Community

SARS boss published children’s photos, named social-workers and claims “legal trafficking”

Published

1 week ago

November 25, 2025

Residents say group bans, naming officials and safeguarding questions have created fear — Ajay Owen rejects all claims.

A GROWING number of Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion residents have contacted The Herald with concerns about the conduct of SARS Cymru director, community Facebook group administrator and former prospective Reform UK candidate, Ajay Owen.

The Herald understands that tensions have escalated over several months, involving disputes in local Facebook groups, allegations of harassment from both sides, questions about Mr Owen’s public statements on social care and asylum issues, and confusion over the perceived role of his volunteer organisation, SARS Cymru.

Mr Owen has strongly rejected many of the concerns raised. He has supplied The Herald with a detailed written response, which is published in full at the end of this article.

He also chose to publish the same response in full on his Facebook page prior to this article’s publication.

Background: political fallout and community rows

Mr Owen first came to wider public attention locally during the Schools of Sanctuary debate earlier this year, when he criticised participating schools and parents who supported the programme. His posts prompted significant backlash, including from teachers, parents and community members.

Around the same time, it was suggested online that he intended to stand as a prospective Reform UK candidate in Pembrokeshire. Reform sources later told The Herald that comments he made about the scheme “brought the party into disrepute”.

This dispute contributed to the first major split within the community Facebook groups he ran. Several residents say they were removed after questioning his posts. Others say he blocked them or prevented them from commenting.

Mr Owen says these removals were justified and based on group rules.

Previous Herald coverage: blue-light allegations

In November 2024, The Herald reported that Mr Owen — then Director and Chair of Dyfed-Powys Neighbourhood Watch — had been stopped twice by police following false reports that he was using illegal blue lights on his vehicle. No blue lights were found, and he was cleared on both occasions.

Mr Owen has repeatedly cited this incident as an example of what he calls “malicious reporting” against him, and has since joked publicly about the matter.

Some residents say the blue-light article marked the point where his relationship with The Herald deteriorated. Mr Owen wrote on Facebook that The Herald had “made him out to be the bad person”.

However, our reporting was accurate, and confirmed by the police.

Growth of SARS Cymru and public presentation

Since early 2024, Mr Owen has built SARS Cymru — a volunteer-run organisation that provides “situational updates”, weather warnings, community information and occasional on-scene assistance such as sandbagging or checking on residents.

The organisation now has around 11,000 followers on Facebook.

Residents say they appreciate some of the information provided, but others have expressed concern about:

the use of heavily edited “Director” photographs
posts referring to SARS Cymru volunteers as being “on the frontline”
the listing of a single “emergency number” which is Mr Owen’s personal mobile
confusion over whether SARS Cymru has any official status

Several emergency service sources have confirmed to The Herald that SARS Cymru does not hold any statutory powers, has no formal agreements with police, fire or local authority services, and has no legal authority to respond to emergencies.

Mr Owen disputes that SARS Cymru’s presentation is misleading.

Recent flashpoint: publication of residents’ photographs

One of the most serious concerns raised with The Herald relates to screenshots that appeared to show photographs of children — taken from residents’ personal Facebook pages — being reposted publicly by Mr Owen without parental consent.

Residents say this happened after disagreements in one of the community groups.

Mr Owen says the images were visible on public profiles, that he removed them after complaints, and that he posted an apology which he later deleted following what he describes as threats against him and his family.

Parents who contacted The Herald described the incident as “deeply distressing”, “intimidating” and “beyond acceptable behaviour”.

Safeguarding referral confirmed in council documents

A further concern relates to a safeguarding referral that met the Section 5 ‘person in position of trust’ threshold, according to correspondence disclosed in a subject access request.

Mr Owen confirmed the referral in his response to The Herald. He maintains the concerns were “unsubstantiated”, says the matter was connected to his support for an elderly resident, and states that the Disclosure & Barring Service took no action.

The Herald makes no allegation of wrongdoing but reports the safeguarding referral because it has been repeatedly referenced both by residents and by Mr Owen himself.

