South Wales Police
Welsh territorial police force / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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South Wales Police (Welsh: Heddlu De Cymru; SWP) is one of the four territorial police forces in Wales. It is headquartered in Bridgend.
South Wales Police Heddlu De Cymru | |
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Agency overview | |
Formed | 1969 |
Annual budget | £315.8M 2020-2021 |
Legal personality | Territorial police force |
Jurisdictional structure | |
Operations jurisdiction | Bridgend, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea and Vale of Glamorgan unitary authority areas, UK |
South Wales Police operations area | |
Size | 803 square miles (2,080 km2)[1] |
Population | 1.34 million[1] |
Legal jurisdiction | England and Wales |
Constituting instrument | |
General nature | |
Operational structure | |
Overseen by | |
Headquarters | Bridgend |
Police officers |
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PCSOs | 366 (2020)[2] |
Police and Crime Commissioner responsible | |
Agency executive |
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Basic Command Units |
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Facilities | |
Stations | 43 |
Total vehicles | 773 |
Website | |
www |
The force was formed as South Wales Constabulary on 1 June 1969, by the amalgamation of the former Glamorgan Constabulary, Cardiff City Police, Swansea Borough Police and Merthyr Tydfil Borough Police.[4][5] In 1974, with the reorganisation of local government, the force's area was expanded to cover the newly created counties of Mid, South and West Glamorgan. In 1996, the force adopted its current name and lost the Rhymney Valley area to Gwent Police due to further local government reorganisation.
Today, the force serves the principal areas of Bridgend, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea and the Vale of Glamorgan – most of the historic county of Glamorgan.