‘Cop shops’ could soon be found in every Co-operative Group store in South Wales if a pilot scheme launched in three of the company’s stores in the region is a success.

The Society, in partnership with local police, has donated unused office space in its stores in Killay and Pontardawe, near Swansea, and at Pentrebach, near Merthyr Tydfil, to be used as areas for local officers to complete reports and administration without having to travel back to their police stations.

The pilot scheme follows the opening of a Metropolitan Police office inside a Co-op store in Eltham, south east London, last year.