The new station is next to the main entrance to the store

Asda, at the city's enterprise zone near Morriston, is the first superstore in Wales to have officers stationed there.

The initiative is part of a drive by South Wales Police to be more accessible to local communities, and is set to be adopted by other forces in the country.

The idea is that the station, which is as the side of the supermarket, will be more approachable to people who may not want to call directly at one of the main police stations in Swansea.

The launch of this new initiative brings a whole new meaning to the term cop shop Asda store manager Steve Maher

With around 70,000 shoppers calling each week people will be able to report incidents, raise concerns with officers or get crime prevention advice.

South Wales Police have already been running surgeries in the main city centre and say the station in a supermarket allows the public to speak to officers in less formal surroundings.

This initiative also takes the force's business crime reduction drive to more outlying areas.

Asda store manager Steve Maher said: "The launch of this new initiative brings a whole new meaning to the term cop shop".

Mr Maher said the store was pleased to work in partnership with South Wales Police for the benefit of the local community.

If the scheme is a success, it could also be extended to other Asda stores.

Inspector Chris O'Brien said other police forces were also looking at the scheme.

"This new superstore based police station is a unique example of local officers encaging with the community.

"This Asda store has up to 70,000 customers per week coming through the doors and is situated in an enterprise zone near a residential area in which tens of thousands of people live, shop, work and trade.