:00:17. > :00:22.Hundreds of patients have been taken to hospital by the police because
:00:23. > :00:26.More than 600 sick and injured people were taken to
:00:27. > :00:30.hospital by three forces, over a three-year period.
:00:31. > :00:33.The organisation which represents police officers says it's been
:00:34. > :00:37.raising the matter with Welsh Government ministers for years.
:00:38. > :00:42.Our political correspondent Daniel Davies has the story.
:00:43. > :00:44.Stabbing victims, people who attempted suicide,
:00:45. > :00:49.They've all got to hospital in police cars
:00:50. > :00:52.because an ambulance wasn't available.
:00:53. > :00:55.Three of the four police forces provided figures and
:00:56. > :01:00.for three years, Gwent Police took at least 199 patients to hospital.
:01:01. > :01:08.In South Wales, the biggest police force, there were 342.
:01:09. > :01:12.South Wales also saw a big rise in the number of cases,
:01:13. > :01:18.The Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file
:01:19. > :01:20.officers, says it's been raising the problem with Welsh Government
:01:21. > :01:26.As a police officer now, you could expect to have to put
:01:27. > :01:28.someone in a police vehicle because an ambulance isn't available.
:01:29. > :01:32.And even if one is available, you could be told it's coming from
:01:33. > :01:37.Carmarthen, perhaps, which may be 50 miles away, and somebody may be
:01:38. > :01:41.bleeding out in your arms and you have to make a decision then as to
:01:42. > :01:44.whether or not you take them to hospital or wait for the ambulance.
:01:45. > :01:47.These figures represent a tiny fraction of the demands faced
:01:48. > :01:51.A service which received more than 35,000
:01:52. > :01:58.But some worry that every time the police are forced to step in
:01:59. > :02:01.to help, it puts more pressure on the service they provide.
:02:02. > :02:04.That's very worrying for the individuals concerned
:02:05. > :02:08.and also an inappropriate use of a very stretched police service.
:02:09. > :02:11.And once again, an indication of an ambulance service that is
:02:12. > :02:16.creaking at the seams and is under severe strain and is failing to
:02:17. > :02:19.respond to the needs of individuals and communities in Wales.
:02:20. > :02:22.The ambulance service says it works with the police to reduce instances
:02:23. > :02:26.where they're waiting for ambulances to turn up.
:02:27. > :02:32.It's not the police's job but there are circumstances in situations
:02:33. > :02:36.where I'm sure it's more appropriate for a police officer to decide it
:02:37. > :02:40.would be quicker, rather than waste the time on an ambulance, especially
:02:41. > :02:47.But, you know, without knowing the facts it's
:02:48. > :02:53.More people than ever are calling 999 for an ambulance but the service
:02:54. > :02:58.If more of that burden continues to fall
:02:59. > :03:02.on the police, it will be another headache for the Welsh Government.
:03:03. > :03:05.It's been confirmed that a body found on the Greek island
:03:06. > :03:08.of Crete is that of Arthur Jones from Denbighshire.
:03:09. > :03:11.The 73-year-old went missing in June, shortly after arriving
:03:12. > :03:17.An extensive search was launched, involving North Wales Police.
:03:18. > :03:20.Mr Jones' family says he was found in a remote part of the island,
:03:21. > :03:26.A man has been jailed for life for murdering
:03:27. > :03:30.his sister's ex-boyfriend during a house party near Caerphilly.
:03:31. > :03:33.Ian Davies was stabbed by his former friend Paul Mapps
:03:34. > :03:39.The judge said the 26-year-old had shown no remorse, and must serve
:03:40. > :03:46.Should the electrification of the railway line between
:03:47. > :03:50.the Valleys and Cardiff be scrapped in favour of a tram system?
:03:51. > :03:53.One rail industry expert has told this programme trams would
:03:54. > :03:59.Electrification is a key part of the metro project, which it's hoped will
:04:00. > :04:06.Here's our business correspondent Brian Meechan.
:04:07. > :04:09.It's an ambitious plan but with a big price tag.
:04:10. > :04:14.It's hoped the Metro project will get rid of congestion might this,
:04:15. > :04:18.a daily headache for the thousands who travel into Cardiff for work.
:04:19. > :04:21.The plan involves bringing together trains, buses and trams to build a
:04:22. > :04:28.The electrification of the Valleys lines would make that network faster
:04:29. > :04:32.at an estimated cost of up to ?463 million.
:04:33. > :04:36.But better solutions are available, according to one expert.
:04:37. > :04:39.Where electrification is coming to the Valleys,
:04:40. > :04:43.what you're going to get there is standard trains,
:04:44. > :04:47.and they'll run pretty much the same sort of timetable.
:04:48. > :04:50.So the idea is that if we use different stock -
:04:51. > :04:55.trams or tram trains - modern trams, we could save time,
:04:56. > :05:00.offer better services to passengers and all with the same budget.
:05:01. > :05:05.Manchester moved from heavy trains to trams decades ago.
:05:06. > :05:10.Edinburgh's tram system was hit by a series of problems
:05:11. > :05:14.and came in over budget and with a shorter route than planned.
