Taf: Church Village East & Ton-teg (27)
- Monmouthshire: Caldicot South (25)
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