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.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Dyfatty crime crackdown: Major police operation targets Swansea hotspot
South Wales Police launched the Dyfatty Clear Hold Build project in March, targeting serious organised crime and anti-social behaviour in the area.

Swansea neighbourhood handed £20m boost as MP urges residents to shape decade of investment
A major regeneration programme will invest up to £20 million in Dyfatty over the next decade.

Police impose dispersal order in Gorseinon after rise in anti-social behaviour
A similar Section 35 order was imposed in Gorseinon earlier this year following a rise in disorder.

Safer Swansea city centre wins top UK award as crime falls
Swansea city centre was recognised nationally for improvements in safety and reductions in crime.

Sale of iconic Swansea hotel comes amid major regeneration plans for seafront

The 121-bedroom hotel, which was built in 1989 as part of the first wave of the Maritime Quarter’s regeneration, is being marketed for the first time by specialist property adviser Christie & Co.

The sale comes as Swansea Council pushes forward with ambitious plans to redevelop the adjacent Civic Centre site, which includes the potential for a new hotel. Another new hotel is also proposed for a site next to the Swansea Arena and LC, with Swansea Council actively marketing the opportunity for an operator to build and run a 150-bedroom hotel with a rooftop bar on land between the two venues.

The Delta Hotels by Marriott has been a fixture of the Swansea cityscape since the late 1980s, when the former South Dock was transformed into the residential and leisure area seen today. It has a long history of hosting celebrities, including Swansea-born actress Catherine Zeta Jones and her husband Michael Douglas in 2001, and has been the go-to base for numerous visiting sports teams.

The hotel underwent a significant, multi-million pound refurbishment which was completed in 2023 and has operated under a new franchise agreement since May 2025.

Jeremy Jones, Head of Brokerage – Hotels at Christie & Co, said the recent development in the Swansea region had increased demand for high-quality hotel accommodation.

He commented: “The Swansea region has undergone substantial development in recent years across the commercial and educational sectors. This has increased demand for high quality hotel accommodation which the Delta Hotels Swansea meets.”

The sale is of the long leasehold for an undisclosed sum. The hotel itself is not closing — Delta Hotels by Marriott will continue to operate under its franchise agreement with any new owner. The sale presents a new chapter for the building as the area around it prepares for another wave of major transformation, including the potential for new competitors in the local hotel market.

Swansea residents accuse insurance giant Zurich of fraud over ‘worthless’ flats

Residents of the Aurora complex in Swansea Marina claim Zurich issued 10-year home warranties for their properties, built by Persimmon Homes around 2008, despite surveyors allegedly failing to carry out proper inspections. The allegations are supported by a former Zurich employee who claims surveyors were so overburdened they could not inspect all properties, and that completion certificates were sometimes issued before inspections took place.

Zurich has emphasized that its insurance policy was designed as backup cover that would only apply if Persimmon Homes became insolvent and unable to carry out repairs. The insurer states it was never intended to provide leaseholders with primary cover for building defects, and that responsibility for fixing the issues lies with the developer.

Jayne MacGregor, one of the 30 leaseholders in the legal action, said her retirement investment flat has become a “noose around my neck.” She told the BBC she has had to continue working beyond her retirement to pay legal costs and a second mortgage on the property, which is now blighted by extensive water ingress and fire safety defects.

The legal action follows a 2019 High Court ruling in Manchester where a judge found Zurich had committed “deceit” in a similar case. In that instance, involving the New Lawrence House development, His Honour Judge Stephen Davies ruled that Zurich Building Control had fraudulently issued building regulations certificates for what he described as a “seriously defective” building.

A Pattern of Allegations

The Aurora residents’ claims echo those made in other parts of the UK, painting a picture of what they allege are systemic issues. In the Manchester case, the Court of Appeal upheld the ruling against Zurich, with Lord Justice Coulson describing the insurer’s interpretation of its own policy as a “strained and artificial construction” that made it “impossible to see any circumstances in which [the insurers] would ever pay out.”

Closer to home, residents of Wales’ tallest building, the nearby Meridian Quay tower, reached an out-of-court settlement with Zurich in 2022 over a similar claim alleging deceit. In 2021, around 90 flat owners at Meridian Quay were pursuing a £25 million claim against Zurich, with allegations the firm acted “recklessly and fraudulently.”

Phil Lake, managing director of the head leaseholder at Meridian Quay, said at the time that residents had paid over £1 million in excess insurance premiums due to the defects and that people had been “living in danger.”

Whistleblower Claims

The Aurora residents’ allegations are supported by an anonymous former Zurich employee who told the BBC that when the firm was exiting the home warranty market after the 2008 financial crash, the workload became unmanageable.

“There simply weren’t enough hours in a day [to do all the jobs],” the former surveyor said. “[An] email instruction came down [and said] I’ve issued the cover notes, can you inspect them next week? Well, people are living in them next week so I can’t go and inspect them. It was a ridiculous situation… I knew what we were doing wasn’t right but I still needed to keep shoes on feet and food on the table.”

The developer, Persimmon Homes, is now undertaking a full-scale remediation of the Aurora building to fix the defects, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Persimmon has faced criticism over quality issues at developments across the UK, with reports in 2019 of missing or incorrectly installed fire barriers that led to a fire in an Exeter estate “rapidly escalating” as it spread between properties.

“Property Prison”

For the residents of Aurora, the legal and construction issues have left them in what solicitor Martin Scott describes as a “property prison.” Speaking to the BBC, Mr Scott, who specialises in complex construction disputes, said owners are trapped.

