News

Celebrations outside the Senedd as Wales bans brutal wildlife traps

Published

3 years ago

June 27, 2023

MEMBERS of the Senedd joined animal welfare campaigners from the League Against Cruel Sports this evening to celebrate a historic vote to ban snares in Wales.

It followed the unanimous passing of the Agriculture (Wales) Bill in the Senedd earlier today which contained measures to outlaw these cruel and indiscriminate wildlife traps.

Will Morton, head of public affairs at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “The Welsh Government deserves huge credit for banning snares, inherently inhumane traps, which are completely incompatible with high animal welfare standards.

“Wales is leading the way in protecting wildlife from cruelty and we’re calling on the UK and Scottish Governments to follow their lead and ban these brutal devices.”

The attendees included 13 members of the Senedd as well as animal welfare campaigners from across Wales.

Up to 51,000 snares lie hidden in the countryside at any one time according to UK government figures.

They are used predominantly by shooting industry gamekeepers on pheasant and partridge shoots to trap wildlife.

The same Defra research show almost three quarters of the animals caught are not the intended target species. So, this will include hares, badgers and people’s pets.

Polling carried out by YouGov in Wales in January 2021 showed 78 per cent of the Welsh public wanted snares to be made illegal.

The ban will come into force two months after receiving royal assent so snares should become illegal in Wales later this year.

Will Morton added: “Today we are celebrating the move to end the cruelty inflicted on animals by the use of barbaric snares, something that will have the support of the vast majority of the Welsh people.

“It’s a fantastic move for animal welfare and we look forward to snares being banned in the rest of the UK soon.”

David Bowles, RSPCA head of public affairs, said: “The Agriculture (Wales) Bill has provided a massive opportunity to ensure that animal welfare is at the forefront of agriculture policy in Wales.

“It will be a truly momentous occasion for animal welfare to see snares and glue traps banned in Wales and we’re proud of our campaigning efforts in recent years that have helped make this a reality.

“We are also pleased to see the Bill could eventually provide financial incentives for farmers within the agriculture sector in Wales who work to high standards of animal welfare. Therefore, we are delighted to see this Bill has finally come to fruition – following tireless campaigning by RSPCA Cymru.”

A snare is a wire noose, usually attached to a stake, tree or another heavy object acting as an anchor. They are usually set to catch foxes or rabbits, but cannot distinguish between different species of animals – so are indiscriminate in what they catch. Since 2020, RSPCA officers have been called to attend 12 instances involving snares in Wales which had caught protected species such as badgers and in some cases, much-loved pets.

While self-locking snares are already illegal in Wales, others are not – but this legislation will prohibit the use of all snares, or any other cable restraint, for the purpose of killing or trapping a wild animal, or in any other way that is likely to injure a wild animal.

RSPCA Cymru is opposed to the manufacture, sale and use of all snares, and frontline officers sadly regularly deal with incidents where animals are found suffering in snares.

Glue traps – also known as ‘glue boards’ or ‘sticky boards’ – consist of a sheet of plastic, cardboard or wood coated with non-drying adhesive designed to trap rodents such as mice and rats as they cross the board.

Last year, the UK Government introduced a ban on glue traps in England with the law coming into force in April 2024 – however there are some exemptions to the ban under licence, with pest controllers still able to use them. In Wales there will be a complete ban – which will be the first of its kind in the UK.

The Welsh Government’s action on glue traps follows two Senedd Members putting forward RSPCA proposals to ban the use of glue traps into a Welsh Parliamentary ballot for Member-proposed legislation as part of the charity’s #LawsForPaws campaign. While they were not drawn from the hat, the Welsh Government later announced its own plans for a ban.

David added: “Snares and glue traps have no place in a modern and compassionate Wales. Both have the potential to cause immeasurable suffering to animals.

“On snares, this will be the first ban of its kind in the UK and will be a huge step forward in Wales and we are also pleased there are no exceptions to the glue trap ban. Too often, our officers have dealt with animals in severe pain and misery at the hands of these devices; which are cruel, indiscriminate and totally unnecessary.”

However, the legislation will not cover the continued sale of the traps across Wales.

“Although their use will be banned outright, there is still no law against buying these devices,” said David. “Because of this, the enforcement of the bans on the use of snares and glue traps will be key to ensuring that animals are protected from these traps, as intended by the Welsh Government.”

The Agriculture (Wales) Bill will also give Welsh Ministers powers to provide financial support for farmers following Wales’ withdrawal from the European Union. The RSPCA previously welcomed plans from the Welsh Government for a Sustainable Farming Scheme, which gave the strongest indication yet that farmers will be incentivised for delivering ‘the highest (animal) welfare standards’.

While the Agriculture (Wales) Bill grants Ministers with the relevant powers in this respect, there is no legal obligation for them to be used. However, RSPCA Cymru will now work with the Welsh Government on shaping the relevant payments scheme to ensure that farmers who adhere to higher welfare standards are rewarded for their efforts.

David added: “We’ve long said the Agriculture Bill offered the biggest opportunity in the history of devolution to improve farm animal welfare – and incentives for farmers to deliver higher standards will be key in doing that.

“We’ve given a big welcome to the latest announcement for the Sustainable Farming Scheme, and with the Agriculture Bill now published, we look forward to working with the Welsh Government to ensure the standards incentivised best improve welfare, and learn lessons from established, trusted assurance labels like RSPCA Assured.