:05:15. > :05:17.The point of the Metro is to provide a cheap,
:05:18. > :05:21.reliable and regular way for people to get from the communities that
:05:22. > :05:23.they want to live in, like here in Merthyr,
:05:24. > :05:27.to where businesses want to create jobs, often in Cardiff.
:05:28. > :05:30.They take the money they earn there and bring it back here to spend
:05:31. > :05:34.in shops and nurseries and other services,
:05:35. > :05:37.which then boost the local economy.
:05:38. > :05:40.People in Merthyr want to see improvements in transport links.
:05:41. > :05:42.Despite the travel on the roads, it's quicker to go by bus
:05:43. > :05:45.at the moment so investment in the trains would be better.
:05:46. > :05:49.The trains take about an hour or an hour and 20 minutes, so if you
:05:50. > :05:54.Trams could prove a plan B if the ongoing dispute
:05:55. > :05:57.between the UK and Welsh Governments over how electrification should be
:05:58. > :06:03.Both argue that the other should pay for it.
:06:04. > :06:06.Business leaders want ministers to stick to the original plan
:06:07. > :06:09.and deliver electrification and a Metro system.
:06:10. > :06:12.Yes, it builds upon the Valleys line electrification
:06:13. > :06:16.but it also is looking at the bus network and there is an element of
:06:17. > :06:23.The balance of those different modes of transport may well shift
:06:24. > :06:25.in the future but there is a plan there
:06:26. > :06:29.and let's look at trying to deliver that at the moment.
:06:30. > :06:32.The Welsh Government will deliver a report on the Metro project soon.
:06:33. > :06:36.Whether it is heavy trains or trams, people in them,
:06:37. > :06:42.great valleys will want to make sure that the railways stay on track.
:06:43. > :06:48.Cannabis plants have been discovered at a house where
:06:49. > :06:52.The house in Rhos, near Wrexham, was unoccupied when the fire broke
:06:53. > :06:56.Neighbours raised the alarm and had to evacuate their home while
:06:57. > :06:58.crews spent more than three hours bringing the fire under control.
:06:59. > :07:02.The winner of the Eisteddfod's Welsh Learner of the Year has
:07:03. > :07:06.Joella Price, from Port Talbot, was named at a ceremony in Llanelli.
:07:07. > :07:09.It comes on the day the Welsh Government announced it's
:07:10. > :07:11.investing more than ?1 million in new centres to promote
:07:12. > :07:19.A Roman fort has been brought back to life with a little help from CGI
:07:20. > :07:24.This is what Segontium fort in Caernarfon looks like these days.
:07:25. > :07:28.But experts from Cadw have created this film showing what they think it
:07:29. > :07:34.The team used floor plans, aerial footage and artist
:07:35. > :07:37.impressions to digitally rebuild the fort, which at one time may have
:07:38. > :07:47.The success of Welsh athletes at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow
:07:48. > :07:50.will be celebrated at a special event in Cardiff Bay next month.
:07:51. > :07:53.Team Wales had a record medal haul, with 36 -
:07:54. > :08:00.The First Minister, Carwyn Jones, says the Welsh Government will host
:08:01. > :08:12.the homecoming at the Senedd, on the 10th September.
:08:13. > :08:16.I can promise you some sunshine through tomorrow but things are
:08:17. > :08:21.turning more unsettled as we head into Friday and the weekend, so
:08:22. > :08:24.plenty of dry weather tomorrow and some brightness. Through tonight, a
:08:25. > :08:30.fairly quiet night with clear skies and variable amounts of cloud.
:08:31. > :08:35.Overnight, 12-15. The winds light so we could see mist and fog. First
:08:36. > :08:39.thing tomorrow morning, a fine start. A bit of cloud around but it
:08:40. > :08:43.will brighten up and plenty of dry conditions to look forward to. For
:08:44. > :08:48.the rest of the British Isles, if you showers across Northern Ireland
:08:49. > :08:55.and Scotland. For the bulk of the country, it is dry with sunshine and
:08:56. > :08:58.highs of 17-25. In Wales tomorrow afternoon, a lovely afternoon if you
:08:59. > :09:03.are going to the Eisteddfod. It will be a fine day. Take some sunscreen.
:09:04. > :09:07.If you are heading out for activities, be aware it's going to
:09:08. > :09:13.be pretty warm as the sea temperature is around 17 Celsius and
:09:14. > :09:15.the temperatures inland are 18-21. Through tomorrow night, a touch
:09:16. > :09:19.cooler than tonight with temperatures in towns and cities
:09:20. > :09:23.into double figures but in rural areas, they could get into single
:09:24. > :09:30.figures. Friday, a dry and fine start to the day. -- a dry and fine
:09:31. > :09:35.start. Through the day, we will see showers. Low pressure taking charge
:09:36. > :09:39.for the weekend and unsettled conditions come. By Sunday, wet and
:09:40. > :09:42.windy and stormy conditions. Saturday is the better day of the
:09:43. > :09:47.weekend with sunshine and showers. A bit breezy. Uncertainty of the
:09:48. > :09:50.Sunday - keep an eye on the forecast.
:09:51. > :09:52.We'll have the latest news and sport, traffic updates
:09:53. > :09:56.and weather in Breakfast from 6am tomorrow morning.
:09:57. > :10:00.From all of us on the programme, good night.