SOUTH WALES POLICE were expecting a group of around 150 youths from Carmarthenshire who arrived en masse in Swansea, a meeting has heard.

News of the planned gathering had circulated on social media the day before and was picked up by officers monitoring online activity.

Superintendent Mark Kavanagh said it was one of two planned mass gatherings which the force had become aware of through social media.

“They had all jumped on the train in Llanelli,” he said. “We knew it was coming.”

He said police resources were put in place in advance, along with a dispersal order giving officers powers to move people on from a defined area.

Supt Kavanagh was speaking at a Swansea Council committee meeting, which heard about the work of the multi-agency Safer Swansea Partnership. The group aims to make Swansea a safer and more welcoming place for residents and visitors.

The partnership has six key priorities, including reducing neighbourhood crime and anti-social behaviour, which formed a major part of the discussion.

Supt Kavanagh said the overall trend in reducing anti-social behaviour in Swansea was “very, very positive”.

However, he added that police were concerned about some young people in their early to mid-teens who were “on the cusp of engaging in violent crime” and other criminality.

He said police in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot were keen to avoid the situation seen in Cardiff, where stabbings involving young people had, he said, become very common. A dedicated serious violence board had now been set up to help tackle the issue.

Turning to anti-social behaviour, South Wales Police imposed a 48-hour dispersal order covering much of Swansea city centre last week following a rise in incidents over the Easter holidays.

Supt Kavanagh said the criteria for such orders were very strict and that they were not used lightly.

He said that in the previous six weeks large gatherings of youths had led to two police officers being assaulted, with one requiring medical attention, while a 71-year-old man had also been pushed to the ground.

“We’ve had a serious assault between two young people which was filmed and then broadcast on social media,” he said.

Cllr Chris Holley said he understood the reason for dispersal orders but was concerned they could put people off visiting the city centre.

He added: “The vast majority of youngsters in this city are great.”

Supt Kavanagh said police officers, community support officers and neighbourhood beat managers were very good at building rapport with young people, and that officers were also trying to get the message out to parents to remain vigilant.

Speaking during the recent dispersal order, Acting Chief Inspector Andrew Hedley said: “We stress that it is only a small cohort of young people who are engaging in this anti-social behaviour, and we do not want to deter the others from coming to the town centre and enjoying all it has to offer.”

Cllr Mike White said anti-social behaviour data showed an overall reduction in Swansea in 2025-26, but questioned whether this was being felt across all neighbourhoods.

Supt Kavanagh said the downward trend had been seen in Townhill, Gorseinon, Eastside and Morriston, among other areas.

He said there were also very localised hotspots, including Penlan, where a parking dispute had caused problems for the authorities. Swansea beach and the area behind Clydach Library were also highlighted as areas of concern.

The superintendent said he was particularly pleased with the willingness of partner organisations to support an operation in the Dyfatty area of the city, which a report before the scrutiny programme committee said had led to arrests and drug warrants.

Senior council officers also outlined prevention work being carried out by their teams, including youth club activities, talks in comprehensive schools and targeted support for young people whose behaviour was at risk of escalating.

Reducing substance misuse and drug-related deaths in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot is another of the partnership’s six priorities, and a rise in the use of ketamine was noted at the meeting.

Matthew Rafferty, from the area planning board which coordinates substance use services in the two counties, said heroin was less of a concern than previously, but warned that “poly-drug” use — involving more than one substance at the same time — was becoming a significant issue.

He said ketamine use among people aged 16 to 24 nationally had increased by more than 200 per cent since 2013, and that prices of around £10 per gram in some areas were significantly lower than cocaine.

He added that users frequently underestimated ketamine’s harms.

Julie Davies, the council’s head of child and family services, said a range of support was available to parents and young people, including fast-tracking to a specialist community drug and alcohol team.

She said the level of need was clear.

“Specifically we are finding crack cocaine among our families in Swansea,” she said.

Swansea Crown Court entered formal not guilty verdicts on all counts, bringing the case to an end

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been cleared after the prosecution offered no evidence against him at Swansea Crown Court.

Luke Phillips, 23, of Woodlands Park, Haverfordwest, had previously faced charges relating to indecent images of children and extreme pornography.

The case came before His Honour Judge Thomas KC on Monday (Apr 13).

When the matter was called on, the prosecution offered no evidence on all counts.

Formal not guilty verdicts were then entered on each count, bringing the proceedings to an end.

Phillips was represented by barrister Ian Ibrahim.

The outcome means there is no further action to be taken in relation to the case.

It is understood that property seized during the investigation can now be returned following the conclusion of the proceedings.

Victim suffered fractured wrist and suspected broken jaw after assault in Pembroke Dock

A MAN was found staggering around Pembroke Dock town centre covered in blood after a brutal attack inside a caravan, Swansea Crown Court has heard.

The victim had gone to the mobile home in the early hours of January 29 intending to buy cocaine. But after arriving at an address in Pembroke Dock, he was directed to a caravan parked behind another house, where he encountered two men, including Zack Ian Craig High.

Prosecutor Sian Cutter told the court that while the complainant was making his way to the caravan, he received a phone call telling him to make an online payment.

Once inside, an argument broke out between the complainant and High. The confrontation quickly turned violent, with High punching the victim to the floor before repeatedly punching and kicking him.

After the attack, the injured man managed to leave the caravan and walk back towards Pembroke Dock town centre. While doing so, he made a video call to a friend. Alarmed by the bloodied state of the complainant, the friend contacted police.

Officers later found the victim staggering through the town with blood on his face. He was taken to hospital, where medics found significant bruising to his face as well as bruising to his back, arms and legs. He was also found to have suffered a possible fracture to his upper jaw and a fractured wrist bone.

High, aged 26, of no fixed abode, was arrested and gave a “no comment” interview.

He had originally been charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, but later pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The court heard that at the time of the assault, High was already subject to a suspended sentence.

Defending, Stuart John said High denied any involvement in drug dealing. He suggested the background to the incident may have involved the fact that his client was in a relationship with the complainant’s former partner.

Sentencing, Judge Geraint Walters described the attack as “brutal” and said it had caused significant injuries.

With credit for his guilty plea, High was jailed for 18 months. He will serve 40 per cent of the sentence in custody before being released on licence for the remainder.

The judge also imposed a five-year restraining order banning High from contacting the victim.

Top photo caption: Zack High was jailed for 18 months after a brutal attack in Pembroke Dock left a man with serious injuries (Pic: Dyfed-Powys Police)