265 premises raided in UK-wide operation

SENEDD Member Gareth Davies MS has welcomed a national crackdown on high street money laundering, following a series of targeted police raids on businesses across the UK.

The police and trading standards also targeted at least one shop in Charles Street Milford Haven last month (Mar 13), the Herald understands that the authorities were looking for counterfeit or illegally imported cigarettes and tobacco. We are still awaiting an update on the outcome of that raid.

The nationwide operation, however, is called Operation Machinize. It is being led by the National Crime Agency (NCA), saw coordinated action at 265 premises including barbershops, car washes, vape shops and American sweet stores. Officers made 35 arrests, froze bank accounts holding over £1 million, and placed 97 suspected modern slavery victims under protection. The NCA estimates that up to £12 billion of criminal cash is laundered in the UK every year.

The large-scale operation follows warnings first raised by Mr Davies in the Senedd on 7 February 2024. During that debate, he highlighted an unusual concentration of cash-only barbershops and vape shops in his constituency, suggesting links to organised crime and illicit financial activity.

At the time, his comments were dismissed by Labour Senedd Members and Welsh Government ministers. Labour MS for Ogmore, Huw Irranca-Davies, said during the debate:
“[…] to brand whole swathes of our high street businesses as potential criminal money-launderers is a terrible slur on the many local businesses who are trying to create jobs and make a living and bring life to our towns.”

However, growing public concern in parts of Wales appears to support Mr Davies’ earlier claims. In Porth, South Wales, a 14th barbershop application was recently submitted in a town with a population of just 6,000 — raising fresh questions about the scale and purpose of some high street businesses.

Mr Davies has now challenged Welsh Labour to confirm whether they acknowledge the seriousness of the issue, especially given the NCA operation took place under a UK Labour Government. He is also calling on the Welsh Government to provide support and guidance to local councils dealing with suspected laundering.

Speaking following the raids, Gareth Davies said: “When I first raised my constituents’ concerns about the rise of cash-only businesses on our high streets, they were met with pearl-clutching by Labour members who dismissed them outright.

“I welcome the police crackdown, a year on from when I first sounded the alarm, and I hope that Operation Machinize will deliver meaningful results.

“I would like the Welsh Government to clarify whether they now accept this is a real and growing issue, and to set out how they plan to equip local authorities to tackle it head on.”

AN APPLICATION to demolish a Pembrokeshire storage building, replacing it with a new build holiday let has been granted, after a previous scheme for its conversion was refused, only being allowed on appeal.

In the application to Pembrokeshire County Council, K & M Ferney, through agent James Dwyer Associates, sought permission to replace the building with a new holiday let at Chronicle Park, Parsonage Lane, Begelly.

The initial 2021 application for a change of use was refused by county planners but allowed on appeal in late 2022.

A supporting statement said: “The planning inspector, in their decision, confirmed the proposal to convert a storage building into a holiday let, including an increase in the height of the building and the addition of a porch, met the local planning authority’s policies and should be allowed.

“In short, the proposal was acceptable in principle as well as in relation to its effect on the character of the surrounding location.

“Given it is now established that a building for holiday lets of that scale and in that location, is acceptable, it is not unreasonable to seek to ensure that the development is the best it can be in terms of its appearance, outlook, facilities, car parking, and importantly the privacy and enjoyment of those using the holiday let, and those occupying the adjacent dwelling.

“Accordingly, the most practical solution would be to provide a new building of the same scale, as approved, to meet those aims, and in doing so provide a structure that meets the latest environmental and sustainability requirements, rather than the inevitable compromised outcome, in converting an existing building of relatively poor quality.”

An officer report for the latest application, recommending approval, said: “The proposal is to replace an existing storage building located within the curtilage of Chronicle Park which has extant planning permission for a change of use and conversion into a holiday let.

“The new building would also be for holiday use and would have positive social impacts through the provision of additional accommodation on offer within the local vicinity. It would have positive economic benefits by providing an income stream to the applicant, expenditure on building materials and labour during the construction phase and expenditure from tourists within the local economy.”

The application was conditionally approved by county planners.

A CALL to change a mixed-use therapy centre to a children’s care home classification has been submitted to Pembrokeshire planners.

Skybound Therapies Ltd, through agent Carl Bentley Architectural Services, seeks permission for the change of use of the Skybound Care Farm & Therapy Centre, Campbell Farm, Wiston, near Haverfordwest.

A supporting statement says: “Situated in a discrete rural setting in Pembrokeshire, the Therapy Centre is at the heart of a family-owned Care Farm. It is a working beef and forestry farm, providing a unique and tranquil environment for their services,” adding: “Skybound Care Farm offers a variety of services for both children and young adults. From young adult day opportunities to week-long intensive programmes. The forestry fields provide an ideal setting for practicing walks. Visitors can interact with animals, learn about water safety near their ponds, and immerse themselves in the peaceful beauty of the working farm. Vegetable growing and harvesting is a recent addition to the Care Farm.

“Skybound welcome clients from the local area as well as those travelling from all over the UK and abroad. There is a variety of accommodation types close to the farm and centre, including a holiday village, caravan parks, holiday cottages and log cabins. Many clients like to combine visits to the care farm / therapy centre with exploring local beaches, amenities and attractions.

“The Care Farm HQ and Therapy Centre are in Southwest Wales, but they also cover many locations across the UK, including Cardiff, Newport, Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, Yorkshire and Norfolk. Skybound are taking on new locations all of the time.”

It says the original Therapy Centre which was constructed in 2012/13 when it “began its journey as a leading national and international therapy centre providing behaviour analysis, positive behaviour support, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy for children and young adults with special needs and behavioural issues”.

In August 2022 planning permission was granted to extend the therapy centre, completed in 2024; the business currently employs 45 staff on a full time and part time basis, a small number of staff are located at the Care Farm & Therapy Centre and at other locations across Wales and the UK.

“Whilst the centre has been running since February 2024 the applicant and business has found that the use of the centre is changing from previously planned and consented usage,” the statement says.

It says that since then discussions have taken place with council planners to clarify the centre’s current planning use class, along with “other opportunities and ideas for the expansion of the business and services to potentially use other existing buildings at the site are currently being investigated, which will no doubt take further time to consider”.

“There is a long-term plan to expand the Care Farm & Therapy Centre activities within the whole of the site and this full planning application is the third stage of the plan. The long-term plan is to provide more ‘settings’ to provide more training, utilising more of the farm setting for example with further interactions with small farm animals and to perhaps house some therapy sessions within other existing farm buildings to provide different types of training settings.”

Late last year, the site was granted permission to extend staff facilities through a temporary building.

The current application will be considered by planners at a later date.