News

Organisations in Wales speak out against plans to criminalise rough sleeping

Published

8 months ago

March 15, 2024

A NUMBER of leading homelessness and housing organisations in Wales have expressed grave concerns about the impact of proposed new laws on people facing street homelessness.

The organisations have written to a Senedd Committee to caution against plans in the UK Government’s Criminal Justice Bill. UK ministers are proposing new police powers around so-called “nuisance rough sleeping” and “nuisance begging” in England and Wales. If passed, these powers would include the ability to move on, fine up to £2,500, or imprison a person who is, or appears as though they are intending to, sleep rough or beg.

The letter, addressed to the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, states that these laws would reapply the worst parts of the archaic 200-year-old Vagrancy Act, which the UK parliament previously voted to scrap. The co-signatories, which include Crisis, CIH (Chartered Institute of Housing) Cymru, Cymorth Cymru, Llamau, The Salvation Army in Wales, Shelter Cymru, Tai Pawb and The Wallich, emphasise that “no one should be punished for being homeless.”

The letter goes on to say that people sleeping on the streets already face significant danger and that, if introduced, these laws will push people into less safe areas. Furthermore, the laws would break down trust between people forced to sleep on the streets and the organisations and authorities that can provide help – pushing people further away from support.

The letter comes as the Senedd Committee embarks on reporting on the Criminal Justice Bill in Wales. The Welsh Government has already expressed concerns that the proposals are not in-keeping with its favoured trauma-informed approach to supporting people facing street homelessness.

Chair of the Senedd’s Cross Party Group on Housing, Mabon ap Gwynfor, has also scheduled a Statement of Opinion at the Senedd, speaking out against the Bill.

Opposition is growing around these aspects of the Bill at Westminster, where wide-ranging organisations across England and Wales are lobbying for the measures to be dropped. MPs from across the House are supporting amendments to the Bill that would remove the clauses on rough sleeping and begging.

Members of the public across England and Wales are being asked to join more than 10,000 people who have already written to their MP to ask them to support the removal of these measures.

Matt Downie, Crisis Chief Executive, said: “A future without homelessness is possible, but criminalising people who have nowhere to go is most certainly not the answer. These proposals will do nothing to help people into safe and secure homes and only serve to push people away from support services.

“As the Bill progresses through the UK parliament, we hope the Members of the Senedd will join us in doing all they can to voice concerns around these cruel laws.

“We also urge the Welsh Government to act within its powers to drive forward progress with its plan to end homelessness, pressing ahead with proposed changes to make homeless support in Wales more trauma-informed and inclusive and accelerating the building of desperately needed social homes.”

Sam Austin, Llamau Deputy Chief Executive, said: ‘We are appalled at the idea of criminalising people just because they are homeless.

“The route to ending homelessness lies in early identification, prevention and intervention services, access to the right support at the right time to end the repeating cycle of homelessness, well-funded support and prevention services and more affordable homes – not in blame and criminalisation.”

Nick Redmore, The Salvation Army’s Director of Homeless Services, added: “The focus should be on giving people a safe place to stay rather than criminalising desperation.

“Imposing fines on people will make it even harder for them to move on from street living.” 

Robin White, Head of Campaigns at Shelter Cymru, said: “At Shelter Cymru we know ending homelessness is possible, but proposals to criminalise people sleeping rough will only make this harder. Homelessness is not a crime and approaching it in this way will serve only to damage trust and increase the challenge of getting people the support they need.

“Instead of criminalising rough sleeping, we need to invest in comprehensive solutions, providing access to affordable housing, support services, and employment opportunities. Underpinned by a legal right to adequate housing.

“We urge Members of the Senedd, the Welsh Government and Welsh MPs to stand united in opposition to this Bill and to focus on compassionate approaches to solving homelessness. Approaches that empower people and that leave nobody sleeping on our streets.”

News

2024 Sport Pembrokeshire Awards Finalists announced

Published

6 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE finalists for the 2024 Sport Pembrokeshire Awards have been announced.

In total, 252 nominations were received and, following a selection meeting, the judging panel has named 39 finalists.

Matt Freeman, Manager of Sport Pembrokeshire, said: “I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to provide nominations.

“Every year it gets harder to narrow the nominations down to three finalists and once again the quality of the nominees was enormously high.

“The number and quality of nominees just shows the strength of the sporting scene here in Pembrokeshire.

All the finalists will be invited to a grand presentation ceremony at Folly Farm on Friday, November 29th, where the winners will be announced.

The ceremony will also reveal the winners of two further categories – the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Chairman’s Special Achievement Award.

The awards are organised by Sport Pembrokeshire, Pembrokeshire County Council’s sport development team.

They are sponsored by Sport Pembrokeshire, Valero, Folly Farm and Pure West Radio.

The awards aim to recognise those people who have excelled in sport over the last 12 months, or who have given their time to coaching and organising grass roots sport.