“While there’s a lot to welcome from the Bill, we are also keen to hear more from the Welsh Government on its plans for labelling animal derived produce as part of a drive to give consumers in Wales more information than ever before on what they are eating, where it has come from, and to what standards it was reared. With a UK Government consultation on this matter expected soon, a joined-up approach with other UK nations could inform consumer choice while encouraging the purchase of higher welfare produce in Wales.”

News

Mandelson row deepens as Welsh Government clears links amid Starmer ‘lying’ claims

Published

18 minutes ago

March 31, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE ROW over Peter Mandelson has escalated after the Welsh Government cleared its own dealings with the Labour grandee — as UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer of “lying” about him.

First Minister Eluned Morgan ordered a review into communications between Welsh Government officials and Mandelson following pressure from Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth.

The investigation examined all correspondence — as well as material from documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein — and concluded there was “nothing which represented a risk to the conduct of Welsh Government business.”

But the findings come as Mandelson is once again at the centre of a growing political storm in Westminster.

Westminster clash

Speaking on LBC, Badenoch claimed Starmer had misled Parliament over Mandelson, saying: “This is a man who tells lies at PMQs… just like he did with Peter Mandelson when he said, ‘I didn’t know the full extent of his relationship’, and the papers… showed the opposite.”

While such language would be ruled out of order in the Commons, the accusation marks a significant escalation in political rhetoric around the issue.

Labour has not yet responded to the claims.

Questions remain

In Wales, ministers insist the matter has been fully examined and closed.

However, the Welsh Government has not published the underlying correspondence reviewed, nor detailed the extent of any contact with Mandelson.

That lack of transparency may leave the door open to further scrutiny — particularly given the wider controversy now unfolding at UK level.

Political risk

Although no wrongdoing has been identified, the timing is sensitive.

With the Senedd election approaching, any perceived links — however indirect — to a figure caught up in a Westminster row involving Epstein-related material could prove politically damaging.

Opposition parties are likely to argue that the issue is no longer just about internal processes, but about public trust.

For now, the Welsh Government is standing by its findings.

But as the row intensifies in Westminster, the Mandelson question may not be going away any time soon.

Crime

Haverfordwest man found guilty of stalking after repeated unwanted contact

Published

23 minutes ago

March 31, 2026

Court Reporter

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been found guilty of stalking following a trial at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Mar 30).

Steven Delahunty, aged 54, of Upper Market Street, was convicted of pursuing a course of conduct which amounted to the stalking of a woman.

The court heard that between January 17 and February 6, 2026, Delahunty repeatedly contacted Dyfed-Powys Police requesting welfare checks on the victim, attended her address on a number of occasions, and sent unwanted messages.

Magistrates were told that his actions caused harassment and distress, and that he knew, or ought to have known, the impact of his behaviour.

Delahunty had previously entered a not guilty plea at a hearing on February 11, but was found guilty following the trial.

The bench, comprising Mrs A Taylor-Jones, Mr D Fawcett and Mr R John, granted conditional bail ahead of sentencing.

As part of his bail conditions, Delahunty must not contact, directly or indirectly, the victim or another prosecution witness, and is prohibited from entering their addresses.

The case was prosecuted by Sian Vaughan, with Delahunty represented by Peter Tarr of DGJ Solicitors.

He is due to be sentenced at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday, April 20, at 10:00am.

Business

Welsh food showcased in Japan — but Pembrokeshire producers left on the sidelines

Published

31 minutes ago

March 31, 2026

Tom Sinclair

WELSH food and drink has been promoted to thousands of international buyers in Japan — but producers in Pembrokeshire appear to have been left out of the spotlight.

A Welsh Government-backed delegation travelled to Foodex Japan 2026 in Tokyo, one of the largest food and drink exhibitions in Asia, attracting more than 70,000 industry professionals.

The event is designed to open doors to lucrative export markets, with Welsh Lamb, craft spirits and speciality foods presented as premium products for overseas buyers.

But despite Pembrokeshire’s strong agricultural base, seafood industry and growing reputation for artisan produce, no businesses from the county were among those showcased.

Global push — local absence

The delegation included Hybu Cig Cymru and Golden Road Gin, alongside a number of established Welsh brands and Japanese importers already working with Welsh suppliers.

While PGI Welsh Lamb — much of it produced in West Wales — was a central feature, the absence of Pembrokeshire-based producers raises questions about who is actually benefiting from the push into global markets.

For many local farmers, export growth is often presented as essential to the future of the industry. Yet access to those opportunities remains uneven, with smaller producers frequently lacking the scale or support to break into international supply chains.

Big talk, familiar questions

Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies MS praised the showcase, saying Wales had an “exceptional food and drink story to tell” and highlighting the importance of building international partnerships.

But on the ground in Pembrokeshire, producers continue to face mounting pressures — from rising costs and labour shortages to ongoing uncertainty around agricultural policy.

The Herald understands that while export events generate headlines, many small and medium-sized businesses struggle to translate that exposure into actual contracts.

Missed opportunity for West Wales?

The Japanese market is known for its demand for high-quality, traceable food — exactly the kind of produce Pembrokeshire is well placed to supply.

From lamb and dairy to seafood landed at Milford Haven, the county has the raw ingredients to compete on the global stage.

However, without stronger support to help local businesses access export networks, there is a growing risk that the benefits of international promotion will remain concentrated among a relatively small group of producers.

The real test

Events like Foodex Japan may boost Wales’ profile overseas — but the real measure of success will be whether that translates into meaningful opportunities for communities at home.

For Pembrokeshire’s farmers and food producers, the question is no longer whether Welsh food can succeed globally.

It is whether they will be given a seat at the table.