Politics

Calls for ban on police pointing Tasers at children

Published

6 months ago

July 28, 2025

HUMAN rights experts called for a ban on the “traumatising” use of Tasers against children by police, warning the “unacceptable” use of force runs contrary to children’s rights.

Rhian Croke, of the Children’s Legal Centre Wales, said mounting evidence shows systemic discrimination – with black, disabled and poorer children more likely to be the target.

Dr Croke expressed concerns about the UK Government potentially authorising the use, including on children, of Taser 10 – a new “more powerful” model – in the weeks ahead.

She warned of increased risks of physical harm and psychological trauma, with children describing Tasers as frightening, painful and traumatising – even when not discharged.

Nearly a quarter of recorded Taser use on children in Wales and England involved black boys aged between 11 and 17, according to a briefing for Senedd Members.

Children with mental health conditions or additional learning needs, and those from poorer backgrounds, were also found to be disproportionately affected.

In 2023, a United Nations committee called for a ban on the use of Tasers on under 18s, warning of potential breaches of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

“The decision to authorise Taser 10 will impact children in Wales,” wrote Dr Croke. “Wales can and must do better. Despite policing not being devolved, Wales is a children’s rights, trauma-informed, and anti-racist nation.”

Urging the Welsh Government to lead calls for a pause on Taser 10, Dr Croke called for a wider ban on Taser use against children or at least a strong legal presumption against.

Police in Wales and England deployed Tasers on children 2,900 times last year, including five instances against children under 11, with 66 discharges – all on those aged 11 to 17.

Wales’ four police forces used Tasers on children 112 times and fired on three occasions, according to the Home Office statistics for 2023/24.

South Wales Police pulled Tasers on children the most (56 times) followed by Gwent (35, including two discharges), North Wales (12, one discharge) and Dyfed Powys (nine).

Dr Croke pointed to research showing Taser use – or the threat of it – causes significant distress, fear and trauma in children. Some children reported experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder following such an encounter with police.

One child told researchers: “I just saw the little dot there and… I just went all warm, scared. I thought I’m going to get hurt now, I’m going to get a shock in a minute. They just stunned him [his friend] and he flopped on the floor.”

In the briefing, jointly prepared with Louise King from the Children’s Rights Alliance England, Dr Croke warned Tasers also pose a major risk to children’s physical health.

The researchers wrote: “Unlike earlier models, Taser 10 barbs must embed in the skin. Children’s thinner skin and reduced body wall-to-organ distance significantly heighten the risk of deep tissue or organ injury.

“Barbs from Taser 10 are heavier, travel at higher velocity and have increased kinetic energy, increasing the likelihood of severe internal harm, including to the eyes, brain, lungs and liver. Given that children frequently wear lighter clothing, this danger is compounded.”

Warning no child rights impact assessment had been published on Taser 10, Dr Croke argued such assessments should be mandatory for all new policing technology.

She said: “Taser use, which includes threatening a child with a Taser, can constitute a form of state-inflicted violence, especially in cases where the child poses no serious threat.

“This is particularly concerning when used on children already traumatised by abuse, exploitation or neglect. Taser use may re-traumatise children.”

Jenny Rathbone and Buffy Williams, who chair the Senedd’s equality and children’s committees respectively, were similarly concerned about the impact on children’s rights.

In a joint letter, the Labour Senedd Members wrote: “We are sufficiently alarmed at the impact… including the potential psychological and physical harm to children that these weapons can inflict, that we felt it necessary to signal our concerns immediately.”

The pair questioned how sanctioning the use of Taser 10 on children would be consistent with Welsh law which places a duty on ministers to have “due regard” to the UNCRC.

Dr Croke had pointed to a mismatch on policy between Wales and Westminster, drawing a parallel with concerns about children being strip-searched by police.

She said: “Taser use against children is a further example of how UK Government policy is contrary to Welsh Government’s commitment to the UNCRC and Welsh-specific legislation.”

Ms Rathbone and Ms Williams also echoed concerns about a lack of disaggregated data on the “disproportionate and discriminatory” use of Tasers against children in Wales.

In her response, Jane Hutt stated the Welsh Government does not want to see the use of tasers on children by police forces but responsibility remains with Westminster.

Jane Hutt, secretary for social justice, trefnydd and chief whip

Wales’ social justice secretary said she would write to Labour colleague Diana Johnson, the UK policing minister, expressing concerns and seeking assurances.

Concluding her briefing, Dr Croke told Senedd Members: “The continued use of Tasers and the deployment of Taser 10 on children by police… if authorised, will represent a serious breach of international human rights standards and Welsh children’s rights legislation.

“The UK Government’s failure to conduct a child rights impact assessment prior to authorisation is a grave oversight that disregards its obligations under the UNCRC.”

News

Welsh peace campaigner removed from court during Palestine protest case

Published

56 minutes ago

February 4, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Concerns raised over use of terrorism laws against silent sign-holders as Welsh activist among those ejected from London hearings

A WELSH peace campaigner was among several protesters removed from court by security staff this week as plea hearings continued for people charged under terrorism legislation for holding pro-Palestine signs.

Angie Zelter, aged 74, from Knucklas, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on Monday as part of mass proceedings linked to the Government’s ban on Palestine Action.

