Crime

Police say they are ready for any unrest in Pembrokeshire

Published

2 years ago

August 8, 2024

FOLLOWING reports on social media sites that a series of protests are planned across West Wales, Dyfed-Powys Police have issued a statement reassuring the public of their preparedness to manage any potential disorder. The statement comes as anti-racism and anti-immigration demonstrations are scheduled to take place in the coming days.

A Unity Rally organised by West Wales Stand Up to Racism (SUTR) will be held in Tenby on Saturday (Aug 10) at 11 a.m. outside St Mary’s Church. In the coming days, far-right protests are also planned for Tenby and Aberystwyth.

In response to the planned events, Dyfed-Powys Police told The Pembrokeshire Herald, “We won’t be commenting on specific events but want to provide reassurance that we are closely monitoring the situation across our four counties, and we have robust plans and resources in place to respond appropriately.

“We will always seek to facilitate lawful, peaceful protest while balancing it with the rights of others, keeping the public safe, and preventing crime and disorder.”
The police further encouraged protest organisers to contact them to ensure demonstrations are conducted safely and respectfully. “We encourage anyone organising a protest to contact us so we can work together to ensure any demonstrations are done safely and with respect for the wider community.

“We have no reason to expect disorder in our four counties, but we rightly have plans in place to deal with any disorder should it break out.”

Earlier this week, Stand Up to Racism released a statement highlighting the rise of far-right activities and the necessity of a united front against racism, Islamophobia, and antisemitism. The statement condemned recent fascist riots and stressed the importance of peaceful demonstrations to oppose such ideologies.

They aid that The Unity Rally in Tenby is part of this broader effort to counteract the influence of far-right movements and promote community solidarity. Marj Hawkins, representing West Wales SUTR, expressed the importance of the rally, stating, “It is crucial to come together and say no to the far right. We hope the community will join us in this demonstration of solidarity.”

Dyfed-Powys Police told The Pembrokeshire Herald that it remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents and participants in these events. The force’s proactive approach aims to maintain peace and order while respecting individuals’ rights to protest.
With the number of Anti-racism counter-demonstrations rising, the far-right trouble seems to be quieting down – at least for now.

Harsh prison sentences for rioters and an army of police officers ready to respond are one thing. However, the question on everyone’s lips is what the government will – or can – do to resolve the country’s deep divisions.

In Pembrokeshire—in fact, in Wales —we have so far been insulated from trouble. The local police say they are ready to ensure that it remains that way.

UPDATED STATEMENT FROM POLICE

The police have released a further statement on Thursday which reads as follows:

FOLLOWING the recent incidents of disorder seen nationwide, Dyfed-Powys Police officers will be conducting patrols across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and Powys to provide reassurance and a visible presence in communities.

Deputy Chief Constable, Ifan Charles, said: “Disinformation has been a huge driver of the appalling violence across the UK and we all have a part to play in countering this.

“Please pay special attention to what you read, share, and believe from online sources.

“We will always seek to facilitate lawful peaceful protest while balancing it with the rights of others, keeping the public safe, and preventing crime and disorder – and we encourage anyone organising a protest to contact us so we can work together to ensure any demonstrations are done safely and with respect for the wider community.

“Attempts to disrupt our communities have no place in our society. We will not tolerate violence or hate directed towards anyone because of their race, religion, sexual orientation – or for any other reason at all. Our message is to think twice before you act.

“We want people to continue to enjoy everything our four counties have to offer – our beautiful beaches, our fantastic rural areas, and our unique towns and villages – and to feel safe to visit our area.

“We have no reason to expect disorder in our four counties, but we rightly have plans in place to deal with any disorder should it break out.

“We will take any acts of violent, threatening, or disorderly behaviour seriously and will act where appropriate with the full support of our criminal justice partners.”

Police and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed-Powys, Dafydd Llywelyn, added: “As your Police and Crime Commissioner, I want to stress the importance of reporting any criminal activity to Dyfed-Powys Police as soon as possible.

“Whether it’s through calling 999 in an emergency, 101 for non-emergencies, online reporting, or reaching out anonymously via Crimestoppers, your actions help us maintain the safety of our communities.

“I fully support the dedicated efforts of Dyfed-Powys Police in safeguarding our communities, and I urge everyone to work with them to ensure our streets remain safe and secure for all.

“Keeping our local areas secure is a top priority, and I encourage everyone to use these services if needed, so together we can continue making Dyfed-Powys a safer place for all.”

Anyone who has been a victim of crime or has had hate directed at them because of who they are is urged to report it to police either through a direct message on social media, online at: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101. In an emergency, always call 999.

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired text the non-emergency number on 07811 311 908. Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111, or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.

If you have been the victim of hate crime, the Wales Hate Support Centre can provide free, independent, and confidential support to help you cope and recover. Their service is available 24/7 365 days a year. For more information, visit their website or call 0300 3031 982.

If you have been a victim of another type of crime, support is also available. Goleudy offers a personalised, emotional, and practical support service to help victims, families, and witnesses survive crime and make them stronger.

The service is free and confidential – whether or not the crime has been reported, and regardless of when it happened. Goleudy also provides a service to identify and manage the level of risk among victims of anti-social behaviour to improve community safety and reduce the impact on residents of Dyfed-Powys. Contact them by calling: 0300 1232996, Monday- Friday from 10am-6pm.