Posts about social workers and serious allegations

Several residents also highlighted a post Mr Owen shared on 16 October containing an “EXPOSED” graphic naming two social workers.

In his commentary, Mr Owen wrote that local authority children’s services were “trafficking children in a legal way”. One quote he reposted from an online page claimed a senior former social worker was “running a child trafficking network, in a legal way”.

These posts caused alarm among residents, several of whom said they felt the language was “irresponsible”, “inflammatory” or “defamatory”.

Mr Owen stands by the statements, saying they reflected long-standing concerns raised by families.

Community group administration

During October and November, a new wave of complaints emerged. Residents accuse Mr Owen of:

removing or banning users for questioning him
contacting employers of individuals who disagreed with him
reposting screenshots of residents’ profiles
monitoring public comments and “keeping screenshots”
creating an atmosphere where some people feel unable to speak openly

Several residents provided The Herald with extensive screenshots. Some have filed reports with Dyfed-Powys Police. Others say they no longer trust local online spaces administered by Mr Owen.

Mr Owen says he has himself reported more than 100 screenshots to police and considers the criticism part of a “campaign of harassment” against him.

Official response from statutory agencies

Dyfed-Powys Police, Mid & West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Pembrokeshire County Council and Hywel Dda University Health Board were contacted for comment about SARS Cymru and whether any formal working arrangements exist.

All confirmed there are no formal agreements with SARS Cymru and that emergency incidents must always be reported via 999 or statutory channels.

Ajay Owen’s response

Mr Owen provided The Herald with a lengthy written response and has also published the full version publicly on his Facebook page.

He told the Herald that he has received threats, believes he is the victim of a harassment campaign, and will “continue to out people who mistreat” him or his family. He says criticism reflects a “small, narrow-minded” community backlash.

Mr Owen also told us:

Removals from community groups were due to “spam and bullying”, and because of “political backlash” when he briefly considered standing for election. He says moderators—not just himself—removed people.
Contacting employers was, he says, justified where he believed individuals made threats or engaged in harassment. He said public-facing workers “represent their organisations” and employers “have a right to know”.
Posting screenshots of children from residents’ Facebook pages was, he says, done on his personal page and later deleted. He argues people should understand the risks of sharing images publicly, and described this as giving residents a “reality check”.
Claims he causes fear or retaliation are rejected. He says residents “can speak freely”, but must not “slag off” locals or businesses. He says he has submitted over 100 screenshots to police alleging harassment against him.
SARS Cymru’s presentation is, he says, clear that it is not an emergency service. He accepts wording about being “the true frontline” may have been poorly phrased, but says volunteers deserve recognition. He confirmed SARS Cymru has no formal agreements with police, fire, or council services.
The safeguarding investigation into him earlier this year was, he says, “unsubstantiated”. He says the DBS raised no concerns and he is not barred from working with vulnerable adults or children.
Complaints about public officials were, he says, raised on behalf of others. He says he “does not need to gather intelligence” because “locals talk” and he receives information via social media.
He stands by comments describing children’s services as “trafficking children in a legal way”, and defended naming two social workers publicly, saying they are “public servants” and should expect scrutiny.
He defended naming a police staff member in a welfare-concern post, saying the officer publicly identified themselves first.
He said professionally edited “Director” photos are used so people can recognise him if they need to raise concerns.

Community

Pembrokeshire Lottery makes Superdraw winner’s Christmas extra special

Published

1 day ago

December 3, 2025

Tom Sinclair

ONE lucky Pembrokeshire Lottery player has scooped a festive windfall after winning the £10,000 Christmas Superdraw held on Wednesday 3 December.

The winner, Mr Damon McGarvie, formerly of Milford Haven and now living in Llangwm, was selected with lucky number 41475. He plays through a salary-deduction scheme run by his employer, Pembrokeshire County Council.

Mr McGarvie’s name was announced live on Radio Pembrokeshire, after which the Pembrokeshire Lottery team made contact and presented him with his cheque later that day.

Speaking after the win, Mr McGarvie said he and his wife will be jetting off on a once-in-a-lifetime holiday over the festive period, thanks to the surprise Christmas windfall.

