Covid-19: Banning orders in Llanelli and Tenby to stop illegal parties

Fears of people congregating for parties this weekend has prompted police in Llanelli and Tenby to use banning orders.

The section 34 order is in place this weekend and gives officers powers to move people out of the towns and surrounding areas.

The banning orders also prevents them from returning for up to 48 hours under Section 35 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 .

The police have published a map showing the areas affected.

It follows similar similar steps established in Cardiff Bay after hundreds of people were seen drinking, fighting and being sick on the steps near the Senedd last weekend and breaking rules on social distancing implemented to stop Covid-19 spreading and causing deaths.

A section 34 order is in place this weekend which allows officers to move people out of the area preventing them from returning for up to 48 hours under Section 35 Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 . The image shows the areas affected. pic.twitter.com/tI1ATgxL1m

— Heddlu Llanelli | Llanelli Police (@DPPLlanelli) April 10, 2021

Similar orders have been placed in areas of Swansea and Colwyn Bay as well as Bangor in the past.

The police in Tenby decided to act over fears that young people aged 15-20 were congregating with fights breaking out.

Police had to confiscate vast amounts of alcohol and move them before any more trouble escalated.

They’ve warned that officers will be patrolling the town again over the weekend including on trains to stop any repetition of similiar behaviour.

Police sought to use the special powers to stop groups of people who had congregated to drink alcohol around the town.

Many of them had travelled there from other areas by train.

Alcohol

Police will now be working together with licensing officers of Pembrokeshire Council and Transport Police to stop any more occurrences.

The 34 order is effective in the town which allows police to move people away and ban them from returning within 48 hours.

Police have also appealed to parents and guardians to stop young people from breaking any present restrictions.

Last month, groups of up to 100 teenagers were moved on, and large amounts of alcohol seized, as police respond to concerns over antisocial behaviour near the coastal path in Burry Port.

Dyfed-Powys Police officers used powers under the Antisocial Behaviour Act to disperse groups of youngsters meeting to drink alcohol in woodland and sand dunes off the path, many of whom had travelled there to meet up.

Plans had been put in place ahead of the Easter holidays as part of a joint operation with Carmarthenshire Council to deal with anticipated gatherings following the easing of travel restrictions – and in particular to target groups of young people meeting in Burry Port.