Police work to prevent troublesome youth gatherings

Dyfed-Powys Police is gearing up for an operation to prevent large groups of youths gathering along the Carmarthenshire coastline.

The force’s neighbourhood policing teams will carry out high visibility patrols with partners, including British Transport Police and Carmarthenshire Council, to try and stem a problem that has blighted communities in recent years.

In recent years crowds of around 100 children and young people have descended on small coastal towns.

Problems have included underage drinking, running across railway lines while under the influence, anti-social behaviour and causing a nuisance locally, with a large amount of litter left behind.

Inspector Dawn Fencott-Price has appealed to parents to know where their children are and what they are up to.

“This is an important issue to our communities, with large gatherings and disturbances having a negative effect on the lives of people locally,” she said.

“Last year young people were travelling by train and consuming alcohol, with some trespassing on railway lines, which could have ended tragically.

“We really just want parents to know where their children are and what they are doing.

“Last year saw a large amount of alcohol being seized, some of which had been taken from the home address.

“We want youths to be safe, and to understand the impact of their behaviour on the wider community along the Carmarthenshire coastline.”

Last year dispersal orders were put in place across Llanelli and Burry Port, as well as another in Ferryside, giving police the powers to move anyone believed to be causing a nuisance, harassment or distress out of the area.

“One boy who was detained became abusive towards officers and could not be reasoned with,” added Inspector Fencott-Price.

“Officers had no choice but to arrest him for his own safety and to prevent further offences from being committed.

“Such behaviour goes beyond groups of young people meeting to have a good time and puts people in highly dangerous situations.

“We will continue to put plans in place over the summer to deal with antisocial behaviour, using all powers available to us to put a stop to it.”