Six arrests in connection with protests at the Stradey Park Hotel

Six arrests were made over the weekend of Saturday 30 September to Sunday 1 October 2023 following a series of concerning incidents at the Stradey Park Hotel.

At around 10.25pm on Saturday (30 September), Dyfed-Powys Police received reports a vehicle was on fire on the hotel grounds. The fire was quickly extinguished by a police officer with no injuries reported.

A 48-year-old man from Caerphilly, and two women, aged 53 and 52, from Cleveland and Peterborough, were arrested on suspicion of arson and other offences. They have been released on bail pending further police enquiries.

During Sunday afternoon (1 October), a planned ‘drive by’ by campaigners took place at the hotel. Several of the motorbikes forced their way through the main entrance, despite uniformed officers stood in their way. Fortunately, no officers were injured.

A large number of protestors then pushed over security fences and forced their way on to the hotel grounds, where some caused damage to the hotel by smashing windows. CCTV and body worn video footage will now be reviewed to identify offences and offenders.

At 10.30pm that day, a fire was reported in a stairwell at the hotel. At the same time, fireworks and other missiles were fired towards officers while vehicles were moved, in an attempt to block access for the Mid and West Wales Fire service. The fire was extinguished with no injuries reported.

A man aged 40 and a woman aged 44, both from the Carmarthen area were arrested on suspicion of arson and a Llanelli man, aged 66, was arrested on suspicion of obstructing emergency services. They have been released on bail pending further police enquiries.

The investigation into these incidents is ongoing and further arrests are anticipated. Officers remain at the hotel to provide reassurance to residents and the community.

Carmarthenshire Commander, Superintendent Ross Evans said:

“Keeping our communities safe is our priority, and as a force, we will always seek to facilitate lawful peaceful protest while balancing it with the rights of others, keeping the public safe and preventing crime and disorder. However, the behaviour of some individuals has gone far beyond this over the past few days.

“These latest arrests come following another concerning escalation in behaviour of some protestors, which has once again resulted in significant damage to the hotel property.

“Dyfed-Powys Police will not tolerate unlawful behaviour – a protest does not provide an excuse to commit criminal offences. Where an offence is committed, we will take all reasonable and proportionate steps to bring offenders to justice.

“Public safety remains our priority and we will continue to listen to and work with all parties.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank those who have demonstrated peacefully over the past few weeks, and appeal for calm to resume. I would also like to thank the team who have dealt with the disorder at the hotel site over the past few days – they have done so in very difficult circumstances.

“I urge anyone planning to join the protest to follow the example that has been set by local residents.”

• If you are planning a protest or have any information about the incidents that have taken place over the weekend, please contact police either through social media, via our website: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by email: 101@dyfed-powys.police.uk or by calling 101.
• If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired text the non-emergency number on 07811 311 908.