Pembrokeshire Lottery Manager Abigail Owens said:
“I am so pleased for Mr McGarvie. He has contributed to the Pembrokeshire Lottery for many years, and it is only by the continued support of our players that we are able to assist so many local businesses with interest-free funding from the loan fund.”

The regular weekly £2,000 draws continue in the run-up to the January Superdraw, which will offer a £4,000 prize.

To sign up or order Pembrokeshire Lottery gift subscriptions for Christmas, call 01646 690800.

Photo caption: Damon McGarvie with his winner’s cheque.

Community

Care home fees in Wales remain among the lowest – but families still face crippling bills

Published

1 day ago

December 3, 2025

Tom Sinclair

WALES continues to offer some of the most affordable care home places in the UK, with residents paying hundreds of pounds less each week than in London or Scotland, new figures reveal.

The average weekly cost of a residential care home place in Wales stands at £1,156 – £392 cheaper than in London (£1,548) and £142 below the UK average of £1,298, according to data published by the country’s largest care home reviews website, carehome.co.uk.

Even when nursing care or specialist dementia support is required, Wales remains significantly cheaper than most of the UK. A week in a Welsh nursing home with dementia care costs £1,440 on average – £327 less than in London and £124 below the national figure.

The figures, based on self-funder fees collected on 9 September 2025, underline a stark north-south divide that has persisted for years.

London is by far the most expensive region, with basic residential care now averaging £1,548 a week. Scotland, where care workers benefit from a higher minimum wage settlement, comes a close second at £1,539. In contrast, the North East of England remains the cheapest area at just £1,112 a week for residential care – almost £200 below the UK average.

Sue Learner, editor of carehome.co.uk, said the regional variations were only part of the story.

“Wales is the third most affordable region for most types of care, which will come as a relief to many families here,” she said. “But even at £1,156 a week, the bills add up to almost £60,000 a year. For the 49 per cent of residents who pay for their own care, these costs are devastating.”

The financial pressure is compounded by differing rules on state help across the UK. In Wales, anyone with assets below £50,000 qualifies for local authority support – more than double England’s £23,250 threshold and well above Scotland’s £35,000 limit.

Ms Learner warned that rising staff wages and looming increases in employer National Insurance contributions would push fees higher everywhere.

“Local councils are already stretched to breaking point,” she said. “Without genuine reform of the social care system – something governments have been promising for decades – more and more families will have no choice but to sell the family home to fund care.”

The website, which carries 390,000 independently verified reviews, is urging people to plan early and seek expert advice. Its free Care Helpline (01488 501 499) is available to anyone looking for a home that offers both quality and value for money.

As the population ages and demand grows, campaigners say the latest figures are another reminder that the postcode lottery in care costs shows no sign of disappearing.

UK care home fees at a glance (average weekly self-funder rates)

London: £1,548
Scotland: £1,539
South East England: £1,446
Wales: £1,156
North East England: £1,112 (cheapest)
UK average: £1,298

Source: carehome.co.uk, 9 September 2025

Community

Folly Farm marks second birth of critically endangered rhino

Published

1 day ago

December 3, 2025

Luke Sinclair

FOLLY FARM is celebrating the birth of another critically endangered eastern black rhino calf – and it’s a boy!

This is the second rhino calf to be born at the family-run zoo, and the second in Wales as part of a managed breeding programme through its membership with EAZA (the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria).

After a 15-month long pregnancy, mum Dakima gave birth to a healthy male calf on Thursday 27 November. With only an estimated 39 eastern black rhinos born in the UK in the past 25 years, it’s a significant achievement for the captive European Endangered Breeding Programme (EEP) for black rhinos.

Eastern black rhinos are classed as critically endangered due to poaching and loss of habitat. There is thought to be an estimated 1471 Eastern black rhino left in the wild and around 109 in zoos across Europe, including Folly Farm’s newest addition.

The calf made its appearance at 6.34am and within a couple of hours was standing up, following mum around the enclosure and had started suckling.

