Welsh campaigners say new law could free dozens from inappropriate units and save up to £14m a year

THE NATIONAL AUTISTIC SOCIETY CYMRU is urging the next Welsh Government to introduce an Autism and Learning Disability Bill to prevent autistic people being unnecessarily detained in mental health hospitals, warning the current system is both harmful and costly.

Around 140 autistic people and people with a learning disability from Wales are currently being held in mental health units, despite campaigners saying such settings are unsuitable for most.

Families and advocates report repeated concerns including abuse, overmedication, excessive restraint and solitary confinement.

The charity says many people remain detained for years rather than months, with the average stay approaching five years. Placements are often far from home, leaving relatives facing long journeys to visit loved ones and making it harder to maintain family support.

Campaigners argue that failures in existing laws and weak duties on public bodies mean families struggle to challenge decisions or secure appropriate community care.

Community care cheaper

The organisation says keeping people in hospital is also significantly more expensive than supporting them locally.

Community support can cost from around £13,000 a year for those living with friends or family, rising to about £80,000 for supported accommodation. By contrast, the average inpatient placement costs about £214,000 per person each year.

Even the most intensive community packages are estimated to be between £130,000 and £200,000 cheaper annually than hospital care.

If the number of people in hospital units were halved, the charity says Wales could save between £9 million and £14 million a year.

However, it argues those savings will not be realised without new legislation to reform how services are planned and delivered.

‘Stolen lives’

Through its Stolen Lives campaign, families have shared accounts of relatives who they believe could have remained in the community with the right support, but were instead sectioned when local services broke down.

The charity says hospital should be a last resort, not the default when care systems fail.

It is calling for a dedicated Autism and Learning Disability Act that would:

– strengthen legal rights to support
– improve coordination between services
– increase accountability when systems fail

James Radcliffe, External Affairs Manager for the charity in Wales, said: “The next Welsh government has the opportunity to end the unnecessary detention of autistic people. Currently existing laws are failing to protect autistic people.

“Families are unable to challenge services to allow them to bring their loved ones home.

“An Autism and Learning Disability Bill could end this injustice and end this human rights failure. It would strengthen the protections and rights for autistic people and people with a learning disability and it would also save the taxpayer millions.”

Annual memorial service at Milford Haven Cemetery to remember those who never returned home

A MEMORIAL service will be held at Milford Haven Cemetery to honour local fishermen who lost their lives at sea on Thursday, February 12, 2026.

Organised by Milford Haven Town Council, the annual gathering gives families, friends and residents the opportunity to come together in quiet reflection and remembrance of those who made their living on the water but never returned home.

The service will start at 11am and will be officiated by Rev Dr Adrian Furse SSC.

Milford Haven has long been shaped by its fishing and maritime industries, with generations of local families connected to the sea. While the harbour has provided work and prosperity, it has also brought tragedy, with storms and accidents claiming lives over the years.

The service will include prayers, readings and the laying of wreaths, creating a moment for the community to pause and acknowledge the sacrifices made by fishermen past and present.

Town councillors say the event is always a moving occasion and are encouraging anyone with links to the fishing community, as well as members of the wider public, to attend and show their support.

The aim, they say, is to ensure those who were lost are never forgotten and that their contribution to the town’s heritage continues to be recognised.

Residents wishing to attend or find out more can contact Milford Haven Town Council on 01646 692505 or visit www.milfordhaven-tc.gov.wales.

Traffic-free Wiseman’s Bridge event invites walkers, joggers and dog owners to donate food for James Criddle Foundation

A COMMUNITY charity run supporting families in need across south Pembrokeshire will take place next month.

Saundersfoot Runners are hosting their annual Food Bank Run on Sunday, February 15, starting at 10:00am from the Wiseman’s Bridge Inn.

The event is open to everyone, whether running, jogging or walking, and follows a traffic-free route suitable for all ages. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on leads. Organisers say the route will take no longer than an hour, with hot drinks available at the inn afterwards.

Entry is free, with participants encouraged to bring a bag of food donations for the Tenby-based food bank run by the James Criddle Foundation.

From small club run to national movement

The Food Bank Run began as a simple idea from runner Sarah Don, who organised a collection event with her club in Fareham to support their local food bank. After seeing the impact, the initiative grew.

Following delays during the pandemic, the project expanded nationally in 2023 when Sarah invited running groups across the UK – and beyond – to host their own local events.

Saundersfoot Runners answered the call and have supported the Tenby charity every year since.

The Foundation operates its food bank from the Tenby AFC clubhouse at The Clickets.

Rachael Criddle, one of the charity’s founders, said: “The Food Bank Run has been a huge support to the Foundation. We are grateful to everyone who takes part, to Saundersfoot Runners for organising such an uplifting and positive event, and to Wiseman’s Bridge Inn for generously allowing us to use their premises.”

Donations needed

Organisers are asking participants to bring essential food and household items, including:

Dried goods such as pasta and rice
Tinned beans, soup, meat, fish, fruit and vegetables
Tinned pies and sausages
Cook-in sauces
Toiletries including toothpaste, shampoo and shower gel

A full list is available on the Saundersfoot Runners events page.

Anyone wishing to take part can simply turn up on the morning.

Organisers say the aim is simple: “Come along, get moving and help stock the shelves for local families.”

Cover image: Last year’s event (Pic: Herald)