What the people hoping to take charge of South Wales Police said about a press photographer being arrested doing his job

Dimitris Legakis, who lives in Swansea, was wrestled to the ground and arrested while trying to do his job in October, 2023. He was attending the scene of car fire in Swansea where it would later emerge that a man named David Clarke had murdered his wife Helen Clarke by hitting her with a hammer, dousing her in petrol and setting her alight.

The police had set up a cordon and Mr Legakis was standing outside the cordon taking pictures while stood on public land. Members of the public were walking past and some of them became angry at him. They began shouting at him and pushing him when a police officer approached.

• You can read the full interview with Dimitris Legakis here.

• A comprehensive analysis of the case was first published in the Will Hayward Newsletter here.

Mr Legakis was then arrested, thrown in a police van, held for 15 hours and charged with assaulting a police officer. His camera, lenses, drone and memory cards were all seized.

Seven months later he was due to appear in Cardiff Crown Court on that charge. But the day before, something strange happened. The Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charges. They told the judge that there was no evidence of assault on the police body camera recording and the prosecution barrister admitted that the original statement taken from the police officer "does not coincide" with what he later said in his victim personal statement.

The force is investigating the incident, but those running to be its new Police and Crime Commissioner have said the incident "erodes trust". Commenting, the Welsh Liberal Democrat PCC candidate for South Wales Police, Sam Bennett, said: “I am glad that this case against Mr Legakis has been dropped and I hope that going forward more will be done to prevent abuses of police powers like this.

"Cases like these do nothing but erode public trust, more must be done to prevent individual errors in judgement smearing an entire force. This issue strikes at the very core of community policing, we need a razor-sharp focus on restoring public trust in our police force here in South Wales.” Support award-winning journalism with WalesOnline’s Premium app on Apple or Android

Dennis Clarke, the Plaid Cymru PCC candidate, said: "Journalists and photographers have a right to report from crime scenes. This can be an essential independent account of events that will help the public to better understand events. Any attempt to impede or intimidate journalists in their duty threatens the fundamental principles of press freedom and democracy and must be addressed with the utmost seriousness. I have been involved in many incidents where similar complaints have been made and I understand fully the way in which these investigations can go awry.

“The CPS and South Wales Police must thoroughly investigate what happened in this unjust case with the utmost urgency, seriousness, and transparency. I have the skillset and experience to oversee these investigations.”

The current PCC, Alun Michael, is a Labour politician who will be stepping down at the next election. Commenting on the case of Mr Legakis, his office would only say: "We are aware that this matter is currently under investigation after a complaint was made to the professional standards department at South Wales Police. Until that investigation is complete, and we are aware of the findings, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.”

Emma Wools, who will be standing for the Labour Party, told WalesOnline: "Mr Legakis raises a number significant questions in his statement to the press about the incident. A complaint has been received by SWP and is being investigated by the Professional Standards Department. The incident and questions raised need to be fully examined and the outcome reported transparently as soon as possible. Until the findings are known it would be inappropriate to comment any further”.

George Carroll will be running for the Conservative Party.

Commenting to WalesOnline a South Wales Police spokesman said: "On Friday, September 22, last year, emergency services were called to the scene of a car fire in Sketty Lane, Swansea. Helen Clarke, aged 77, subsequently died after she had been attacked with a hammer, doused in petrol and set alight.

"Officers were attempting to extend the police cordon around the scene when an incident took place which resulted in a 47-year-old man being arrested and later charged with offences. Before a trial was due to be held at Swansea Crown Court, the Crown Prosecution Service decided there was no longer sufficient evidence to continue with the prosecution.

"A complaint about the seizure of equipment from the arrested man is already subject to an ongoing investigation by South Wales Police. Following the decision by the CPS and in response to various allegations which have been made we will be carrying out a review of this case."