Campaigners say hundreds of people across the UK – including some in Wales – have been charged under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000 after quietly holding handwritten signs reading: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”

Zelter, a long-time anti-war activist and founder of Trident Ploughshares, attempted to read a prepared statement criticising the prosecutions before being escorted from the courtroom, according to supporters.

She told the court she did not accept being labelled a terrorist for what she described as peaceful protest and opposition to the war in Gaza.

Outside the building, fellow campaigners said she had sought to argue that international law and freedom of expression should protect non-violent dissent.

Also removed from the hearing was Tim Crosland, co-founder of Defend Our Juries, who said he had tried to raise legal objections to the charges before being asked to leave.

Arrests nationwide

Organisers of the “Lift The Ban” campaign claim nearly 3,000 people have been arrested across Britain since late 2025 for taking part in silent vigils, with several hundred now facing prosecution. The offences carry a maximum sentence of six months in prison.

The group argues the legislation is being used to criminalise peaceful protest. It is calling on the Government to lift the ban on Palestine Action and to change its stance on military cooperation with Israel.

However, ministers have defended the proscription, saying the organisation has been linked to criminal damage and disruption at sites connected to defence manufacturing.

Welsh perspective

While most hearings are taking place in London, campaigners say demonstrators in Wales have also taken part in sign-holding protests.

Civil liberties advocates have warned that applying terrorism laws to non-violent protest risks setting a troubling precedent.

For many in mid Wales, the sight of a pensioner from rural Powys being removed from a courtroom has sharpened debate over where the line lies between legitimate protest and criminality.

Further hearings are scheduled in the coming weeks, with more defendants from across the UK expected to appear.

Business

Bid to convert office space into chocolate factory, salon and laundrette

Published

8 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL for the retrospective conversion of office space previously connected to a Pembrokeshire car hire business to a chocolate factory, a beauty salon and a laundrette has been submitted to county planners

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Mr M Williams, through agent Preseli Planning Ltd, sought retrospective permission for the subdivision of an office on land off Scotchwell Cottage, Cartlett, Haverfordwest into three units forming a chocolate manufacturing, a beauty salon, and a launderette, along with associated works.

A supporting statement said planning history at the site saw a 2018 application for the refurbishment of an existing office building and a change of use from oil depot offices to a hire car office and car/van storage yard, approved back in 2019.

For the chocolate manufacturing by ‘Pembrokeshire Chocolate company,’ as part of the latest scheme it said: “The operation comprises of manufacturing of handmade bespoke flavoured chocolate bars. Historically there was an element of counter sales but this has now ceased. The business sales comprise of online orders and the delivery of produce to local stockist. There are no counter sales from the premises.”

It said the beauty salon “offers treatments, nail services and hairdressing,” operating “on an appointment only basis, with the hairdresser element also offering a mobile service”. It said the third unit of the building functions as a commercial laundrette and ironing services known as ‘West Coast Laundry,’ which “predominantly provides services to holiday cottages, hotels and care homes”.

The statement added: “Beyond the unchanged access the site has parking provision for at least 12 vehicles and a turning area. The building now forms three units which employ two persons per unit. The 12 parking spaces, therefore, provide sufficient provision for staff.

“In terms of visiting members of the public the beauty salon operates on an appointment only basis and based on its small scale can only accommodate two customers at any one time. Therefore, ample parking provision exists to visitors.

“With regard to the chocolate manufacturing and commercial laundrette service these enterprises do not attract visitors but do attract the dropping off laundry and delivery of associated inputs. Drop off and collections associated with the laundry services tend to fall in line with holiday accommodation changeover days, for example Tuesday drop off and collections on the Thursday.

“With regard to the chocolate manufacturing ingredients are delivered by couriers and movements associated with this is also estimated at 10 vehicular movements per week.”

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

Politics

Ceredigion council tax expected to rise by 4.7 per cent

Published

15 hours ago

February 3, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A BETTER financial settlement for Ceredigion from the Welsh Government along with a fresh grant is expected to see council tax bills in the county rising by less than five per cent this year, far below previous fears of a rise as high as nearly nine.

Last year, for the 2025-’26 budget, Ceredigion saw a council tax rise of 9.3 per cent.

While council tax makes up a proportion of the council’s annual revenue, a crucial area of funding is the Aggregate External Finance (AEF) rate from Welsh Government.

Ceredigion was to receive a 2.3 per cent increase on its settlement, some £3,388,000 for a total of £150,670,000, placing it at joint 13th of the 22 local authorities in Wales.

Following a later Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru agreement additional funding for local government was secured, giving Ceredigion additional funding.

Back in November, before the increased settlement was announced, Ceredigion Leader Cllr Bryan Davies said that early estimates indicated that an 8.9 per cent increase in council tax would be necessary, but an improved position of 6.9 per cent had been indicated as a result of a further modelling of service cost pressures and operational savings.

Following the improved settlement, members at the January meeting of Cabinet heard from Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement Services Cllr Gareth Davies a recommendation for a 4.75 per cent council tax increase as part of a draft budget requirement of £221.493m was being mooted.

That position has improved again, following financial support towards the Mid and West Wales Fire Service Levy, members of the February 3 meeting of the council’s corporate resources overview and scrutiny committee heard, the funding now dropping the expected council tax increase to 4.7 per cent, equivalent to an extra £7.39 per month for the average Band D property for the next financial year.

Members of the committee agreed to note the 4.7 per cent figure, with the final council tax recommendation being considered by Cabinet on February 10; the final decision on the budget being made by full council on March 2.