Court hearing due to take place on April 17 at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court

TWO vape shops in Pembrokeshire are facing possible closure following allegations of nuisance and disorder, The Herald can reveal.

KR Vapes in Charles Street, Milford Haven, and Vape Zone in Sovereign House, Haverfordwest, are both the subject of closure order applications due to be heard tomorrow (Thursday, Apr 17) at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court.

Court documents show that the applications have been brought under section 80 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, following the service of closure notices on both premises on Wednesday (Apr 16).

KR Vapes, located at 63 Charles Street in Milford Haven, appears first on the court list, with the case listed as a first hearing at 10:00am.

Immediately following is the application against Vape Zone at 33 High Street, Haverfordwest.

Both applications have been submitted by the same informant, understood to be a local authority or law enforcement officer, seeking to close the businesses on grounds of ongoing disorder or serious nuisance.

What is a closure order

Under section 80 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, a closure order can be made by a magistrates’ court if it is satisfied that:

A person has engaged, or is likely to engage, in disorderly, offensive or criminal behaviour on the premises;

The use of the premises has resulted in, or is likely to result in, serious nuisance to members of the public; or

There has been, or is likely to be, disorder near those premises associated with the use of the premises.

Closure orders can prohibit access to the premises entirely, or limit it to certain individuals or times. If granted, they can last for up to three months initially and may be extended to a maximum of six months.

The orders are designed to quickly tackle locations that are linked to anti-social behaviour, including drug use, violence, noise, or criminal activity. Breaching a closure order is a criminal offence.

Community concern

The use of this legislation is often seen as a sign of significant concern from authorities, as it bypasses longer civil proceedings and is designed to bring rapid relief to affected communities.

The Herald has contacted both vape shops for comment.

DELYTH EVANS is the Government’s preferred candidate for the S4C Chair, the Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy announced this week (Apr 16).

Delyth started her career as a journalist at HTV Wales, working on the flagship current affairs programme ‘Y Byd ar Bedwar’ for S4C. She subsequently worked as a reporter on BBC Radio Four’s ‘World at One’ and ‘PM’ programmes. Delyth became a Labour Member of the Welsh Assembly (now the Senedd) in 2000, representing the Mid and West Wales constituency, and was a deputy minister for Culture, Environment and Rural Affairs. After stepping down from politics Delyth worked in the charity sector as Chief Executive of Smart Works, a women’s employment charity. Delyth is currently a Board member at Sport Wales, a Governor at Coleg Gwent, and a trustee of the Alacrity Foundation and the Urdd.

Delyth will now appear on 23 April before MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee for pre-appointment scrutiny.

This process for appointing the Chair of S4C is set out in the Broadcasting Act 1990.    

Ministers were assisted in their decision-making by an Advisory Assessment Panel which included a departmental official and a senior independent panel member approved by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The Welsh Government and UK Government Wales office were also represented on the Panel.

UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “Delyth began her career as a broadcast journalist, and her vision for S4C’s future reflects a deep understanding of the Welsh cultural and media landscape, as well as an enduring commitment to public service. 

“I’m pleased to recommend her for the role of Chair, in which she will no doubt be a proud champion of Welsh-language broadcasting. This marks an exciting chapter for S4C as we develop plans to boost the job opportunities and growth potential of the creative industries in Wales and the rest of the UK.”

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said: “Delyth has a great track record in broadcasting and wealth of experience in public service to bring to the role of S4C Chair. 

“S4C plays a pivotal role in Wales, sustaining and promoting the Welsh language and strengthening our unique identity and culture. The channel is a cornerstone of the strong creative sector in Wales which is vital for economic growth.”

IN A LANDMARK judgment with far-reaching implications, the UK Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that the legal definition of a “woman” in the Equality Act 2010 refers exclusively to biological females. The ruling, delivered on Wednesday (Apr 16), marks a decisive legal victory for gender-critical campaigners and ends years of ambiguity over how the law should treat transgender women in single-sex spaces and public appointments.

The case was brought by the campaign group For Women Scotland (FWS), who challenged the Scottish Government’s policy allowing transgender women with Gender Recognition Certificates (GRCs) to be counted as women on public boards under legislation designed to achieve gender balance.

The Supreme Court ruled that such a definition went beyond the powers of the Scottish Parliament and was inconsistent with the meaning of “woman” under the Equality Act.

