A dossier of incidents obtained by the Western Telegraph paints a disturbing picture of drunken disorder and aggressive behaviour in Pembrokeshire’s county town.

Police incident logs relating to Castle Square, Haverfordwest, show calls made to police since the Licensing Act came into force in November 2005.

A 19-year-old man was arrested last week in relation to a serious assault near the square but incidents requiring the police have been a recurring problem for many years.

A 129-page document includes nearly 600 complaints and incidents that range from urinating in phone boxes and malicious calls to criminal damage and serious assaults.

Although some incidents took place during the day, the vast majority are recorded during the evening and early hours of the morning. Several incidents refer to the intoxication of people aged as young as 13.

All complaints recorded relate to the Castle Square area and are not linked to any pubs or bars nearby.

Recently, Dyfed-Powys Police, has introduced a mobile police station, which is parked on Castle Square on a Friday and Saturday night.

Haverfordwest’s Castle Square is one of only two cumulative impact areas identified by the Licensing Act in the county.

In his 2009 annual report Chief Inspector Alan Millichip urged Pembrokeshire County Council’s licensing committee to be vigilant when dealing with applications, variations or new premise licences in this area.

He said: “The police can confirm that this particular area still remains a problem area in terms of high levels of incidents of alcohol related crime and disorder, which can be directly attributed to the high density of licensed premises.”

Licensing officer Tony Davies said: “We’re doing our best in Castle Square.

“I’m hoping that the premises licence holders will work closely with the police to try and reduce what is happening on Castle Square at this time.”

  • Here are just some of the incidents at Castle Square, Haverfordwest, recorded in a police dossier since 2005:
  • December 3rd 2005, 10pm – Ambulance control contact the police about a 15-year-old boy with breathing difficulties. Police find boy has been taken to hospital with alcohol related health problems.
  • December 22nd 2005, 2.45am – 18-year-old man calls requesting a lift home because his parents would not pick him up. Advised about misuse of the 999 system.
  • June 25th 2006, 11pm – Police receive reports of a man in Castle Square with a head injury. Incident was seen on CCTV, he had fallen while intoxicated and was dealt with by paramedics.
  • July 18th 2007, 6pm – Report of man drunk and flat out on Castle Square. Police find one man with serious head injuries due to an assault. He is transferred to Morriston Hospital. He was heavily intoxicated when assaulted.
  • August 17th, 2008, 4.20am – Ambulance service report being on route to a person who has fallen out of a car at Castle Square. Officers speak to several witnesses, all state the man had been messing about inside a limo as it drove at about 10mph through Haverfordwest.

He had jumped out and was running alongside the car and ran straight into a lamp post. The man was taken to hospital and discharged a short time later.

  • June 28th 2009, 12.30am – 999 call reporting fighting at Castle Square and that 20 males were attacking another male who might need an ambulance. Police officers attend, enquiries commenced.
  • January 1st 2010, 3.35am – Man arrested at Castle Square after officers saw him acting in an aggressive manner. He was warned on a number of occasion but swore at officers. Arrested and issued with a fixed penalty ticket.