#section35dispersalorder — Public Fediverse posts

LANGLAND: Police impose weekend-long dispersal order at the bay — the second in a fortnight

Police have brought in a weekend-long dispersal order at Langland Bay — the second time in a fortnight officers have used the powers at the popular beach.

The Section 35 order came into force at 5pm on Friday and runs until 5pm on Sunday, covering the beach and the car park.

Under the order, officers can disperse groups taking part in anti-social behaviour of any kind.

South Wales Police published a map showing the zone stretching from Langland Bay Road, across the car park and along the full length of the beach — taking in the tennis courts, beach huts and the brasserie.

Announcing the order, the force said it was in place “to prevent anti-social behaviour in the area”.

“With another weekend of hot weather anticipated, we urge all beachgoers to stay safe, use sunscreen, keep hydrated, and enjoy our seafront areas respectfully,” the force said.

It is the second time in less than three weeks that police have turned to dispersal powers at the bay. A similar order covered the beach and car park in late June, following reports of anti-social behaviour during that month’s hot weather.

That order ran until a Friday evening; this one covers an entire weekend.

Section 35 powers, created under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, allow officers to direct a person to leave the area and not return for up to 48 hours.

Failing to comply with a direction is a criminal offence, and can lead to arrest.

The order comes at the end of a week in which the summer’s third heatwave peaked, with more hot weather forecast for the weekend and Swansea’s beaches expected to be busy.

Langland, with its beach huts, cafés and tennis courts, is one of the area’s most popular family beaches — and one of the first to fill when the sun is out.

The dispersal zone map and full details are on South Wales Police’s social media channels.

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LANGLAND: Police bring in dispersal order at Langland Bay after anti-social behaviour reports
The first order at the bay, back in June.

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LLANSTEFFAN: Dispersal order threat after up to 100 youths descend on beach and castle

Police have warned parents after a crowd of between 80 and 100 young people caused trouble at Llansteffan beach and castle on Saturday night — drinking, littering and climbing the walls of the Grade I listed monument.

Police have threatened to impose a dispersal order at Llansteffan after up to 100 youths descended on the village’s beach and castle on Saturday night.

Officers from the Carmarthen neighbourhood policing team said they were made aware of a group of between 80 and 100 young people at the beach and castle area on Saturday (4 July).

The group were causing anti-social behaviour by drinking, littering and climbing the castle walls, Dyfed-Powys Police said.

The behaviour caused distress to members of the public, according to the force.

Police issued a direct warning to parents dropping their children off in the area — saying any offences reported or witnessed will be dealt with by officers and other relevant agencies.

That includes parents knowingly buying alcohol for their children to take to the location, the force said.

“We will not tolerate this behaviour and want our beaches and castles to be places that families can all visit throughout the summer,” the force said in a statement.

Officers warned that if the behaviour continues, they will look to put a Section 34 dispersal order in place.

The power, under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, allows a senior officer to authorise a dispersal zone — with officers then able to direct people to leave the area and ban them from returning for up to 48 hours.

Failing to comply with a direction to leave is a criminal offence and can lead to arrest.

Llansteffan Castle is a Grade I listed monument in the care of Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, with its earliest fortifications dating to the 12th century.

Perched on a headland overlooking the Tywi estuary, the castle and the beach below draw thousands of visitors each summer.

It is the second time this summer the castle has found itself at the centre of police attention — offensive graffiti was sprayed across the walls of the North Tower and East Bastion in May.

The force’s Rural Crime Team treats damage of that kind as heritage crime — handled with the same seriousness as criminal damage anywhere else — and its appeal over the graffiti, believed daubed between 1 and 10 May, remains open.

Anyone witnessing offences at the site can report them to Dyfed-Powys Police online or by calling 101 — or 999 if a crime is in progress.

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LANGLAND: Police bring in dispersal order at Langland Bay after anti-social behaviour reports

Police have put a dispersal order in place at Langland Bay after a rise in reports of anti-social behaviour.

The Section 35 order gives officers the power to move on anyone involved in anti-social behaviour in the area, which includes the popular beachside car park.

South Wales Police said the order would remain in place until 6pm on Friday, 26 June.

It covers Langland Bay Road, the car park, the seafront and the beach itself, as shown on a map released by the force.

A Section 35 dispersal order is a temporary power that lets officers direct people to leave a defined area, and not return within a set period, where anti-social behaviour is causing or likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

The force said it had acted following increased reports of anti-social behaviour in the area.

Inspector Simon Trick said officers wanted people to be able to enjoy the coast during the hot spell, but to do so considerately.

“We want everyone to enjoy our beachfront areas in Swansea and the Gower during this hot weather, but they must be respectful of others around them,” he said.

“Our officers are working with nearby community leaders in order to identify local ASB problems which require solving.”

The order comes during a spell of record-breaking heat that has drawn large crowds to the coast across Swansea and Gower.

It is not the first time hot-weather crowds have brought trouble to the region’s beaches. At Easter, police dealt with disorder at Aberavon after a lifebuoy was set alight, while officers recently stepped up patrols at Briton Ferry over fears of a bank holiday gathering.

Anyone with information about anti-social behaviour in the area can contact South Wales Police.

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BRITON FERRY: Police throw a security ring around the docks all weekend as fears grow of bank holiday rave

Police have moved to lock down Briton Ferry Docks for the entire bank holiday weekend after fears grew of a potential illegal rave in the area.

South Wales Police have brought in special powers — known as a Section 35 dispersal order — that let officers tell anyone they suspect of being there for trouble to leave the area. Anyone who refuses can be arrested on the spot.

The order came into force on Friday evening and runs until 3pm on Sunday — meaning officers have the power to clear the docks throughout the warmest weekend of the year so far.

