ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR RAISES CONCERNS
HUNDREDS of people gathered in Cardiff Bay on Saturday night and residents say they are fed up with anti-social behaviour, noise, and litter.
Pictures taken on Saturday night show crowds enjoying the warmer weather in the Oval Basin area. Residents estimated there were between 300 and 500 packed into the area and claimed many were failing to comply with social distancing.
On Sunday morning the area was left in a disgusting state with litter strewn across the basin and surrounding areas for the second day in a row after similar scenes on Saturday morning.
Violent altercations on Friday night, which saw two people arrested, have prompted the police to introduce additional powers to ban people from the area for a period of up to 48 hours.
The police were granted the right to use a Section 35 dispersal order in the area after two officers were injured on Friday night as police were called to “disputes and incidents of violence”.
One bystander, who was in the area at around 10.30pm on Friday, said it was “bouncing and smelt like a cannabis farm”. One resident described it as “horrendous” for those living locally.
After two nights of misery another resident, who asked to remain anonymous, yesterday described what she had witnessed from her apartment.
“A range of people live in these apartments,” she said. “There are people who are older and people with children.
“I know of grandparents here who don’t want their grandchildren to visit because of everything going on outside.
“It’s a beautiful place and there’s a nightlife here. As residents you put up with that in normal circumstances. It’s nice to hear people having a nice time, even if it wakes you up sometimes. But since lockdown it’s been so much worse than that.”
She said not everyone was causing a problem and those who do act inappropriately spoil it for innocent friends and families who meet up and follow social distancing guidelines.
Yesterday, she said: “Last night there was music being played from a car outside my balcony which we recorded at 86 decibels. It was loud until about 2am.
“From our flat we could also see people with nitrous oxide balloons and people [having sex] in a car.
“We are supposed to be in the middle of a pandemic and people are not social distancing. It’s not fair and more needs to be done.”
Another resident, who also asked to remain anonymous, said the issue has become unbearable for the many residents who live there.
“There are 73 flats in the Quayside block alone – it’s affecting a lot of people,” said the 61 year old.
“The main issues are coming from young people. There is an issue with litter but the main issues for me as a resident are anti-social behaviour and worrying about the spread of coronavirus.
“Living here, our quality of life is massively impacted. From about 7pm on weekends you can’t sleep because it’s so loud and people are urinating everywhere, including on the iconic buildings – it turns into a huge public toilet.
“There’s also a fear element. When people are out enjoying the sun and having drinks they get rowdy and residents don’t want to go outside. There are telltale signs that drug-taking and dealing goes on.
“Police should have done more before it got to this point. Nobody seems to care.
“I’ve lived here for nine years and we knew there would be events in the area but those are marshalled.
“It’s been a million times worse since lockdown restrictions have started to lift.”
In his most recent three-week coronavirus review on Friday, First Minister Mark Drakeford announced that from today up to 30 people will be able to meet up outdoors.
As it stood at the weekend the rules were that people could meet outdoors with others from one other household at a time.
The Welsh Government website states: “It is important crowds, antisocial behaviour and illegal gatherings are prevented – as these could help to spread the virus. We are advising people to avoid places where many people tend to come together.”
Following arrests made at Cardiff Bay on Friday following gatherings and anti-social behaviour police have increased powers to take action. They can now use a Section 35 disposal order in the area.
A South Wales Police spokesman said while the “vast majority” of people behaved responsibly officers were forced to deal with a “small number” of violent incidents and also had to police “large crowds” at taxi ranks on Friday night.
Two people – a 27-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man – were arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker after two officers were injured during separate incidents in the area.
Both remained in custody on Saturday, the spokesman added.
Detective inspector Jeff Burton of South Wales Police said on Saturday: “A number of coronavirus restrictions remain in place and it is important that people take personal responsibility and follow them for their own safety and that of others.
“The vast majority of people did just that but the selfish actions of a minority left us with no choice but to impose the Section 35 dispersal notice for the area. Violence, disorder, and anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated.”
On Friday night video footage was also widely shared showing what was reported to be a large crowd gathering in St Mary Street in Cardiff city centre.
During the clip a person can be heard saying it is “unbelievable” and “ridiculous” to do this “during a pandemic”.
Det Insp Burton added: “We are starting to see more people visiting our towns and cities as venues gradually begin to reopen and it is great to see people able to enjoy themselves again.
“But I would urge people to do so safely and responsibly and, as well as abiding by the law, remembering to abide by Welsh Government socialdistancing measures which are designed for the benefit and safety of us all.”
A South Wales Police spokesman said yesterday that no additional arrests had been made and no dispersal orders had been issued over the weekend.