MS raises concerns about draft UK guidance on abortion clinic protests

Published

2 years ago

January 28, 2024

DRAFT UK guidance which allows protestors to approach women attending abortion clinics shows why policing and justice needs to be devolved to Wales, the Senedd heard.

Jenny Rathbone, a Labour backbencher, raised concerns about the UK Government issuing watered down draft guidance on safe zones around abortion clinics.

Ms Rathbone, who represents Cardiff Central, told MSs that most people in Wales support a woman’s right to choose to take on the difficult lifelong commitment of having a child.

“Women who attend these clinics are at their most vulnerable making that difficult decision,” she said during first minister’s questions on Tuesday January 23.

“And it is quite appalling that we are winding back the clock to enable people to be harassed at that most difficult moment.”

Last year, MPs backed proposals to enforce 150-metre buffer zones around abortion clinics to stop women being harassed as they enter.

Ms Rathbone said: “It is seriously disappointing that this draft guidance has already been given to police forces and local authorities despite this vote in the UK Parliament….

“How on earth can we trust the UK Government to obey the wishes of its own Parliament? Is this not a prime example of why policing and justice need to be devolved to Wales?”

Mark Drakeford told the Senedd that Home Secretary James Cleverly has said the guidance was drafted before he came into post following Suella Braverman’s sacking.

The first minister said Mr Cleverly has agreed to meet MPs to discuss their concerns ahead of publishing the final version of the guidance.

Prof Drakeford highlighted that Sir Bernard Jenkin, a Conservative MP, wrote to the home secretary saying the guidance discounts the experiences of women accessing services.

Sir Bernard, along with a Labour MP, raised concerns that women are being instructed not to feel harassed, alarmed or distressed by behaviour which has exactly that effect.

Prof Drakeford agreed with their assessment that the draft guidance would do nothing to address the ongoing issue of anti-abortion harassment outside clinics.

He said: ”If these decisions were in the hands of this Senedd, we would have acted differently and acted already to put an end to that harassment.

“It’s not too late for the UK Government to listen to Sir Bernard Jenkin and others – and I really hope that they do.”

Dock woman given mental health treatment order after supermarket thefts

Published

9 minutes 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

12 minutes 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

27 minutes 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.