Crime

Police told to consider revealing ethnicity of suspects in major cases

Published

9 months ago

August 13, 2025

POLICE forces across the UK, including Dyfed-Powys Police, are being urged to consider releasing the ethnicity and nationality of suspects charged in high-profile cases, in a move aimed at tackling misinformation and increasing public transparency.

The interim guidance from the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) follows a series of controversies where police were accused of withholding key details about suspects. The new approach comes into effect immediately and is part of a wider review of how police forces deal with the media.
The changes come after recent incidents — including the case of two men, reported to be Afghan asylum seekers, charged with the alleged rape of a 12-year-old in Warwickshire — led to accusations of a “cover-up” when police declined to release their immigration status.

A Home Office spokesperson said both the public and police “want greater clarity” about when and why details such as nationality and immigration status are released, and stressed there may still be legitimate reasons to withhold information in some cases.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the move as a “step forward” and said the government wanted “greater transparency” in cases where public safety is at risk from false speculation.

The NPCC said the decision to release such details would remain at the discretion of each police force, and must take into account legal and ethical considerations, including the risk of prejudicing a trial.

Police point to the example of Merseyside Police, who in May last year quickly confirmed that a man arrested after a car ploughed into crowds celebrating Liverpool FC’s title win was white and British. That announcement was made to quash online rumours of a terror attack.

By contrast, when police withheld the ethnicity of Southport triple murderer Axel Rudakubana, false rumours spread rapidly online, which authorities say contributed to rioting in parts of England and Northern Ireland in the summer of 2024.

Impact on Welsh policing

While the guidance applies nationally, it will affect how Dyfed-Powys Police handle high-profile investigations in Pembrokeshire and the wider force area. In recent years, several serious cases here have generated significant public discussion online, with social media posts sometimes spreading unverified or false information within hours of an arrest.

Deputy Chief Constable Sam de Reya, NPCC lead for communications, said: “We have to make sure our processes are fit for purpose in an age of social media speculation and where information can travel incredibly quickly.”

Some former senior officers have warned the move could lead to an expectation that ethnicity and nationality will always be released, with the risk of inflaming tensions in some communities.

Ex-Met Police Chief Supt Dal Babu said police could find themselves “damned if they do, damned if they don’t” when deciding what to disclose.

The government has also asked the Law Commission to examine how more details can be released without jeopardising criminal trials.

For now, police forces, including those serving Pembrokeshire, will have to weigh the public’s right to know against the risk of sparking unrest — knowing that the speed and reach of online speculation mean any decision will be scrutinised immediately.

Crime

Local carpenter retains driving licence despite previous ban

Published

2 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A Herbrandston carpenter has been allowed to keep his driving licence despite a previous driving disqualification for using his mobile phone whilst driving.

Addressing District Judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court this week, Simon Shaw stressed the disqualification was having a major impact on his work commitment as well as his ability to support members of his family.

“If the ban continues, at least two of my five employees will have to be lost” said Shaw, who works as a self-employed carpenter operating from Herbrandston and the Milford Haven Industrial Estate.

“We travel throughout the whole of West Wales and also work at Thorne Island, where we’ve been providing logistical support for renovations for the last four years.”

Shaw, of Triplestone Close, Herbrandston, went on to say that his business has only one other driver who works as a reserve fire fighter.

“As a result, he’s not available to provide the 24 hour cover we provide to various care homes in the county,” he said.

Simon Shaw concluded by stating that his daughter is also dependent on his support having recently given birth to twins while his son-in-law and his partner’s mother are both currently undergoing serious healthcare treatments.

“I’m trying to provide as much logistical support for them as I can, but without my driving licence, this is impossible,” he said.

After listening to his comments, Judge Layton granted Shaw permission to retain his licence.

Crime

Delivery driver caught twice over legal drink-drive limit

Published

2 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A delivery driver has been banned from the roads after being caught behind the wheel when he was over twice the legal drink-drive limit.

Twenty-nine year old Sam Rowe was stopped by officers just before 9.30 am on April 20 as he drove his Vauxhall Vivaro along Ferry Lane in Pembroke Dock.

“His speech was slurred and his eyes were bloodshot,” Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest Magistrates Court this week.

“There was also a strong smell of intoxicants emanating from him.”

When spoken to by the officers, Rowe stated he’d drunk a pint of alcohol approximately an hour before being stopped, however subsequent breathalyser tests showed he had no less than 75 mcg of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 35.

Rowe, of Hazel Close, Pontypool, pleaded guilty to the offence and was represented in court by solicitor Michael Kelleher who informed the court that the defendant was holidaying in Pembrokeshire at the time of the offence.

“His daughter fell ill and he was attempting to find painkillers for her at a supermarket,” he said. “He’s very remorseful and is now going to lose his job as a delivery driver.”

Rowe, who has no previous convictions, was disqualified from driving for a total of 20 months. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.

Crime

Police tip-off leads to driving ban for Milford motorist

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A Pembrokeshire motorist has lost his licence after police received information that the 40-year-old male may have been driving under the influence of drugs.

This week Haverfordwest Magistrates court was told that at around 8.30pm on November 22 officers received a call informing them that Michael Miles was suspected of driving his Peugeot Bipper through Milford Haven after consuming drugs.

Miles was subsequently stopped on Marble Hall Road and when spoken to by the officers, he informed them that he was a drug user. A saliva sample tested positive for cocaine while further tests carried out at the police station showed that Miles had 760 mcg of the cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine in his system, the legal limit being 50.

Miles, of Milford Road, Steynton, chose to be legally unrepresented in court and pleaded guilty to the drug-driving charge.

The probation service said he was very remorseful for the offence and has since had appointments with the Dyfed Drugs and Alcohol Service to help him deal with his drug usage. Miles was served with an interim driving disqualification however as a result of his previous non-payment of fines, his punitive sentencing was adjourned to Thursday, May 7.

“If you pay your outstanding fines before Thursday, you will be fined for this offence,” warned District Judge Mark Layton. “But if you don’t pay, you will be given a custodial sentence.”