ARE you planning a street party to celebrate the 80^th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day this May?

If so, please ensure you apply for a temporary road closure to Pembrokeshire County Council’s traffic team by March 24th.

There are four days of celebration planned for the UK from May 5^th to 8^th including military processions, flypast, concerts and a special service at Westminster Abbey.

Communities are also invited to come together to celebrate this historic occasion and the Council will waive road closure application fee. Costs associated with any required Traffic Management would be payable by applicants.

The Council will be collating all successful temporary road closure applications into one order

To allow time for processing, applications must be received by Monday, March 24th.

In order to consider a road closure application, please provide:

·       Name of applicant

·       Contact details – email address, full address and telephone number

·       Location of event – this would need to be residential street/close/estate and not a main arterial route

·       Date (specify May 5th, 6^th, 7^th or 8^th) and times of the proposed event

·       Plan – please provide a plan or sketch of where you wish to hold the event

All temporary road closure applications must be sent to Roadclosures@pembrokeshire.gov.uk by March 24th at the latest.

Requests will be assessed for suitability before permission is granted.

Information will then be provided on how to proceed, clear signage will be required for closures of the Public Highway. A traffic management company would be required to advise on what is necessary and to supply at the applicant’s expense.

Please note an application should only be submitted where the event is requested to take place on the highway.

Applicants are kindly asked to liaise with their local town or community council before submitting to ensure there is no duplication of applications.

Events ‘off road’ on grassed areas, village greens, play parks etc. would need the landowners’ permission.

VIOLENCE AMONG TEENS LEADING TO CALLS FOR WELSH GOVERNMENT TO ACT

WALES is experiencing an alarming surge in violent crime among young people, sparking urgent calls for the Welsh Government to reassess its approach to youth justice and crime prevention. This growing crisis has led to renewed scrutiny of the Youth Justice Blueprint for Wales, with critics arguing that it is failing to prevent serious offenses, including knife crime, sexual violence, and gang-related violence.

A growing epidemic of youth violence

The issue of youth crime has come to the forefront following several high-profile cases involving teenage offenders. Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Dr. Altaf Hussain MS, has expressed grave concerns about the rise in youth violence, citing cases such as:

• The knife attack at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Ammanford, where a 14-year-old girl attempted to murder two teachers and a fellow student. The girl later told police she did it “for notoriety.”
• Stabbings in Mid Wales, where violent altercations between teenagers have left multiple victims hospitalised.
• Attempted murder in Newport, highlighting an increasing trend in serious violence among young offenders.

Dr. Hussain stressed that the rise in violent crime is not limited to youth offenders. He pointed out that Wales is “bucking the national trend,” with violent crime increasing in regions such as South Wales and Gwent, even as other parts of the UK see a decline.

“Disturbingly, South Wales Police is the only force to see a rise in sexual violence, and conviction rates remain dismally low,” Dr. Hussain stated. “We need assurances from the Welsh Government that Police and Crime Commissioners have robust plans to tackle violent crime and sexual violence so that families and communities in Wales can feel safe.”

Crime Data: The reality in Wales

Recent statistics support the growing concerns about violent crime across Wales. According to the latest figures:

• Knife crime is on the rise across Wales, following a 4% national increase in knife-related offenses in England and Wales, reaching 50,010 incidents in the year ending March 2024 (ONS).
• Sexual offenses reported in South Wales increased last year, making it the only force area in the UK to see a rise in such crimes.
• 1.9 million violent or sexual crimes in England and Wales were closed without a suspect being caught or charged in the year to June 2024, with 89% of all offenses going unsolved (The Guardian).

Additionally, the Crime Survey for England and Wales shows that 0.5% of people aged 16 and over experienced violence with or without injury from an acquaintance, and 0.7% experienced stranger violence, with no statistically significant change from the previous year.

Local perspective: What’s happening in Dyfed-Powys?

Closer to home, Dyfed-Powys Police data provides a clearer picture of crime in Pembrokeshire and surrounding regions:

• Violence against the person remains one of the most common offenses in Dyfed-Powys, with reports increasing year-on-year.
• Knife-related offenses are rising, although the total number remains lower than in urban areas like Cardiff and Newport.
• Drug-related violence and gang activity are emerging issues in towns across Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, and Ceredigion.

The force has warned that social media is fueling gang culture among teens, with platforms like Snapchat and TikTok being used to organize fights and intimidate rivals.

Are current strategies failing?

In 2019, the Welsh Government introduced the Youth Justice Blueprint for Wales, aimed at reducing reoffending rates among young people. However, critics argue that the strategy has failed to address early intervention, and many offenders remain trapped in a cycle of crime.

Dr. Hussain has called on the Welsh Government to take immediate action, including:

• Ensuring Police and Crime Commissioners adopt stricter crime prevention strategies.
• Increasing funding for youth intervention programs that deter young people from joining gangs or engaging in violence.
• Addressing the root causes of youth crime, such as poverty, lack of opportunities, and social exclusion.

“We cannot allow Wales to become a breeding ground for violent crime,” Dr. Hussain added. “If the Welsh Government is serious about tackling this issue, it must act now, before more lives are lost.”

What’s next?

With violent crime continuing to escalate, pressure is mounting on the Welsh Government to take decisive action. The public, police, and politicians agree that something must be done—but the question remains: how soon will change come?

For now, communities across Wales remain on edge, hoping for urgent reforms that will bring safety back to the streets

COMMUNITIES across Wales are invited to join Spring Clean Cymru 2025 and help pick up the litter that pollutes our neighbourhoods, beaches and parks. 

The 2024 event saw 5,000 volunteers take part in 700 events across Wales. Keep Wales Tidy hopes to beat that in 2025, making this year the most successful spring clean yet. 

Families, friends, community groups, schools, businesses and individuals can get involved between Friday 21 March and Sunday 6 April 2025. 

Participants can register their own event – such as litter picking their street, local park, beach or other beauty spot – or sign up to join an organised clean-up on the Keep Wales Tidy website. 

Spring Clean Cymru is part of the Great British Spring Clean, run in England by Keep Britain Tidy and in Scotland by Keep Scotland Beautiful.  

Every single piece of litter collected and safely disposed of makes a difference in protecting the environment in Wales, whether you pick up one bag or 100. 

This year Spring Clean Cymru will kick off with a World Record Attempt.  Keep Wales Tidy, and other likeminded organisations are partnering with leading environmentalist Kate Strong and freshwater expert Dr Numair Masud to break a new Guinness World Record for Most Participants in a River Clean-up (at Multiple Locations). The attempt will begin in locations along the River Taff, including Merthyr Tydfil, Pontypridd and Cardiff’s Taff Embankment from the stroke of midday on Friday 21 March. 

Keep Wales Tidy Chief Executive Owen Derbyshire said: “Every year we are inspired and humbled by the thousands of people across Wales who take part in Spring Clean Cymru and give their time to make a cleaner Wales for everyone. Our message this year is #LoveWhereYouLive and we really see that in the commitment of those who take part. 

“In an ideal world, there would be no need for people to spend time litter picking, but we are continually grateful to everyone who does so, making their local communities and beauty spots cleaner and safer for everyone.” 

He added: “Litter picking is a great way of coming together as a community, getting active outdoors, and benefitting your health and wellbeing. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never taken part before – all the information you need is on our website. Every single piece of litter picked up makes a difference and we’d love for you to join us in looking after and protecting the environment in Wales.” 

You can register or search for a Spring Clean event near you on the Keep Wales Tidy website: www.keepwalestidy.cymru