Haverfordwest’s nightlife hotspot became the scene of a major undercover police sweep on Saturday night — and the criminals didn’t even know they were being watched.
As part of Project Vigilant, plain-clothed officers blended into the crowds, posing as ordinary members of the public. Their mission: to spot suspicious behaviour, protect vulnerable people, and swoop in before serious offences could take place.
The operation kicked into high gear after multiple reports of a large street fight in Portfield Avenue. Officers raced to the scene, where a group of men were brawling in the middle of the road. With support from local police, one man was hauled away in handcuffs for being drunk and disorderly.
Elsewhere in the town centre, police witnessed a driver swerving dangerously through busy streets. He was stopped and dealt with for driving without due care and attention. Another motorist on Quay Street received a section 59 notice for antisocial driving — a formal warning that means if he’s caught driving recklessly again within 12 months, his car can be seized on the spot.
While crime was being tackled, officers were also on the lookout for vulnerable people at risk. Two 18-year-old women were found in a secluded area with a group of men. Officers stepped in to check on their welfare, explain the undercover operation, and offer safeguarding advice to keep them safe on future nights out.
The covert patrols also paid off in the fight against drugs. In one incident, plain-clothed officers noticed a man behaving suspiciously. A search led to the discovery of a Class A substance, and the suspect was arrested on the spot.
Detective Sergeant Vinny Barrett, who led the operation, said:
“The aim of Vigilant is to ensure the safety of people primarily on a night out, and to prevent sexual or serious offences from taking place. Prevention is a hugely important part of policing, and by working in teams of officers who look out for and disrupt potential criminal behaviour we can really make a difference in stopping potential offences before they happen.”
Saturday’s sting showed that, even when you can’t see them, police are watching — and in Haverfordwest that night, trouble didn’t stand a chance.
