Keeping Cardiff and The Vale coastal areas safe

South Wales Police carried out patrols in coastal areas of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan to tackle anti-social behaviour as crowds turned out to enjoy the weekend sun.

Officers responded to reports of a minority of people who had been drinking heavily and behaving in anti-social ways.

* Four men from Pontypool were ordered to leave Ogmore by Sea on Saturday afternoon due to their anti-social behaviour.
Intoxicated, they has been helped out of the sea by the RNLI and then continued to drink alcohol, some through funnels, on the grass near the Rivermouth car park. 
Officers seized the alcohol, issued a Section-35 Notice, and placed the group in taxis to go home.
The men, three aged 19 and one aged 20, will also receive Anti-Social Behaviour ASB stage 1 warning letter.

* In Cardiff Bay, Rhys Morgan, 22, from Llanharan was arrested and charged with being drunk and disorderly following reports of a fight on the steps in front of the Senedd at around 6.30pm on Saturday. He is due to appear at Merthyr Magistrates' Court on May 14.

* On Penarth Esplanade, a 19-year-old man from Rumney arrested for possessing an offensive weapon at around 8pm on Saturday. He claimed the knife was for fishing purposes but had no other fishing equipment with him. He was taken into custody for interview and received a caution. 

Chief Inspector Bella Rees said: "The vast majority of people who visit our beautiful coastal areas behave appropriately and in accordance with the regulations.

"But we will not tolerate the behaviour of a minority who consume excess alcohol, litter and ruin the quiet enjoyment for law-abiding citizens.

"Anti-social behaviour and criminality has a detrimental impact on our communities and we will continue to patrol key areas to prevent such activity."

Section 35 notices were in place to prevent anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Ogmore by Sea, Barry Island, the Oval Basin in Cardiff Bay at the weekend.

Section 35 notices give officers the power to move people on from the area that are acting in an anti-social manner.

It is the first time that Ogmore by Sea has been subject to such an order which is in response to recent ASB in the area.

South Wales Police will not monitor visitor numbers and prevent those visiting in a law-abiding manner from enjoying our coast. Officers are present to ensure public safety.

We all have a responsibility to make sensible choices when we are out and about, maintaining social distancing and not putting ourselves and others at unnecessary risk.

Our officers will continue to engage with our communities to help them understand the restrictions that do remain in place.