News

AM raises emotional neglect and emotional abuse in Senedd

Published

12 years ago

June 16, 2014

REBECCA EVANS AM, Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales, has asked the Welsh Government to outline its approach to tackling parental emotional abuse and neglect following revelations by the NSPCC that increasing numbers of children and young people are turning to them for help because of this.

Calling for a statement during Assembly Business, Mrs Evans said: “The NSPCC has revealed that UK-wide it had referred more than 5,300 complaints about parental emotional neglect or emotional abuse to the police or social services in the last year – this includes children being bullied, ignored and intimidated by their parents. “I would be keen for a statement outlining how the Welsh Government is ensuring that social services are equipped to recognise and deal with emotional neglect and abuse, and how the Welsh Government is supporting good parenting across society because this is not a problem restricted to one geographical or socioeconomic group. I am also keen to know details of the Welsh Government’s approach to the so-called ‘Cinderella law’ which would update the criminal offence of child cruelty to include emotional neglect and abuse as well as physical abuse.” The ‘Cinderella law’ is a proposal which follows a campaign by children’s charities. It would see parents who deny their children affection face prosecution for the first time in England and Wales. The proposed new law would make it a crime to deliberately harm a child’s ‘intellectual, emotional, social or behavioural development’ and sits alongside the physical or sexual abuse of children with those found guilty facing up to ten years in jail. In response, the Minister responsible for Government Business, Lesley Griffiths, said: “Safeguarding children is, obviously, a key priority for the Welsh Government, and we continue to work very closely with statutory and voluntary agencies to help ensure that children are kept safe. You will be aware of the recent Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, which received Royal Assent last month. That will deliver a strong statutory framework to improve the outcomes for children and their families. However, we do not underestimate the impact of neglect on many children around Wales, which is completely unacceptable. “We have yet to receive the details of the UK Government’s proposals to update the law to include emotional neglect in the definition of child cruelty, but we are fully supportive of the principle of its proposed approach. We recognise too that parenting support is crucial for families and, obviously, we invest significantly in this through programmes such as Flying Start and Families First, whereby we provide a range of parenting interventions, which help parents to cope with demanding situations and then, hopefully, the families can develop resilience.”

Crime

Fence posts thrown into field damage farming equipment

Published

42 seconds ago

May 15, 2026

Tom Sinclair

POLICE are appealing for information after fence posts were removed and thrown into a field between Croesgoch and Llanrhian.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the alleged criminal damage happened sometime between Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3.

The posts, which were next to woodland between the two villages, were removed from the ground and thrown into a nearby field.

They later became lodged in farming equipment, causing significant damage.

Police said the area is only accessible via a footpath.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police online, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.

Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.

Quote reference: 26*366788.

News

Claire Archibald vows to ‘stand up for rural Wales’ after Senedd election victory

Published

2 minutes ago

May 15, 2026

Tom Sinclair

New MS says every constituent enquiry will be taken seriously as she opens doors to public

NEWLY elected Senedd Member Claire Archibald has pledged to be “available to all constituents” across Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion after formally taking up her role representing the region.

Archibald, who was elected earlier this month, said she was “deeply grateful” to everyone who had placed their trust in her and promised to work hard on behalf of communities across west Wales.

In a statement issued following her election, the new MS said she intended to keep her offices open and accessible, with a focus on helping residents with day-to-day concerns.

Claire Archibald said: “I am honoured to have been selected as a representative for Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, and I am deeply grateful to everyone who placed their trust in me.

“I want to be available to all constituents who need my support. My offices will be open, and every enquiry will be taken seriously. I will do my very best to help every single person here in our beautiful corner of Wales.”

Archibald said she entered politics because she believed Wales was “heading in the wrong direction” and wanted to help protect communities, family values and frontline services.

She added: “Above all, I want to make sure Cardiff Bay understands that rural communities matter too.”

Her comments are likely to resonate with many voters in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, where issues including healthcare access, farming pressures, transport links and cost-of-living concerns featured heavily during the Senedd election campaign.

Archibald joins the new intake of representatives following the first election held under Wales’ expanded Senedd system, with Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion now represented under the larger multi-member constituency model.

Taking office: Claire Archibald MS after being selected to represent Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion in the Senedd (Pic: Supplied).

Local Government

Pembrokeshire County Council welcomes new chairman

Published

4 minutes ago

May 15, 2026

Tom Sinclair

CLLR DELME HARRIES has been elected chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council for the coming municipal year.

Cllr Harries, who was elected in 2022 to represent the Bro Gwaun ward, is a member of the Independent Group.

He has worked for the NFU for many years and has extensive experience in agriculture, governance and community leadership.

Within the council, he has held several key roles, including chairman of the Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee. He is also the council’s Members’ Champion for the Welsh Language and for Children and Young People.

Cllr Harries is deeply involved in education and youth development. He serves as a local authority governor at Ysgol Ger y Llan and Ysgol Casmael a Llychllwydog, and is club leader of Llysyfran Young Farmers Club.

He also chairs the POINT Youth Project in Fishguard, where he is a trustee.

Young Farmers background

Cllr Harries has held numerous senior leadership roles within the Young Farmers’ movement at county, national and international level.

These include chair of the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs from 2019 to 2024, chair of Wales Young Farmers Clubs, chair of European Young Farmers, and chair of Pembrokeshire YFC.

In recognition of his contribution, he has been awarded honorary life memberships and vice-presidencies within Young Farmers organisations at county, national and UK level.

He is also a director and trustee of Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society.

Upon taking the chains, Cllr Harries thanked outgoing chairman Cllr Maureen Bowen.

He said: “I am truly humbled and honoured to have your support in appointing me as Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council for the coming year.

“When I was elected to represent the Bro Gwaun ward in 2022, this role was certainly not on my list of expectations. To now stand before you as your Chair is something I feel deeply privileged to do, and I am extremely grateful for the confidence you have placed in me to serve as the civic leader of this authority.

“I am particularly proud to serve as Chair in a year when Pembrokeshire will welcome the National Eisteddfod. This is a moment of huge significance for our county, and I hope we will all embrace this wonderful event, which promises to be one of the very best.

“I look forward to seeing many of you in Llantood this August as we celebrate our language, culture and heritage together.”

Cllr Nick Neumann was elected vice-chairman for the coming year. He was nominated by Cllr Di Clements and seconded by Cllr Mark Carter.

Caption:

New chairman: Cllr Delme Harries with new vice-chairman Cllr Nick Neumann, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed Meurig Raymond, High Sheriff of Dyfed Andrew Phillips, Presiding Member Cllr Simon Hancock and outgoing chairman Cllr Maureen Bowen.