Crime
Pembrokeshire beach dog ban enforcement changes expected
PEMBROKESHIRE councillors have backed trialling a new way of enforcing bylaws restricting dogs on beaches in the summer season, with an emphasis on “education over enforcement”.
In previous years, between May 1 and September 30, dogs are completely banned on Tenby North Beach and Whitesands in St Davids, along with partial bans at Lydstep, Newgale beach and promenade, Saundersfoot beach and promenade, Tenby Castle and South Beach, Amroth beach and Promenade, Poppit Sands, Broad Haven North, Dale, and Coppet Hall (voluntary ban).
At Pembrokeshire County Council’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting of March 27, members heard a council Task and Finish Group meeting had discussed updating the current procedure and, focusing on the education of residents and visitors surrounding dogs on beaches.
“Based on feedback received by members from users both residents and visitors, the view of the group was that a level of enforcement was required but to undertake a trial surrounding a blended approach associated with the issues of warnings for first-time offenders, combined with the issuing of fixed penalty notices where appropriate.”
It added: “This is only for dogs on beaches; dog fouling on the street and beach will continue to be enforced.”
It was recommended to take a three-fold approach: improvements in communication and visibility of the dog-free zones through a review of signage and visibility of Enviro-crime officers, reviewing bylaws, and the trial of a new procedure surrounding the enforcement of dogs on beaches for 2025.
Regarding the dogs on beaches trial, the report for members said there would be an “intelligence-led” approach tackling “hot-spots”.
It added: “The response by the Enviro-crime contractor will be based on the following procedure. o If individuals are found with dogs within a restricted area, enforcement officers will undertake the following:
- Engage with the dog owners, issue a warning – full contact details will be taken.
- Dog owner will be requested to walk away from the restricted area – failing to do so will result in a FPN being issued.
- Dog owners will be asked to put their dog on a lead – failure to do so will result in a FPN being issued.
- Second offence after a warning will result in a FPN being issued.
- Dog fouling – FPN will be issued.
It concluded: “The view of the task and finish group was these measures would enable a trial season where education is given priority over enforcement, which could then be compared with the 2024 season of full enforcement.
“This will enable the committee to assess the two operating models when reviewed following the 2025 season.”
Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Rhys Jordan moved the recommendation, but said “blanket bans” on some of the county’s beaches were “overly punitive on dog owners,” adding: “Responsible owners do look after their dogs, but unfortunately it is the small minority; to have six or seven months of the year that certain beaches are completely banned from dogs is a bit much in my view.”
Committee chair Cllr Mark Carter said: “70 per cent of those caught with dogs are tourists, I really think we’re sending out the wrong message; giving a warning is fair in my mind, it’s good for business and good for tourism; I’m very grateful to officers for getting this to this level.”
Members agreed to back the recommendations of the task and finish group.
Crime
Police stop car in Pennar as three arrested in drugs investigation
Suspected drug driver report leads to major police response and multiple arrests
DRAMATIC scenes were reported in Pennar on Monday afternoon (Mar 23) after multiple police vehicles were deployed to stop a car.
The incident happened at around 5:00pm near Pennar Court, Pembroke Dock, where officers located a stationary vehicle following reports of a suspected drug driver in the area.
Police attended and pre-emptively stopped the vehicle, also blocking a second car nearby.
Officers carried out searches of both vehicles and discovered suspected controlled substances.
A 32-year-old woman and a 47-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of possessing class A and class B drugs with intent to supply. A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and possession of class A and class B drugs with intent to supply.
The 32-year-old woman has been released under investigation, while the 31-year-old man and 47-year-old woman have been released on unconditional bail.
Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed the incident followed reports of a man believed to be driving under the influence in the area earlier that afternoon.
Crime
Sex offender jailed for sending explicit messages to ’14-year-old’ girls
A MAN has been jailed after sending sexual messages on Snapchat to three girls he believed were aged 14.
Ciaran Carmody, aged 21, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court via video link from HM Wrexham prison, where he admitted three offences of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child under 16.
The court heard the messages were sent on three separate occasions to accounts posing as 14-year-old girls, which were in fact part of an undercover police operation.
Prosecutor Nia James said each of the girls made their age clear, but the messages sent by Carmody were sexual in nature.
The offences took place between April 25 and May 5, 2025.
Crime
Nottingham triple killer linked to alleged Pembrokeshire incident involving animal
FRESH details have emerged about Nottingham attacker Valdo Calocane, linking him to a previously reported incident in Pembrokeshire involving alleged violence towards an animal.
Calocane carried out a fatal knife attack in Nottingham in the early hours of Tuesday, June 13, 2023, killing University of Nottingham students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both aged 19, along with 65-year-old Ian Coates. He also attempted to kill three others.
The then 31-year-old was later given a hospital order in January 2024 after admitting three counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, as well as three counts of attempted murder.
It had previously been established that Calocane was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2020 and had been detained under mental health legislation on multiple occasions. Reports also indicated he experienced auditory hallucinations, which he said caused him difficulties.
He had been discharged from the care of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in September 2022, less than a year before the killings. That decision was later criticised in a Care Quality Commission report.
Now, an inquiry hearing on Tuesday, March 18 has been told of a possible earlier incident during Calocane’s time in Pembrokeshire.
Evidence presented to the inquiry stated that a former housemate, who lived with Calocane while he was attending Pembrokeshire College, contacted police following the Nottingham attacks. She claimed he had a history of mental health problems dating back several years.
The witness also described an incident involving alleged violence towards an animal, although full details were not disclosed during proceedings.
The inquiry further heard that Calocane’s mother had previously spoken about him being bullied both in Portugal and the UK, where the family lived in what was described as a predominantly white community.
A consultant forensic psychiatrist who assessed Calocane while he was in custody noted unusual behaviour during evaluations, including inappropriate smiling and a refusal to engage with questions about hearing voices.
The inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the Nottingham attacks is ongoing.
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