Crime

Gunshot fired by police during incident in Milford Haven

Published

16 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A POLICE officer discharged a firearm during an incident in Milford Haven on Saturday evening (March 28), prompting an investigation and referral to the police watchdog.

Dyfed-Powys Police were called to reports of disorder at Bunkers Hill at around 5:45pm, where an individual was believed to be in possession of a knife. Armed officers were deployed to the scene.

During the incident, at 6:32pm, a single shot was fired by an officer. Police have confirmed that the firearm was not directed at any person and that no injuries were reported.

The circumstances leading up to the discharge of the firearm have not yet been confirmed.

When Herald reporters attended Bunkers Hill after 2:00pm on Sunday (March 29), a significant police presence remained in the area. Several police vehicles were at the scene, with officers seen going in and out and carrying out checks around the rear of a large block of flats as enquiries continued.

The force has voluntarily referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which will determine whether the matter should be investigated independently or referred back to the force.

Deputy Chief Constable Gary Phillips said: “We have initiated a prompt investigation into the circumstances that led to the firearms being discharged, and have referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

“We will work with them as we continue to establish the circumstances leading up to the discharge.”

A police presence remains at Bunkers Hill as enquiries continue.

Crime

Theft case over Tresaith beach items discontinued in court

Published

2 days ago

March 28, 2026

Court Reporter

A THEFT case relating to items taken from a Pembrokeshire beach has been discontinued at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court.

Gryffydd Morgan, aged 52, of Bro Arth, near Cilgerran, Pembrokeshire, had been due to stand trial in connection with alleged thefts at Tresaith Beach.

Morgan had denied two charges of theft, contrary to the Theft Act 1968.

The court previously heard that the allegations related to incidents on July 18, 2025, when it was claimed that a tent and a deck chair belonging to Clare Marshall had been stolen.

A second charge alleged that a tent belonging to Beverly Walker had also been taken on the same date.

Morgan had entered not guilty pleas to both charges at an earlier hearing.

However, when the case returned to court on Friday (Mar 27), the prosecution offered no evidence.

As a result, magistrates formally dismissed both charges.

No further details were given in court as to why the case had been discontinued.

Crime

Taylor wins appeal as Crown Court quashes ‘no insurance’ conviction

Published

3 days ago

March 27, 2026

Court Reporter

Judge rules expired licence does not invalidate insurance where driver is not disqualified

A HAKIN man has successfully overturned his conviction for driving without insurance in a case that could have wider implications for thousands of motorists.

Seventy-six-year-old Niall Taylor, of Haven Drive, won his appeal at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday (Mar 27), after the court ruled there was no case to answer on the insurance charge.

The court found that Taylor was insured in law at the time he was stopped, despite his driving licence having expired.

This is understood to be a landmark ruling on a point of law, directly addressing a long-standing assumption used in policing and prosecutions — that a driver whose licence has expired is automatically uninsured. The judgment provides rare clarification on how standard insurance wording should be interpreted in such cases, and may influence how similar prosecutions are handled in the future.

Key issue: licence expired but not disqualified

The case centred on an incident on January 18, 2023, when Taylor was stopped by police while driving a Vauxhall Zafira in Haverfordwest.

It was accepted that his driving licence had expired in November 2022 and had not yet been renewed, and Taylor did not challenge his conviction for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

However, the appeal focused solely on whether he was also uninsured.

Certificate wording decisive

The court heard that Taylor held a valid insurance policy covering the date in question.

Crucially, the certificate of motor insurance stated that cover applied where the driver:

“holds a licence to drive the vehicle or has held and is not disqualified or prohibited by law from holding or obtaining such a licence.”

The court found that Taylor met this definition, as he had previously held a licence and was not disqualified or prohibited from obtaining one.

Judge relies on leading legal text

In a detailed ruling, the judge referred to Wilkinson’s Road Traffic Offences (32nd Edition), a leading legal authority, which states that policies using this wording commonly cover drivers even where a licence has expired.

The court also considered the case of Adams v Dunne (1978), which established that an insurance policy remains valid unless and until it is formally avoided.

The judge said that, in law, such policies remain effective even if they may later be considered “voidable” rather than void.

Prosecution evidence ‘insufficient’

The Crown had relied on evidence from an insurance company investigator, who said the policy might have been cancelled had the company known about the licence issue.

However, the court found this evidence did not establish that the policy was invalid at the time.

The judge noted that:

the insurer had confirmed a policy existed,
no full policy document had been produced, and
the certificate itself clearly set out the relevant terms.

He concluded that the prosecution had failed to prove that no valid insurance was in force.

Conviction quashed

Allowing the submission of no case to answer, the court ruled:

“We are satisfied that Mr Taylor did indeed have a certificate of motor insurance… which covered him to drive on the 18th of January 2023.”

The judge added that the prosecution evidence, taken at its highest, was not sufficient to justify a conviction.

Taylor’s conviction for driving without insurance was therefore quashed.

Wider implications

The ruling raises important questions about how insurance policies operate where a driving licence has expired — an issue affecting many motorists, particularly those over 70 who must renew their licences regularly.

The court’s interpretation suggests that, where a policy uses standard wording covering drivers who have previously held a licence and are not disqualified, insurance may still be valid despite administrative lapses.

Taylor’s separate conviction for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence remains in place and was not part of the appeal.

He was asked to write to the court if he wanted to claim travelling expenses to cover the cost of transport for numerous times he has been to court regarding this matter.