If you have been accused of a crime, you need a good lawyer. At the PDS, we specialise in criminal defence work. We are committed to making sure you get the best advice and representation.
We cover Swansea, South Wales and West Wales
The Swansea Office of the Public Defender Service (PDS) opened in 2002. Our specialist Swansea team of criminal defence solicitors have extensive experience across South and West Wales. We provide high quality, independent legal advice in police stations, magistrates and crown courts for those facing investigation and prosecution in criminal cases across the South and West Wales area.
We have a very experienced and competent team operating out of the Swansea Office who deal with the full range of criminal cases.
Our contact details
Swansea Civic Centre
Oystermouth Road
Swansea
SA1 3SN
DX: 92052 Swansea 3
Telephone: 01792 633 280
Email: PDSSwansea@justice.gov.uk
Suspected of committing a crime?
Events at the police station are critical. The earlier you receive good advice, the better. It might even mean you avoid prosecution.
If you’re arrested or asked to attend a police station for questioning in South and West Wales, our police station representatives and criminal defence solicitors are here to help you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Alternatively, if the police want to interview you as a volunteer or the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) want to interview you about a suspected crime, please call us for assistance.
Meet your local Swansea solicitors
Vince Williams, Head of Office
Vince, was admitted as a Solicitor in 1987. He has undertaken in the past all forms of litigation and advocacy. He has practised criminal work since the late 1980s.
Vince is an experienced criminal practitioner and Duty Solicitor. He has represented a wide range of clients covering most aspects of Criminal Law, practice and litigation (all manner of offences from Murder, Serious Assault, Rape, Fraud to Theft, Drugs possession, Supply and importation as well Minor Assault and Harassment).
Vince appears regularly in the Magistrates court as well as in the Crown court. He is an accredited police station duty representative, duty solicitor (Magistrates court) and a Higher Rights Advocate.
Duty Solicitor
Nick Stallard
Nick has been with the Swansea PDS office since its inception in 2001. He had been working in private practice since 1991 dealing with all levels of criminal offences from minor thefts to murder, including some high profile cases.
When he joined the PDS he was a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives and an Accredited Police Station Representative. Whilst working in the PDS he qualified as a Solicitor and thereafter a Duty Solicitor.
He has built up a reputation for robust representation of his clients both in the Police Station and in Court whilst maintaining a professional approach to other departments within the criminal justice system
Accredited Police Station Representative
Howard Rackham
Howard is an experienced Accredited Police Station Representative joining the Public Defender Service in November 2018.
Qualified in 1993, he spent many years in private practice dealing with all aspects of criminal case work and police station representation. Prior to commencing employment with the Public Defender Service he was self employed for a number of years as a Police Station Representative covering cases throughout South Wales.
Howard has represented many clients accused of serious offences, including high level drug dealing, complex fraud, serious offences of violence, including murder and sexual offences.
See Howard’s profile on LinkedIn
Useful information
The office is situated in the town centre on the junction of College Street & Orchard street. We have ground / first floor offices shared with the Youth Justice Board (YJB). We have blue signs in the window.
We are directly opposite the Dragon hotel. Our opening hours are 9am – 5pm although, please note, we offer a 24 hour emergency call out service for persons arrested & in police custody.
By car from the M4
Take exit 42 (the exit immediately after the Briton Ferry Bridge) and follow the A483 Fabian Way towards Swansea City centre. Follow that road for about 4 miles past the university buildings until you reach the city centre. Continue to follow the road which merges into the A4067. Go through three (3) sets of traffic lights and at the next set of lights take a right onto Princess Way. Follow that road until you get to a mini roundabout. Go straight on and then follow the road up and around to the right onto Caer Street. At the end of that short street take a left on to the B4489. Follow that road for approx. 200 metres. At the set of traffic lights take a left onto College Street. At the next set of lights the PDS Office is visible on your right. There are two NCP car parks nearby the closest of which is on Orchard Street. Both car parks are signposted.
By train
Catch either the London – Swansea Great First Western train which terminates at Swansea or the cross valley trains which also terminate at Swansea. No changes required. It normally takes around 55 mins from Cardiff. Come out of the station and walk directly down the B4489 High Street and follow that road for approx. 200 metres and turn right onto College Street. Our offices are 50 metres on your right, directly opposite the Dragon Hotel.
By car
Take exit 42 (the exit immediately after the Briton Ferry Bridge) and follow the A483 Fabian Way towards Swansea City centre. Follow that road for about 5 miles past the university buildings travelling through the city centre. The road will have merged into the A4067 & then into Oystermouth Rd but keep on the coastal road, past the Prison on your right. At the second set of lights once past the prison, take a right turn onto the B4290 and follow that road for approximately 300 metres past ‘Brangwyn Hall’ & the Crown Court is the large building on your right just after the junction with St Helens Road.
By car from the M4
Take exit 42 (the exit immediately after the Briton Ferry Bridge) and follow the A483 Fabian Way towards Swansea City centre. Follow that road for about 4 miles past the university buildings until you reach the city centre. Continue to follow the road which merges into the A4067. Go through three sets of traffic lights and at the next set of lights take a right onto Princess Way. Follow that road until you get to a mini roundabout. Go straight on and then follow the road up and around to the right onto Caer Street. At the end of that short street take a left on to the B4489. Follow that road for approx. 200 metres. At the set of traffic lights take a left onto College Street. At the next set of lights the PDs offices are visible on your right. There are two NCP car parks nearby the closest of which is on Orchard Street. Both car parks are signposted. The Magistrates court is only 50 metres from our offices. The Magistrates Court is situated on Grove Place, Swansea.
By train
Catch either the London – Swansea Great First Western train which terminates at Swansea or the cross valley trains which also terminate at Swansea. No changes required. It normally takes around 55 mins from Cardiff. Come out of the station and walk directly down the B4489 High Street and follow that road for approx. 200 metres and turn right onto College Street. Our offices are 50 metres on your right, directly opposite the Dragon Hotel. The Magistrates court is only 50 metres from our offices. The Magistrates Court is situated on Grove Place, Swansea.
We cover all of the following police stations and courts around South Wales:
- Swansea Police Station, Grove Place, Swansea, SA1 5DB
- Swansea Magistrates Court, Holly St, Pontardawe, Swansea SA8 4ET
- Swansea Crown Court, The Law Courts, St Helen’s Road, Swansea, South Wales, SA1 4PF
- Bridgend Police Station, Brackla Street, Bridgend, CF31 1BZ
- Merthyr Tydfil Police Station, Rhydycar Business Park, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 1DL
- Merthyr Tydfil Combined Court Centre, The Law Courts, Glebeland Place, Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, CF47 8BH
- Cardiff Police Station, King Edward VII Avenue, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NN
- Cardiff Magistrates Court, Fitzalan Place, Cardiff CF24 0RZ
- Cardiff Crown Court, Law Courts, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3PG
- Newport Police Station, 3 Cardiff Road, Newport, NP20 2EH
- Newport Magistrates Court, Usk Way, Newport, Gwent, NP20 2GE
- Newport Crown Court, The Law Courts, Faulkner Road, Newport, Gwent, NP20 4PR
We also cover courts and police stations outside of South Wales.
Please contact us to see if we can help you.
If you are asked to attend an interview by the DWP.
Location
Civic Centre
Oystermouth Road
Swansea,
SA1 3SN
Parking at the Civic Centre
The Civic Centre East Car Park (library) is now a Pay and Display car park. There is 2-hour free period after which a charge is then payable.
A Pay and Display ticket is still required even for the free period.
See the payment boards in the car park for all information and tariffs.