News
Divest from genocide: West Wales campaigners to lobby Dyfed Pension Fund
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
Teenager charged following rape allegation at Saundersfoot nightclub
Incident reported at Sands Nightclub in early hours of Sunday
DYFED-POWYS POLICE is investigating an allegation of rape following an incident reported at Sands Nightclub in Saundersfoot in the early hours of Sunday (Dec 14).
An 18-year-old man was arrested after officers were called to the venue, which is a popular late-night spot in the seaside village. The allegation relates to events said to have taken place during the early hours of the morning.
Joshua Probert, aged 18, has since been charged with one count of rape. He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear before Swansea Crown Court on Thursday (Dec 18).
The complainant is entitled to lifelong anonymity under law, and no further details about the allegation can be reported at this stage.
Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that enquiries are ongoing. Officers are understood to have carried out initial investigative work shortly after the report was made, including speaking to witnesses.
Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police.
- Anyone affected by sexual assault or rape can contact the 24/7 Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Line, run by Rape Crisis England & Wales, on 0808 500 2222. Calls are free and confidential.
Local Government
Mayor visits Milford Haven Library Christmas event
THE MAYOR of Milford Haven, Cllr William Elliott, paid a visit to Milford Haven Library on Tuesday morning to attend its festive Mince Pie and a Cuppa event.
The event brought together library staff and local residents, with the Mayor thanking staff for their work supporting the community throughout the year. During the visit, Cllr Elliott also spent time speaking with residents who had come along to the event or were visiting the library to borrow books.
Milford Haven Library is part of the Pembrokeshire Libraries service, which provides access to books, information, and community activities across the county.
The Mayor wished residents a Merry Christmas at the close of his visit.
Crime
Milford Haven man jailed after drunken attack on partner and police officers
A MILFORD HAVEN man who launched a violent drunken assault on his partner before attacking two police officers has been jailed for three years and six months.
Alexander Campbell was sentenced on Wednesday (Dec 16) at Swansea Crown Court after admitting causing grievous bodily harm and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The court heard that Campbell had been in a relationship with his partner, Miss Cox, for six years. On the night of the offence, he returned home highly intoxicated and became argumentative.

Prosecutor Rieve Nesbitt-Marr told the court that Miss Cox advised Campbell to go upstairs and sleep off the alcohol. Instead, he began poking her and told her not to tell him what to do.
Campbell then launched what Miss Cox described as “a flurry of punches that rained down on her.”
Neighbours contacted police after hearing the disturbance. When officers arrived, they found a smashed bowl on the floor and Miss Cox lying on the sofa under a blanket, covering her face.
Body-worn camera footage played in court showed Campbell threatening officers, telling them: “I will turn this place into a f***ing murder scene.”
As officers attempted to separate the parties, PC Thomas placed her arm out to create distance. Campbell grabbed her wrist with force, an assault captured on body-worn video.
He then attacked PC Jones, climbing on top of him and punching him repeatedly, again recorded on police body-worn footage.
PC Thomas later attended Withybush Hospital, where she received four stitches under local anaesthetic. Miss Cox suffered severe facial bruising, with one eye swollen almost shut.
The court was told that Miss Cox’s ten-year-old daughter was upstairs at the property during the incident.
Campbell has 27 previous offences. In mitigation, the court heard that he accepted alcohol turned him into a different person, telling the court: “I’m an ugly person when I drink. I’m a different person when I’m sober.”
Sentencing Campbell, the judge said he knew better than anyone how alcohol affected him.
“You came home in a bad mood and almost predictively, you assaulted her,” the judge said.
“The noise and aggression was such that the neighbour called the police.”
“You gave her a bruise on her face that can only be described as a large shiner.”
“In short, you have injured three people. Your conduct was utterly pathetic, like an overgrown child.”
The judge also referred to Campbell’s violent history, describing him as a “cowardly bully.”
While acknowledging that Campbell had previously complied well with a suspended sentence after removing his own alcohol tag, the judge said custody was unavoidable.
Campbell was sentenced to three years and six months in prison, with half to be served in custody and the remainder on licence.
Warning him about his future, the judge added: “If you carry on with this behaviour you will spend a lifetime in prison. The only person who can change this is you.”
The court also granted a restraining order for five years.
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