06/08/2014 BBC Wales Today

Hundreds of patients have been taken to hospital by the police because

More than 600 sick and injured people were taken to

hospital by three forces, over a three-year period.

The organisation which represents police officers says it's been

raising the matter with Welsh Government ministers for years.

Our political correspondent Daniel Davies has the story.

Stabbing victims, people who attempted suicide,

They've all got to hospital in police cars

because an ambulance wasn't available.

Three of the four police forces provided figures and

for three years, Gwent Police took at least 199 patients to hospital.

In South Wales, the biggest police force, there were 342.

South Wales also saw a big rise in the number of cases,

The Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file

officers, says it's been raising the problem with Welsh Government

As a police officer now, you could expect to have to put

someone in a police vehicle because an ambulance isn't available.

And even if one is available, you could be told it's coming from

Carmarthen, perhaps, which may be 50 miles away, and somebody may be

bleeding out in your arms and you have to make a decision then as to

whether or not you take them to hospital or wait for the ambulance.

These figures represent a tiny fraction of the demands faced

A service which received more than 35,000

But some worry that every time the police are forced to step in

to help, it puts more pressure on the service they provide.

That's very worrying for the individuals concerned

and also an inappropriate use of a very stretched police service.

And once again, an indication of an ambulance service that is

creaking at the seams and is under severe strain and is failing to

respond to the needs of individuals and communities in Wales.

The ambulance service says it works with the police to reduce instances

where they're waiting for ambulances to turn up.

It's not the police's job but there are circumstances in situations

where I'm sure it's more appropriate for a police officer to decide it

would be quicker, rather than waste the time on an ambulance, especially

But, you know, without knowing the facts it's

More people than ever are calling 999 for an ambulance but the service

If more of that burden continues to fall

on the police, it will be another headache for the Welsh Government.

It's been confirmed that a body found on the Greek island

of Crete is that of Arthur Jones from Denbighshire.

The 73-year-old went missing in June, shortly after arriving

An extensive search was launched, involving North Wales Police.

Mr Jones' family says he was found in a remote part of the island,

A man has been jailed for life for murdering

his sister's ex-boyfriend during a house party near Caerphilly.

Ian Davies was stabbed by his former friend Paul Mapps

The judge said the 26-year-old had shown no remorse, and must serve

Should the electrification of the railway line between

the Valleys and Cardiff be scrapped in favour of a tram system?

One rail industry expert has told this programme trams would

Electrification is a key part of the metro project, which it's hoped will

Here's our business correspondent Brian Meechan.

It's an ambitious plan but with a big price tag.

It's hoped the Metro project will get rid of congestion might this,

a daily headache for the thousands who travel into Cardiff for work.

The plan involves bringing together trains, buses and trams to build a

The electrification of the Valleys lines would make that network faster

at an estimated cost of up to ?463 million.

But better solutions are available, according to one expert.

Where electrification is coming to the Valleys,

what you're going to get there is standard trains,

and they'll run pretty much the same sort of timetable.

So the idea is that if we use different stock -

trams or tram trains - modern trams, we could save time,

offer better services to passengers and all with the same budget.

Manchester moved from heavy trains to trams decades ago.

Edinburgh's tram system was hit by a series of problems

and came in over budget and with a shorter route than planned.

The point of the Metro is to provide a cheap,

reliable and regular way for people to get from the communities that

they want to live in, like here in Merthyr,

to where businesses want to create jobs, often in Cardiff.

They take the money they earn there and bring it back here to spend

in shops and nurseries and other services,

which then boost the local economy.

People in Merthyr want to see improvements in transport links.

Despite the travel on the roads, it's quicker to go by bus

at the moment so investment in the trains would be better.

The trains take about an hour or an hour and 20 minutes, so if you

Trams could prove a plan B if the ongoing dispute

between the UK and Welsh Governments over how electrification should be

Both argue that the other should pay for it.

Business leaders want ministers to stick to the original plan

and deliver electrification and a Metro system.

Yes, it builds upon the Valleys line electrification

but it also is looking at the bus network and there is an element of

The balance of those different modes of transport may well shift

in the future but there is a plan there

and let's look at trying to deliver that at the moment.

The Welsh Government will deliver a report on the Metro project soon.

Whether it is heavy trains or trams, people in them,

great valleys will want to make sure that the railways stay on track.

Cannabis plants have been discovered at a house where

The house in Rhos, near Wrexham, was unoccupied when the fire broke

Neighbours raised the alarm and had to evacuate their home while

crews spent more than three hours bringing the fire under control.

The winner of the Eisteddfod's Welsh Learner of the Year has

Joella Price, from Port Talbot, was named at a ceremony in Llanelli.

It comes on the day the Welsh Government announced it's

investing more than ?1 million in new centres to promote

A Roman fort has been brought back to life with a little help from CGI

This is what Segontium fort in Caernarfon looks like these days.

But experts from Cadw have created this film showing what they think it

The team used floor plans, aerial footage and artist

impressions to digitally rebuild the fort, which at one time may have

The success of Welsh athletes at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

will be celebrated at a special event in Cardiff Bay next month.

Team Wales had a record medal haul, with 36 -

The First Minister, Carwyn Jones, says the Welsh Government will host

the homecoming at the Senedd, on the 10th September.

I can promise you some sunshine through tomorrow but things are

turning more unsettled as we head into Friday and the weekend, so

plenty of dry weather tomorrow and some brightness. Through tonight, a

fairly quiet night with clear skies and variable amounts of cloud.

Overnight, 12-15. The winds light so we could see mist and fog. First

thing tomorrow morning, a fine start. A bit of cloud around but it

will brighten up and plenty of dry conditions to look forward to. For

the rest of the British Isles, if you showers across Northern Ireland

and Scotland. For the bulk of the country, it is dry with sunshine and

highs of 17-25. In Wales tomorrow afternoon, a lovely afternoon if you

are going to the Eisteddfod. It will be a fine day. Take some sunscreen.

If you are heading out for activities, be aware it's going to

be pretty warm as the sea temperature is around 17 Celsius and

the temperatures inland are 18-21. Through tomorrow night, a touch

cooler than tonight with temperatures in towns and cities

into double figures but in rural areas, they could get into single

figures. Friday, a dry and fine start to the day. -- a dry and fine

start. Through the day, we will see showers. Low pressure taking charge

for the weekend and unsettled conditions come. By Sunday, wet and

windy and stormy conditions. Saturday is the better day of the

weekend with sunshine and showers. A bit breezy. Uncertainty of the

Sunday - keep an eye on the forecast.

We'll have the latest news and sport, traffic updates

and weather in Breakfast from 6am tomorrow morning.

From all of us on the programme, good night.