Crime

Over £1m spent by police on Stradey Park Hotel asylum seeker protests

Published

2 years ago

February 1, 2024

DYFED-POWYS POLICE spent over £1 million in response to protests at Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, which was designated to accommodate over 200 asylum seekers.

The revelation came following a Freedom of Information request by BBC Wales.

The protests, which began in early July last year, escalated to the point where fires were set near the site, leading to approximately 40 arrests between mid-August and early October. The Home Office later cancelled the contentious plans to use the hotel for asylum seekers in October.

Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn disclosed that the situation not only incurred substantial financial costs for the force but also strained its relationship with the local community. Mr. Llywelyn had urged the Home Office to reverse the plans as “a matter of urgency”.

***Dafydd Llywelyn: Police and Crime Commissioner***

The hotel was initially selected to house up to 241 people under UK government plans aimed at reducing asylum costs. However, the proposal faced significant opposition due to concerns about suitability and lack of information, as expressed by local residents, authorities, and politicians.

Following the announcement, protests intensified outside the hotel, with demonstrators setting up a base near the site. Labour councillor Martyn Palfreman described the episode as an unforeseen and tense period in the area’s history, marked by anxiety and intense community reaction.

Dyfed-Powys Police’s Superintendent Ross Evans, commenting on the situation in October, condemned the extreme behaviour displayed by some protesters, which he deemed exceeded the bounds of lawful protest.

Originally, Mr. Llywelyn had sought a £300,000 reimbursement for the policing costs of the protest. However, the final figure, exceeding £1.165 million, is threefold higher than anticipated. Mr. Llywelyn expressed his lack of surprise at this figure, attributing it to operational and organisational pressures, including Operation Cambrian, which was specifically established in response to the Stradey Park Hotel protests.

Throughout the protests, Mr. Llywelyn consistently communicated with the Home Secretary, voicing concerns about the escalating tensions and urging a re-evaluation of the hotel’s use.

Dame Nia Griffith, Labour MP for Llanelli, criticised the entire undertaking, labeling the plans a complete disaster brought about by incompetence and disregard for local sentiments. She condemned the excessive police expenditure on the protests, arguing that these funds would have been better allocated to enhancing frontline policing and community safety.

Former racial equality commissioner Aled Edwards emphasised the importance of learning from this episode, praising the integrity of the police force in handling the situation. He also highlighted the success of other refugee schemes in Wales, such as those for Afghan and Ukrainian refugees.

A Home Office spokesperson responded by highlighting ongoing efforts to move asylum seekers out of hotels, a measure currently costing UK taxpayers £8.2 million a day. They assured that the government is committed to equipping the police with necessary resources, confirming a total police funding settlement of up to £18.4 billion for 2024-25, including £148.0 million for Dyfed-Powys Police. The spokesperson added that the allocation of funding and resources remains under the jurisdiction of individual police and crime commissioners.

Crime

Dock woman given mental health treatment order after supermarket thefts

Published

6 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKE DOCK woman has been placed on a mental health treatment requirement after repeatedly stealing meat, cheese and other grocery items from local supermarkets.

Lisa Stewart, 45, admitted three theft offences when she appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

The first offence took place on March 11, when Stewart stole Vanish, Lenor and three packs of Persil capsules from Home Bargains in Pembroke Dock, with a total value of £58.41.

The following month, she stole four small beef joints, four steaks and three blocks of cheese from Asda in Pembroke Dock, worth £55.68.

Seven days later, she stole four legs of lamb from Farmfoods in Pembroke Dock, valued at £99.96.

Stewart, of Truscott House, London Road, Pembroke Dock, also pleaded guilty to failing to surrender to police bail on or around May 26.

She was represented in court by solicitor Alaw Harries, who told magistrates the thefts involved items of relatively low value and were not the result of “sophisticated offending”.

“The defendant has had an exceptionally difficult time, as last year she lost her partner to cancer and has struggled profoundly to process that grief,” said Ms Harries.

“Instead, she has attempted to cope by taking more of her prescribed medication than she should. And this is what has led her to be here today.”

Ms Harries said Stewart is now motivated to address her issues.

Magistrates sentenced Stewart to an 18-month community order. She must complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days, a 12-month mental health treatment requirement and a 12-month drug rehabilitation requirement.

The order will include monthly reviews in court.

Stewart must also pay £214.05 compensation to the supermarkets, together with a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Grandmother banned after cocaine drug-drive offence

Published

6 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A GRANDMOTHER has been banned from the roads after being caught behind the wheel with 800 mcg of a cocaine metabolite in her system.

Eleri Phillips, 57, was stopped by police in the early hours of December 18 as she drove her Audi Q5 along Derwent Avenue, Steynton.

A roadside drugs swipe proved positive, and further blood tests carried out at the police station showed she had 45 mcg of cocaine in her system and 800 mcg of benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite.

The legal limits are 10 mcg and 50 mcg respectively.

Phillips, of Brook Close, Steynton, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to two drug-driving charges when she appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates. She was legally represented by solicitor Michael Kelleher.

“She is absolutely ashamed of what has happened,” Mr Kelleher told the court.

“She had been out with friends that evening and someone offered her cocaine. Very foolishly, she took it.

“As a result, she is now going to be disqualified from driving, which is going to cause problems not only for her but for her family, as she regularly helps look after her grandchildren with general pick-ups from school.”

Phillips was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £120. She must also pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.

Crime

Milford Haven builder banned for second drug-driving offence

Published

6 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Court hears cannabis reading was five times the legal limit

A SELF-EMPLOYED builder has been banned from the road after committing his second drug-driving offence in ten years.

Robert Duncan, 44, was stopped by police at around 6:00pm on January 31 as he drove a Ford Focus along Steynton Road, Milford Haven.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard this week that officers had been observing the vehicle before requesting it to stop.

Duncan provided a positive roadside drugs wipe, and later blood tests showed he had 10mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The legal limit is 2mcg.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told magistrates that this was Duncan’s second drug-driving offence within ten years.

Duncan, of Meyler Crescent, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to drug-driving.

He was represented by solicitor Michael Kelleher, who said Duncan had believed the drug would have left his system by the time he got behind the wheel.

“He believed the drug would have been out of his system when he was driving, but it can take a considerable length of time to go,” said Mr Kelleher.

“In fact, this is the drug that takes the longest amount of time.”

Mr Kelleher said Duncan worked as a self-employed builder, but was currently unable to work large amounts of time because of family commitments.

Magistrates disqualified Duncan from driving for three years. He was also fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £32 surcharge.