Efforts continue in bid to get best out of troubled street
‘‘ Because behind all of this there is clearly criminal activity and sadly domestic violence - Swansea Council officer Paul Thomas
A SUPPORT group which helps sex workers from the back of a van has been continuing its outreach work in Swansea during the Covid pandemic.
The Swan Project, run by the charity Swansea Women’s Aid, provides practical and emotional support for sex workers in the High Street area of the city.
Swansea Council officer Paul Thomas told a public services board meeting that the van went out four evenings a week, with between 10 and 20 sex workers getting advice from project workers, including a sexual health nurse.
In addition, the van offers needle exchange, and blood-borne virus testing.
Mr Thomas also said six sex workers had also taken up the offer of a rapid prescribing service, which normally is only available through the criminal justice system.
It was an example, he said, of a public health approach to dealing with people who often led chaotic lives.
The council has recently secured change of use permission to convert three retail units at the top of High Street, near the Dyfatty lights junction, into community hubs.
Mr Thomas said the hubs would offer a warmer and more secure environment for services such as the Swan Project.
“That’s one of the services we rather hope will work out of these premises once they are ready to go,” he said.
Mr Thomas added that plain-clothed police operations were continuing in order to build up trust with sex workers.
“Because behind all of this there is clearly criminal activity and sadly domestic violence,” he said.
Mr Thomas also gave a brief overview of so-called county lines drug dealing, in which gangs from large cities set up operations in smaller cities and towns.
He said there were a number of county lines operating in Swansea, and that drug warrants had been carried out at the top of High Street and nearby Matthew Street.
He said young people caught up in this criminal activity, including two teenagers who were from Essex but living in flats in Dyfatty, were being exploited or trafficked.
A number of organisations and agencies have been co-ordinating their efforts to improve the top end of High Street. The issues are not new, and Mr Thomas said an action plan was being developed with police.
Meanwhile, upgrades to blocks of flats on Griffith John Street and Croft Street, Dyfatty, are planned. A major revamp of High Street’s Palace Theatre has been given the go-ahead, and hundreds of student flats are being built a little further down, near the railway station.
Mr Thomas said people in the area wanted to see change. “When we did the initial conversation about getting a commitment to be part of this, we had some really good and interesting conversations with people,” he said.
“They are very keen to be part of this.”
After the meeting, the council said contractors were starting to refurbish the three vacant retail units at the top of High Street.
A spokesman said some local groups had been consulted on these community hubs, with a wider consultation to take place shortly.
“Our initial thoughts are that this could mean opportunities for items such as a community-led social enterprise café and shop, safe areas for confidential discussions, popup space for creative activities, areas for agencies to work in partnership with each other and space for organisations to engage with local young people,” he said.
“High Street is important to Swansea’s future and we want the people who live there to feel as supported as possible.”
‘‘ High Street is important to Swansea’s future and we want the people who live there to feel as supported as possible
- Council spokesman