Legal clarity on biological sex

Deputy President of the Court, Lord Hodge, said the justices found that “sex” in the Equality Act refers to a biological woman and biological sex. “Although the word ‘biological’ does not appear in this definition, the ordinary meaning of those plain and unambiguous words corresponds with the biological characteristics that make an individual a man or a woman,” he said.

The judges rejected the argument that sex could be interpreted based on GRCs, calling such a view “incoherent” and “fanciful.” They further warned that allowing a definition of sex based on certification would create “heterogeneous groupings” and undermine the protections the law intends to offer.

Implications for single-sex spaces and policies

The ruling affirms that protections under the Equality Act apply to biological sex, enabling organisations to restrict access to women-only spaces and services — such as domestic violence refuges, rape crisis centres, hospital wards, and changing rooms — based on biological sex rather than legal gender status.

The Court emphasised that the ruling does not diminish the protections transgender people have under the protected characteristic of “gender reassignment,” but clarified that a person’s biological sex cannot be altered by acquiring a GRC for the purpose of the Equality Act.

In a key passage, the judges noted: “A man who identifies as a woman who is treated less favourably because of the protected characteristic of gender reassignment will be able to claim on that basis.”

Government and campaign reaction

A UK Government spokesperson welcomed the decision, saying it “brings clarity and confidence for women and service providers such as hospitals, refuges, and sports clubs.” Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch called it a “victory for women,” adding: “Women are women and men are men: you cannot change your biological sex.”

Mims Davies MP, the Conservative shadow women’s minister, said the government must now “clarify all existing guidance to ensure public bodies understand that sex means biological sex.”

Former SNP MP Joanna Cherry KC, who previously warned that broad definitions of sex could harm women’s rights, said she felt “hugely vindicated” and urged both UK and Scottish governments to implement the ruling into everyday policy.

Lara Brown of the Policy Exchange thinktank said the decision “secured women’s sex-based rights,” adding: “It should never have taken a court case to prove the biological definition of a woman.”

Celebrations and protest

Marion Calder and Susan Smith of For Women Scotland were photographed celebrating outside the Supreme Court, with FWS posting jubilant messages on social media. The group Sex Matters, which intervened in the case, said: “The court has given the right answer: the protected characteristic of sex – male and female – refers to reality, not paperwork.”

However, trans rights campaigners expressed alarm at the wider impact of the ruling. Scottish Trans urged supporters “not to panic,” while Ellie Gomersall of the Scottish Greens said the judgment “undermines the vital human rights of my community to dignity, safety and the right to be respected for who we are.”

Amnesty International, the only trans-inclusive organisation allowed to intervene, warned the case could be the “thin end of the wedge” and potentially erode other rights for transgender people.

Legal background and funding

The ruling concludes a long-running legal battle over the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018, which sought to ensure 50% female representation and included trans women with GRCs in the definition of “woman.” FWS argued this conflicted with the Equality Act’s definition of sex and that Holyrood had exceeded its legislative competence.

Their challenge was dismissed in the Scottish courts before being brought to the Supreme Court. A crowdfunding campaign led by FWS raised £230,000 for legal costs, including a £70,000 contribution from author JK Rowling.

No transgender individuals were allowed to participate directly in the hearings, a decision criticised by some legal commentators, including retired judge Victoria McCloud, who said an international appeal might have been pursued if the case had gone the other way.

Future legislative reform?

While the ruling interprets existing law, it does not itself change legislation. However, it is expected to lead to renewed calls for Parliament to amend the Equality Act 2010 to reflect modern understandings of gender and sex — or to confirm its reliance on biological definitions.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has previously called for the Act to be clarified, warning that MPs “had not appreciated the consequences for women and lesbians” of the law viewing transgender women with GRCs as legally female.

There are also concerns the ruling may embolden those campaigning to reverse aspects of the Gender Recognition Act 2004, particularly around the legal recognition of acquired gender.

Despite shelving previous reform plans, Labour has indicated it remains committed to protecting transgender rights and is expected to proceed with a trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices later this year.

A moment of reckoning

The Herald understands this decision marks a pivotal moment in UK equalities law, drawing a firm legal distinction between sex and gender identity. For some, it is a long-overdue return to legal clarity and sex-based rights; for others, it represents a retreat from inclusion and a chilling signal to the trans community.

Lord Hodge concluded the judgment by urging restraint, saying: “This should not be seen as a triumph of one group over another.” Yet as the dust settles on the Supreme Court steps, both sides are preparing for what comes next.