Sport Pembrokeshire Awards 2024 – Finalists

(In alphabetical order)

Coach of the Year

Francesca Morgan (Swimming)

Philippa Gale (Netball)

Tom Richards (Tennis)

Female Sporting Achievement

Gracie Griffiths (Race Walking)

Helen Carrington (Powerlifting)

Seren Thorne (Shooting)

Male Sporting Achievement

Jeremy Cross (Tennis)

Rhys Llewellyn (Athletics)

Sam Coleman (Powerboat Racing)

Boys (U16) Sporting Achievement

Carter Heywood (Football)

Hugo Boyce (Cycling)

Ned Rees-Wigmore (Hockey)

Girls (U16) Sporting Achievement

Cerys Griffiths (Swimming)

Chloe John-Driscoll (Shooting)

Ffion Bowen (Football)

Disability Sport Award

Evelyn Thomas (Powerlifting)

Jules King (Crossfit)

Marc Evans (Cricket)

Junior (U16) Disability Sport Award

Finnley Walters (Boxing)

Jac Johnson (Gymnastics)

Lewis Crawford (Boccia)

Unsung Hero

John Laugharne (Rugby)

Owen Shanklin (Pool)

Sue Christopher (Surf Lifesaving)

Team Achievement of the Year

Alan Evans, Andrew Evans & Michael John (Short Mat Bowls)

Fishguard & Goodwick Ladies Hockey Club

Pembrokeshire County Bowls Team

Junior (U16) Team Achievement of the Year

Chaos Thunder U12’s Netball Team

Hakin United AFC u16’s

Neyland Yacht Club Junior Sailing Team

Young Volunteer of the Year

Anna May (Tennis & Surfing)

Caitlin Chapman (Netball)

George Richards (Cricket)

Club Organiser

Nadine Tyrrell (Gymnastics)

Nick Shelmerdine (Cricket)

Paul Hudson (Short Mat Bowls)

Club of the Year

Camrose AFC Women & Girls Football

Haverfordwest Gymnastics Club

Strength Academy Wales Cymru

Pictured above: The 2023 Club of the Year winner – Pembroke Cricket Club.

Crime

Man jailed for Pembroke Dock cannabis farm involvement

Published

9 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Madeline Knox

AN ALBANIAN man, Armando Beti, 37, was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison at Swansea Crown Court on Friday (Nov 15) for his role in producing class B drugs.

Beti, who has prior convictions in 2022 and 2023, was arrested on October 3, 2024, at 10:00am after police found him hiding in a neighbouring building’s attic. The arrest followed a raid on the former Woolworths building on Dimond Street, Pembroke Dock, where officers discovered three rooms containing 594 cannabis plants. The crop was described as part of a wholesale operation, with an estimated street value of between £64,000 and £196,000, depending on yield.

Using an aerial drone, police tracked Beti as he attempted to escape by crossing two rooftops. He pleaded guilty immediately after his capture, claiming the cannabis farm was already operational when he arrived 10 days earlier. Beti described himself as merely the gardener, tasked with watering the plants, and alleged he was coerced into the role by individuals he met at an immigration detention centre to repay a debt.

Beti’s defence counsel stated: “He is under no illusion regarding the seriousness of his offending. He is eager to start his prison sentence so he can ultimately reunite with his wife in Albania.”

However, Judge Geraint Walters rejected Beti’s claims, citing a pattern of similar excuses in previous cases. The judge noted that Beti had been convicted in Cardiff in 2022 for cultivating over 600 cannabis plants, during which he also claimed to be a coerced gardener with little knowledge of the operation.

In delivering the sentence, Judge Walters said: “People like you need to understand that judges are not completely naive. We know what is going on. We are well aware of the activities of criminal Albanian gangs in this country, as are you.”

Police believe the operation uncovered in Pembroke Dock is linked to a wider network of organised crime targeting rural locations for cannabis cultivation.

Community

Pembs Agricultural Society’s Christmas Fair expands to an all-weekend event

Published

12 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKESHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY’S Christmas Fair will be an all-weekend event next month. The Christmas shopping extravaganza is all set to take place on Saturday, 14 December as well as Sunday, 15 December.

The Parkhouse building on the Haverfordwest Showground will be transformed into a Christmas paradise. There will be even more stalls this year with a wide variety of quality local businesses exhibiting as well as festive music, Santa in his Grotto and an outdoor food court.

Judith Roach and Emma Thomas, the event organisers, said, “We are excited to be able to announce that our Christmas Fair will be on for two days rather than just one this year. We continue to build on the success of last year’s event with twice the opportunities to attend and even more stallholders. It will be the perfect start to the festive season as the Parkhouse Building will be transformed into a one-stop-shop for those preparing for Christmas.”

The Fair will be open from 10am until 4pm and admission is free. Visitors will find unique gifts, handmade decorations, art and beautiful homeware. Some of the county’s very best food and drink producers will also have stalls to give visitors the opportunity to stock up on all their festive treats. From decadent chocolate brownies, fudge, festive spirits to Welsh cheeses, there’s something to tantalise everyone’s tastebuds. There will also be a range of outlets for ‘on the go’ eating and drinking.

One special guest at the event will be everyone’s favourite bearded gentleman in red – Santa will be taking time out from his busy schedule to attend the event. There will be a charge of £3 per child to visit Santa and all proceeds will go directly to Sandy Bear charity to support their work. Each child will receive a small gift from Santa as part of their visit. Parents can book in advance via the website: www.sandybear.co.uk/santa

Adam Thorne, Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society’s President is looking forward to the festive event. He said, “The Society would like to thank Judith and Emma for all the hours they have put in, voluntarily, to organise the two-day Christmas event. We’re delighted to be able to offer visitors the opportunity to do all their Christmas shopping whilst enjoying the festive atmosphere.”

Follow Pembrokeshire County Show’s Christmas Fair event page on Facebook for a full list of stallholders in the run up to the event.