A livestock owner claims Gwent Police failed to treat the safety of her animals as important after a discarded vehicle prevented her from accessing her isolated compound, meaning she could not attend to a seven-day-old foal and an expectant mare before the car was discovered destroyed by fire.
However, the force denies this version of events. According to Gwent Police, call operators did not inform the woman that animals were not their priority and maintains those remarks reflected the caller’s understanding of the exchange.
The owner became trapped when a car was left across the entrance to her rural property.
The occurrence took place at approximately 10.45pm in the Magor district on the evening of 24th June.
The individual, who was temporarily residing at the premises to nurse a week-old foal undergoing box rest, discovered the derelict vehicle obstructing the gateway in an isolated location.
She required entry to monitor the foal and a mare nearing the end of her pregnancy.
She reached out to Gwent Police and was apparently informed that animals were not their priority and advised to seek alternative accommodation for the night.
A spokesperson for Gwent Police stated that call operators clarified that officers would respond but could not guarantee when. The force explained that discussions about other solutions only occurred after exhausting possibilities for reaching the property.
She believed it was too dangerous to examine the vehicle for occupants because she was by herself and the setting was secluded, prompting worries about her own wellbeing.
Shortly afterwards, the car was engulfed in flames.
Images of the charred vehicle circulated on social media, with one commentator labelling the circumstances utterly disgraceful.
They urged anyone who has lost a vehicle to examine CCTV footage captured at the location.
Gwent Police commented in an official communication:
The force logged a report concerning an abandoned vehicle displaying no registration plates in Black Wall Lane, Magor at approximately 11.30pm on Tuesday 23 June.
The report was classified as routine based on the details supplied by the caller, meaning police attendance was necessary but no immediate peril existed.
At the time of the call, all officers were occupied dealing with emergency incidents involving immediate threats to life, crimes in progress, or individuals facing urgent danger, along with priority calls.
Staff were assigned to attend once circumstances permitted. When officers arrived, the car was discovered incinerated and has subsequently been collected by the local authority.
Editor’s note: This piece has been amended to acknowledge that Gwent Police denies any claim that the call handler stated animals were not a priority.