Party leader says allegations involving children in care underline the need for a Wales-wide investigation into institutional failings

THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have renewed calls for a Wales-wide inquiry into group-based child sexual exploitation following the charging of eight people in Gwent.

Gwent Police said eight British nationals had been charged with more than 30 offences as part of an investigation into alleged group-based child sexual exploitation.

Responding to the development, Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar MS said the allegations represented a serious betrayal of children who should have been protected by the care system.

“These are horrific allegations representing an unforgivable betrayal of children who should have been protected by the care system,” he said.

“We now have reports of abuse in Gwent, Swansea, Rhyl and rural Wales. It is essential that the Welsh Government commissions a Wales-wide inquiry to ensure that no stone is left unturned in exposing the extent of these crimes.”

Mr Millar said any inquiry should examine the conduct of schools, councils, health services and other public bodies, including whether opportunities to protect vulnerable children had been missed.

He added: “We need to understand why opportunities to intervene were missed and whether institutional failings allowed abuse to continue unchecked.

“We must ensure justice for victims, hold perpetrators to account and get to grips with any systemic failings that allowed such abuse to take place.”

Peter Fox MS, the party’s Shadow Minister for Local Government and Communities, said he had been deeply shocked by the allegations, particularly reports that the alleged victims had been in care.

“Our hearts go out to the victims who have bravely come forward during this investigation,” he said.

“They have suffered so much and for too long. Justice must now prevail.”

The Welsh Conservatives have repeatedly pressed the Welsh Government to establish a national inquiry examining the scale of group-based child sexual exploitation in Wales and the response of public authorities.

The charges have not yet been tested in court. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

WELSH WATER has warned that restrictions on water use could be considered unless demand falls, after prolonged hot and dry weather pushed consumption to unprecedented levels.

More than 1,000 megalitres of water has been pumped into the network every day for the past week, around 17 per cent above normal demand.

The company said pressures are particularly acute in Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Hereford, where the population is expected to increase further as schools break up and the busiest period of the summer tourism season begins.

Forecasters are currently predicting little or no significant rainfall for at least another week.

Welsh Water said the issue was not a shortage of water in reservoirs, but the speed at which treated water is being used.

Demand has remained unusually high throughout the day and into the evening, leaving storage tanks and service reservoirs unable to recover overnight as they normally would.

Treatment works are operating at maximum safe capacity, while Welsh Water’s entire tanker fleet has been deployed around the clock to move supplies around the network.

Frontline teams are also working 24 hours a day to repair leaks and respond to localised supply problems.

Several water companies in England have already introduced temporary restrictions following similar periods of exceptionally high demand.

Welsh Water said it would prefer to avoid imposing restrictions but warned that all available options would have to be considered if demand remained at its current level.

Kit Wilson, Welsh Water’s chief customer officer, said: “We are doing everything we can to keep water flowing for our customers.

“Our treatment works are producing as much water as they safely can, our teams are working around the clock, and we are moving water around the network wherever possible.

“However, we have now experienced an unprecedented period of exceptionally high and sustained demand lasting several weeks.

“This is no longer a short-lived peak caused by a few hot days. The pressure has continued day after day, including overnight when our storage levels would normally have the opportunity to recover.”

Mr Wilson urged residents and visitors to avoid wasting water, warning that continued record demand could place essential supplies at risk.

He added: “We would prefer not to put any restrictions on customer water use, but to maintain supplies for all customers we are asking people to work with us, be careful not to waste water, and help reduce the risk of any impact on supplies.

“If this level of demand continues, we’ll have to consider all the options available to us to protect essential water supplies.”

Customers are being encouraged to take shorter showers, turn off taps while brushing their teeth, avoid washing cars and delay filling paddling pools or watering gardens.

Welsh Water said small changes by large numbers of customers could save millions of litres and help protect supplies across west Wales.

The company is continuing to monitor demand and local storage levels and said further updates would be issued if the situation changes.

FREE summer activities for 11 to 17-year-olds will begin next week as the award-winning Under the Bridge project returns to Milford Waterfront.

The initiative, delivered by the Port of Milford Haven in partnership with Milford Youth Matters, will offer activities and entertainment throughout the school holidays.

The first session will take place on Tuesday, July 21, from 6pm to 8pm, with events continuing every Tuesday and Friday evening until Friday, August 28.

Young people will be able to take part in a varied programme including inflatables, water safety sessions and workshops delivered by St John Ambulance and the VC Gallery.

Free refreshments will also be available at every session.

More than 250 young people took part in Under the Bridge last year, demonstrating the continuing demand for free and accessible activities during the summer holidays.

Emily Jones, Engagement Executive at the Port of Milford Haven, said the project had become one of the organisation’s most successful community initiatives.

She said: “Under the Bridge remains one of our most successful and well-established community projects, engaging hundreds of young people every summer.

“Working alongside the fantastic team at Milford Youth Matters, we are able to provide a safe and welcoming environment where young people can enjoy a wide range of activities, make new connections and develop valuable skills.

“The programme also plays an important role in promoting positive engagement and helping to reduce anti-social behaviour in the area.

“We are delighted to see it return for another year and look forward to welcoming participants throughout the summer.”

Dayle Gibby, Milford Youth Matters Co-ordinator, said the programme had become an important part of the summer for many young people in the area.

He said: “We are extremely grateful to the Port of Milford Haven for its continued support of the Under the Bridge summer project.

“The programme provides free and accessible activities in a safe and welcoming environment.

“Through our partnership with the Port, we are able to engage with hundreds of young people each year, helping them to build confidence, form positive relationships and make the most of their summer holidays.

“We are proud to work alongside an organisation that shares our commitment to supporting the wellbeing and development of young people across our community.”

Under the Bridge forms part of the Port of Milford Haven’s wider educational engagement programme.

The programme is guided by three themes: creating a safe, inclusive and enjoyable Waterway, building a skilled and confident community, and supporting a sustainable and resilient environment.