New footage shows moment vandal‑prone Swansea speed camera is painted over with a paintbrush on a stick

The footage captures a man in a white painter’s boiler suit with his hood up climbing a ladder to reach the camera on Llangyfelach Road in Treboeth. He uses a paintbrush attached to a pole to smear red paint across the main lens before climbing down to cover the lower lenses.

As previously reported by Swansea Bay News, the newly installed camera was found daubed in red paint just days after being installed. The device itself had only just been put back in place after its predecessor was cut down with an angle grinder in a brazen attack that shocked residents and raised questions about the vulnerability of road safety enforcement equipment.

South Wales Police told Swansea Bay News that the footage had not previously been reported to them, and confirmed they are now reviewing the incident. Officers are expected to issue a fuller statement once they have assessed the video evidence.

The attack has reignited debate about speed cameras in Swansea. Our earlier coverage of the grinder attack drew more than 360 comments, with the vast majority of readers expressing delight that the device had been damaged. Many criticised speed cameras as “money‑making machines” rather than casualty‑preventing tools, reflecting a deep hostility towards enforcement measures on local roads.

GoSafe, the Welsh Road Casualty Reduction Partnership responsible for speed enforcement, says cameras are placed at sites with a history of collisions or where speeding is a concern.

A spokesperson explained:

“Our cameras are there to encourage people to drive within the speed limits and keep everyone using our roads safe. The most successful cameras are the ones that see the least number of offences, not the most.”

GoSafe stresses that enforcement sites are chosen using Welsh Government guidance, and that cameras are intended to reduce casualties, not generate income.

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Second strike: Swansea speed camera targeted with red paint days after angle‑grinder attack replacement

Camera targeted twice in 18 months

The average speed camera outside the Kings Head pub on Llangyfelach Road was first destroyed in May 2024, when it was hacked down with an angle grinder. Video footage of the incident went viral, prompting South Wales Police to launch an appeal and offer a £1,000 reward for information.

After standing dormant for more than a year, a replacement camera was erected on 20 October 2025. But within days the new device was attacked — this time sprayed with red paint, apparently fired from a paint gun, leaving its lenses obscured.

A controversial history

The cameras themselves have long been controversial. Installed in June 2018 as part of a £455,000 road safety initiative, they remained switched off for five years due to technical issues, only becoming operational in June 2023.

The stretch of Llangyfelach Road was reduced from 30mph to 20mph under the Welsh Government’s default 20mph speed limit introduced in September 2023. That policy sparked a record‑breaking petition against its implementation. While Swansea Council later identified 17 roads to revert back to 30mph, Llangyfelach Road was not among them — a decision that has fuelled frustration among motorists.

Enforcement hotspot

The road has also become one of South Wales’ busiest enforcement sites. In August 2025, Llangyfelach Road ranked 6th in the region’s top 20 speeding hotspots, with 3,295 Notices of Intended Prosecution (NIPs) and 1,116 fixed penalties issued.

GoSafe, the Wales road casualty reduction partnership, says cameras are placed in areas with high collision rates or community concerns about speeding. Four fixed 20mph cameras are being activated across Wales this month as part of wider enforcement measures.

Police investigation

South Wales Police previously confirmed that a man was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage in connection with the 2024 incident, but no further action was taken due to lack of evidence.

The force has yet to issue a statement on the latest vandalism, but enquiries are understood to be ongoing.

Community reaction

Local Facebook groups have been filled with debate since the latest attack, with some residents criticising the 20mph limit and others warning that vandalising cameras undermines road safety efforts.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Video of speed camera cut down goes viral
Footage showed the original Llangyfelach Road camera being removed with an angle grinder in May 2024.

Police re‑issue appeal after camera cut down
South Wales Police offered a £1,000 reward for information following the incident.

Speed cameras switched on five years late
Cameras installed in 2018 as part of a £455k scheme were only activated in June 2023.

17 Swansea roads revert to 30mph
Council confirmed which roads would return to 30mph after the Welsh Government’s 20mph rollout.

Thousands caught speeding on Swansea roads
Llangyfelach Road ranked 6th in South Wales for speeding offences in August 2025.

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