News

Divest from genocide: West Wales campaigners to lobby Dyfed Pension Fund

Published

9 months ago

June 18, 2025

Protest planned at Carmarthenshire County Hall over pension investments in Israeli-linked firms

CAMPAIGNERS from across west Wales will gather outside County Hall in Carmarthen on Monday, 23 June 2025, from 1:00pm to 2:00pm, calling on the Dyfed Pension Fund to divest from companies they say are complicit in human rights abuses against Palestinians.

The event is organised by the Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion branches of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and will include the presentation of a 1,700-signature petition to the chair of the Fund. This adds to 672 signatures already submitted by Pembrokeshire residents in March.

A speaker from UNISON, the public service union representing local authority employees and pensioners, will join the demonstration.

Criticism of pension fund response

Campaigners say they are disappointed by the Fund’s response to a letter submitted in May, which raised concerns about investments linked to Israel’s military and occupation. They accuse the Fund of failing to act on ethical concerns and hiding behind third-party advice that is not made public.

Two paragraphs from the response have caused particular anger:

Paragraph 4: The Fund’s Responsible Investment Policy states that “engaging with investee companies is important and is likely to be more effective than divestment in improving desired outcomes.”

Paragraph 7: The Fund adds that divestment would contradict its belief that engagement is more effective than selling shares, which would result in losing any influence over the companies involved.

Campaigners argue that these positions are inadequate. “How do you improve a genocide?” one protester asked. “You don’t engage with arms suppliers—you stop funding them.”

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign says it has identified more than £235 million of Dyfed Pension Fund investments in companies with links to the Israeli military, including weapons manufacturers.

Moral and financial concerns

Activists claim the Fund’s stance is not only ethically flawed but financially unsound. Since the start of Israel’s assault on Gaza, international credit agencies have downgraded Israel’s economic outlook. The recent escalation of conflict with Iran, they argue, will further undermine financial stability.

Local voices speak out

Yvonne Redfern of Carmarthenshire PSC said: “Yet again we are seeing a total disregard for democratic accountability. These are elected councillors chosen to represent the public, yet they hand decisions to unelected officers and an external asset manager, Robeco. No one sees the reports. The process is completely hidden. A recent Opinium poll shows that 57 percent of the public support a full Israeli arms embargo and 53 percent believe Israel should be expelled from the United Nations. We will not go away.”

Marj Hawkins, a Dyfed pensioner from Pembrokeshire, said: “I receive a pension from this fund, and it makes me furious to know that my income may come from investments tied to genocide. By the end of 2024, more than 17,000 children had been killed in Gaza. That is roughly the same number of children as attend Pembrokeshire schools. Think about that. It’s heartbreaking.”

Trade union support for divestment

Carmarthenshire County UNISON recently issued a statement condemning Labour leader Keir Starmer’s support for Israel and opposing the use of pension funds to invest in Israeli-linked companies.

“We are opposed to the support Starmer’s Labour has given the Israeli state, which has killed over 50,000 people since the terror campaign began, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza. These figures are seen as reliable by the United Nations and other international institutions. We are also opposed to our hard-earned pension funds being invested in companies that support or enable Israeli state violence against Palestinians.”

Photo: Campaigners at the Dyfed Pension Fund lobby, May 2025

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

16 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.

News

Man arrested after suspected drugs-related death in Haverfordwest

Published

16 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Police say death not suspicious as 46-year-old arrested over alleged Class A drug supply

A MAN has died following a medical emergency at a property in Haverfordwest, police have confirmed.

Emergency services were called at 3:18pm on Wednesday (March 18) after a report of a medical incident.

A man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the man’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.

The death is not being treated as suspicious at this time.

However, police confirmed that a man, aged 46, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

He has since been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

No further details about the deceased have been formally released.

Crime

Illegal dog breeders ordered to pay over £129,000 after council probe

Published

17 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FOUR people from Mynyddygarreg, Kidwelly, have been ordered to pay more than £129,000 following a successful prosecution for illegal dog breeding.

At Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Mar 10), before His Honour Judge Thomas KC, Stacey May June Edwards, Peter John Edwards, Sian Eleri Thomas and David Malcolm James Thomas, all of Sea Breeze, Mynyddygarreg, pleaded guilty to offences under the Breeding of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2014.

The court imposed confiscation orders totalling £129,873.41 under the Proceeds of Crime Act across the four defendants. They were also ordered to pay £8,000 in costs, while each defendant received a £2,000 fine.

The investigation began in April 2021 after Carmarthenshire County Council’s Animal Health team received an enquiry from Peter Edwards about obtaining a dog breeding licence. Although licensing guidance was provided and a partial application was submitted in February 2022, this was later withdrawn.

In March 2024, the council received a complaint that puppies were being advertised for sale without the required licence. Officers subsequently contacted online advertising platforms and issued data requests to assess the scale of activity.

Analysis of records from Pets4Homes, Freeads and Gumtree revealed multiple litters being advertised by members of the same household.

Correspondence under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act confirmed that up to 25 dogs were kept at the property, including between 16 and 19 breeding females.

While some defendants claimed joint ownership of the dogs, others attempted to minimise their involvement.

The Herald understands that numerous puppy advertisements were posted between July 2020 and April 2025, demonstrating a sustained pattern of unlicensed breeding.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, said: “This case demonstrates the council’s firm stance against unlicensed and illegal dog breeding.

“These regulations are in place to protect animal welfare and ensure that breeding activities are subject to proper oversight. The scale of activity uncovered at this property was entirely unacceptable, and we welcome the court’s decision to issue significant confiscation orders under POCA.”

He added: “We urge anyone with concerns about illegal dog breeding to report it. Our Animal Health officers will continue to investigate thoroughly and take action against those who disregard the law.”

Residents are reminded that anyone breeding and selling dogs must comply with licensing regulations designed to protect both animal welfare and consumers.