12-year-old eastern black rhino Dakima arrived at Folly Farm in May 2017 as part of a European breeding programme and met her mate, 14 year-old male Nkosi.

Mating rhinos can be unpredictable, but their relationship blossomed and Dakima gave birth to her first calf at the start of 2020. Male calf Glyndŵr was Dakima’s first born and the first rhino calf to have been born in Wales. Glyndŵr was named after Folly Farm’s Founding Director, the late Glyndŵr Williams, and has since moved onto another animal collection to continue the breeding programme for the species.

Eastern black rhinos are solitary animals and therefore usually reside in their own paddocks. But when the time was right, Dakima and Nkosi were reintroduced again for some carefully planned ‘date nights’ – and keepers predicted she fell pregnant sometime in August 2024. After having Dakima’s stool sample analysed at a specialist lab in Chester Zoo, who run the breeding programme for Eastern black rhino, it was confirmed that baby number two was on the way, with a due date of mid-November 2025.

Conservation Officer, Jack Gradidge, said: “It’s always heart-warming to welcome new arrivals as part of the European Breeding Programme through our membership with EAZA (The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria) – but it’s even more special when it’s such a significant animal and one who’s wild cousins are under threat.

“Dakima was a great mum with Glyn so it’s wonderful to see these instincts are still just as strong the second time around. She’s being very protective of her new baby, showing they have a strong bond already.

“This is such a monumental event for all the staff here and the zoo team have worked incredibly hard to create an environment where the rhinos felt comfortable enough to mate.

“Not only is this calf helping to increase numbers of a critically endangered species, he’s also the second rhino ever to be born in Wales – with his brother being the first!”

Along with other zoos across Europe, Folly Farm is part of a breeding programme to help increase the numbers of Eastern black rhino in captivity and, ultimately, the wild. They support a number of conservation projects alongside various animal charities – including their new partnership with ‘Helping Rhinos’, a UK based organisation who, amongst various other conservation initiatives, support a rhino orphanage in South Africa, caring for young calves who have become victims of the poaching crisis.

Simon Jones, the CEO of Helping Rhinos was delighted with the zoo’s happy news; “We are absolutely delighted to welcome news of this beautiful eastern black rhino calf at Folly Farm.

We are grateful for their support of Helping Rhinos’ efforts including the care of young calves orphaned by poaching.”

Most animals give birth at night under the cover of darkness – and Dakima gave birth early in the morning, just before the keepers arrived to start their day.

Jack explains: “Our rhino keeper opened up the rhino house and the first thing he saw was the security camera footage where a tiny newborn rhino was seen happily padding about the enclosure. After quietly taking a sneaky peak at the beautiful new calf to confirm what he had seen – he let the team know the happy news that baby had arrived!

“We then left Dakima alone with her new bundle of joy, giving them both some space to bond – but continued to monitor them on the cameras and did regular spot checks to ensure baby was starting to feed.

“For us, the next steps are just to keep an eye on Dakima and make sure the calf stays healthy and gets everything he needs from mum. Our goal is always to let nature take its course and interfere as little as possible.

“Nkosi will be a bit of an absent father, but that’s perfectly normal as male rhinos don’t have anything to do with their offspring in the wild. It’s unlikely we’ll introduce him to the calf for some time.

“In the wild, rhino calves can stay with their mums for up to four years, after that there’s a possibility this new addition could one day be released into the wild to help boost population numbers – or move to another zoo to continue the breeding programme in Europe just like his brother.

“It’s exciting to be playing our part in helping to safeguard these amazing animals for future generations.”

Folly Farm’s rhino keepers will monitor mum and baby closely over the coming weeks and they will be back out in the enclosure in due course.

Visitors shouldn’t expect to see the calf for a while but Folly Farm will be posting updates on their social media channels.

Folly Farm’s Kifaru Reserve welcomed rhinos to the park ten years ago almost to the day! It is a £500,000 purpose-built exhibit which tells the story of the role of modern zoos in conservation and highlights Folly Farm’s hands-on commitment to conservation through the projects it supports in the wild and closer to home.

For further information please visit https://www.folly-farm.co.uk/.