Police say there will be a heavy uniformed presence around the docks all weekend, both day and night.

The crackdown covers the dock area on the eastern bank of the River Neath, close to the M4 and the Briton Ferry bridge — a quiet, semi-industrial spot that police say has previously been targeted by people organising illegal music events.

So-called raves — unlicensed music gatherings, often held in remote or industrial locations — have become a particular concern over bank holiday weekends, when organisers count on long nights, good weather and the chance of getting in before police can shut them down.

Sergeant Molly Llewellyn, of South Wales Police, said the force understood people wanted to enjoy the bank holiday — but warned there were limits.

She said: “With the forthcoming bank holiday weekend and the associated warm weather forecast, it is recognised that many individuals will wish to socialise and enjoy this period. However, it is essential that all such activities take place in a safe and lawful manner.”

She added that illegal raves were not just a problem for the people attending, but for the wider community.

“Unlicensed music events, commonly referred to as ‘raves’, present significant risks not only to those in attendance but also to the wider community,” she said. “These risks include — but are not limited to — increased levels of anti-social behaviour, public disorder, violence, drug and alcohol misuse, and the presence of unsafe environments.”

People are being warned not to head to any unlicensed event they hear about over the weekend — and anyone who knows of one being planned is being asked to tip off the police.

Sgt Llewellyn said: “Members of the public are strongly advised not to attend such gatherings. Additionally, anyone with information relating to these activities is encouraged to report it to the police.”

A Section 35 order can be put in place for up to 48 hours at a time. The Briton Ferry order will run for about 72 hours in total — meaning police will have extended or renewed the powers to cover the full bank holiday.

As well as ordering people to leave, the powers also let officers seize items being used in anti-social behaviour — for example, sound equipment that could be used at an illegal event.

Anyone with information can call South Wales Police on 101, message them on social media, or pass tips anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 in an emergency.

SWANSEA: Police impose 48-hour dispersal order on city centre after Easter holiday disorder

The Section 35 order, granted under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, came into force on Wednesday and runs until 9.30am on Friday 10 April. It covers a wide area including the Quadrant shopping centre and bus station, Parc Tawe, the Kingsway, Dyfatty, and the area surrounding the National Waterfront Museum.

A Section 35 order gives police the power to instruct anyone who is causing — or is likely to cause — harassment, alarm or distress to leave a defined area for up to 48 hours. Refusing to leave when directed by an officer is a criminal offence, as is returning to the area within the specified period.

Acting Chief Inspector Andrew Hedley said the order had been authorised following an unacceptable number of reports of youths congregating and causing violence and disorder.

“We are increasing our patrols in the area and intensifying our approach,” he said. “This means that any young person found committing anti-social behaviour in the area will face formal action.”

Among the incidents prompting the order, a police officer was assaulted by a 14-year-old girl, who was subsequently arrested. A teenage boy was also arrested for engaging in disorder over the weekend, with his mother having to collect him from the custody suite.

Acting Chief Inspector Hedley issued a direct message to parents. “I would urge parents to assist us by checking where their children are going and what activities they are engaging in,” he said. “On the weekend, one mother experienced the stress of having to come to collect her son from the custody suite after he had been arrested for engaging in disorder — this is not a scenario we want to see repeated.”

He added: “Officers will not hesitate to enforce these extra powers in order to keep the community safe. Everyone should be able to come into Swansea city centre during the sunny weather and enjoy their time free of any form of harassment or anti-social behaviour.”

The inclusion of Dyfatty in the dispersal zone is significant. South Wales Police launched the Dyfatty Clear Hold Build project in March — a major long-term operation targeting serious organised crime, anti-social behaviour and community safety concerns in the area around High Street North and the nearby tower blocks. The project follows a national model backed by the Home Office, with a year-long police crackdown as its first phase.

Running alongside the policing operation is a £20 million regeneration programme aimed at transforming Dyfatty over the next decade. Swansea West MP Torsten Bell has urged residents to help shape the investment, which is intended to address the deep-rooted social and economic challenges in the neighbourhood.

A similar Section 35 order was imposed in Gorseinon earlier this year following a rise in anti-social behaviour there.

The dispersal order expires at 9.30am on Friday 10 April. Anyone with information about disorder in the area is asked to contact South Wales Police.

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Police impose dispersal order in Gorseinon after rise in anti‑social behaviour

A Section 35 order was authorised on Thursday afternoon, giving officers extra powers to move people on if they are causing harassment, alarm or distress. The order covers a wide area of Gorseinon and will remain in force from 4pm until midnight.

Police say the dispersal zone stretches across the centre of Gorseinon, running from the ALDI and ASDA end of town, across Parc Melyn Mynach and up towards Gorseinon Hospital, before looping around Parc y Werin. The order covers the main routes and gathering spots where officers say problems have been concentrated in recent weeks.

South Wales Police said the decision follows several weeks of problems in the town, particularly on Thursday evenings, with reports ranging from nuisance behaviour to more serious incidents.

Sergeant Molly Llewellyn, South Wales Police, said the behaviour seen recently “will not be tolerated” and urged parents to make sure they know where their children are tonight.

“We have seen an increase in anti‑social behaviour and criminal activity in and around the area on Thursday evenings. This type of behaviour will not be tolerated. We are appealing to parents and guardians to ensure they know where their children are and what they are doing, and to help us keep our community safe,” she said.

She added that officers will be out in greater numbers throughout the evening to reassure residents and clamp down on disorder.

“There will be increased visibility from the Neighbourhood Policing Team to disrupt this type of behaviour, provide reassurance, and help build trust and confidence within the community.”

The force has published a map showing the full area covered by the dispersal zone.