Operation Elstree keeps Barry Island safe

South Wales Police efforts to keep Barry Island a safe and family-friendly place are continuing with Operation Elstree.

In one weekend, the policing team:

• Reunited 13 lost children with their parents.
• Carried out 33 stop searches, seizing quantities of cannabis.
• Issued numerous parking enforcement notices.
• Arrested and charged a 67-year-old man with indecent exposure.

 

Op Elstree covers key locations including Cardiff Bay, Penarth and Barry Island, as well as the Heritage Coastline stretch between Rhoose Point and Ogmore-by-Sea.

We will continue to work with our partners over the summer to proactively patrol these key areas to prevent anti-social behaviour and criminality, and keep the community safe.

 

Some recent examples of partnership work:

 

• Officers monitoring CCTV in Barry Island noticed three young children drifting out to sea on airbeds. They alerted the RNLI who brought the youngsters to safety.
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• Thirty two parking obstruction tickets issued by police officers in Barry Island, Southerndown and Ogmore-By-Sea, while Vale of Glamorgan council staff, working in partnership with officers, issued approximately sixty additional tickets.

 

Problem parking continues to be a concern in all resorts.

 

Chief Inspector Bella Rees, from South Wales Police, said: "It is understandable that everyone is keen to make the most of the good weather and visit our beautiful coastal areas but we would ask visitors to please be considerate of how they park and ensure there is enough space for emergency vehicles to pass.

 

"Fire engines in particular are larger than cars and need more room to turn corners so please avoid parking too close to junctions.

 

"Every second counts when emergency services are responding to a 999 call so please park responsibly and legally."

 

Recent weekends have been largely good natured but Section 35 notices in Barry Island and Ogmore-by-Sea give officers the power to move people on if they are acting in an anti-social manner.

 

Operation Elstree was launched in May and will run until September.