“You can’t re-mortgage because nobody will touch you where there are fire issues, you can’t sell because there’s no market,” he said. “The truth is a property purchase is the biggest purchase any ordinary person will make in their lives so if that goes wrong then their life goes wrong.”

A Zurich spokesperson said: “We appreciate the stress this situation has caused for leaseholders. Responsibility for repairing defects at Aurora lies firmly with the developer, Persimmon Homes. The Zurich policy provides protection if the developer becomes insolvent and cannot carry out repairs. We hope that Persimmon can resolve this situation for leaseholders as quickly as possible.

“The insurer refutes the allegations that insurance documents were issued improperly, and states that while it conducted checks for underwriting purposes, statutory building inspections were the responsibility of the local authority, not Zurich”.

Swansea Council, which was responsible for ensuring the original construction complied with building regulations, said it was unable to comment as it was not a party to the proposed legal action.

EDITORS NOTE
This article was updated on 26 February at 2.50pm to include additional context from Zurich Insurance about the structure of its insurance policy and to clarify the distinction between statutory building inspections and underwriting checks.

New smart sensors rolled out to protect Swansea’s water users

According to the council, more than 40 Public Rescue Aid (PRA) units are now fitted with the technology at key waterside locations including the River Tawe and Swansea Marina, with further installations planned ahead of summer at Singleton Lake, Mumbles Promenade, Bracelet Bay, Caswell and Langland.

Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, Councillor Andrew Stevens, said the sensors were proving “a simple but powerful way” to protect the public. He said missing or moved rescue equipment “puts the public at real risk”, and that the new system allows the council to respond faster and replace equipment sooner.

The council states that when a rescue aid is opened or disturbed, the system automatically alerts its Water Safety Team, who can then visit the site within 24 hours. This sits alongside the team’s routine two‑weekly physical inspections carried out throughout the year.

Water Safety Co‑ordinator Andrew Suter said the technology had already supported a real emergency response. He said he received a call from police about a rescue on the River Tawe involving a life ring, but the system had already notified him that the equipment had been opened, allowing the council to replace it the next day.

Swansea Council says the example highlights the partnership between its Water Safety Team and emergency services, and confirmed it will continue expanding the sensor network as part of its commitment to improving water safety and ensuring rescue equipment remains available and in good condition.

More Water Safety News

New sensors a ‘life-saver’ for water safety aids
How smart technology is helping Swansea Council protect the public.

Holiday park brings water safety lessons to schools
Initiative launched as Wales records the UK’s highest drowning figures.

Call for action as young people’s drowning deaths rise
New figures prompt renewed warnings from safety campaigners.

Council warns vandals are putting lives at risk
Swansea Council urges the public to stop tampering with rescue equipment.

£450k plan to restore Swansea Marina’s Helwick lightship

Swansea Council will ask Cabinet next week to approve funding to repair and restore the Helwick lightship, the red‑and‑white vessel moored in Swansea Marina since the late 1970s. The work would take place at a local dry dock before the ship returns to its berth as part of the city’s maritime heritage.

Historic vessels to be preserved

The Helwick is one of three council‑owned vessels earmarked for protection. The others are the steam tug Canning, built in 1954, and the pilot cutter Olga, dating from 1909.

The council also plans to remove the Seamark, an abandoned vessel left in the marina for more than a decade, which is now considered a pollution risk.

Council says Helwick is “iconic”

Cllr Elliot King, Cabinet Member for Culture, Human Rights and Equality, said:

“The Helwick is such an iconic feature of the marina and has been with us for a long time. We’re really pleased to have come up with a viable proposal that will see the vessel repaired for future generations to enjoy.”

He added that the council had drawn on expertise from historic ship specialists across the UK to shape the plan.

Steam Boat Trust to take on Canning

Talks are under way with the Steam Boat Trust to take on the Canning. The Trust has announced plans to restore the vessel over the next 18 months before potentially moving it to join its preserved fleet in Rochester.

Chris Bannister, Steam Boat Trust, said:

“Our plans involve restoring and revitalising her over the next 18 months at her current location, bringing systems and machinery back to working order.”

National recognition for Helwick and Olga

Both the Helwick and Olga are listed in the National Historic Fleet, which recognises around 200 vessels of pre‑eminent significance.

Hannah Cunliffe, Director of National Historic Ships UK, welcomed the council’s decision:

“We are delighted that Swansea Council has decided to invest in the future of Helwick and that Canning is being considered for acquisition by the Steam Boat Trust.”

What happens next

Cabinet will discuss the proposals next week. If approved, the Helwick will undergo a full condition survey before being restored and returned to the marina. It will remain a static exhibit, not open to the public to board.

The removal of the Seamark is expected to improve the look of the marina and free up berths for other vessels.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Cruise passengers help boost city tourism business
German visitors from the MV Hamburg explored Swansea’s museums, markets and parades, highlighting the city’s growing cruise appeal.

Swansea revealed as one of the most cruise holiday obsessed cities in the UK
New research shows Swansea ranks among the UK’s top cities for cruise holiday interest, reflecting strong demand for sea travel.

New Swansea to South West England ferry service consultation opens
Public consultation begins on proposals for a new ferry link between Swansea and the South West of England.

Community volunteers fish out Tawe waste to support river sailings
Local volunteers cleared rubbish from the River Tawe to improve conditions for sailing and community use.

#abandonedVessel #CllrElliottKing #conservation #Helwick #HelwickLightship #historicShips #maritimeHistory #NationalHistoricFleet #NationalHistoricShipsUK #PilotCutter #PilotCutterOlga #Seamark #ships #SteamBoatTrust #SteamTug #SteamTugCanning #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #SwanseaMarina

Swansea’s iconic Sail Bridge to close for two weeks for £40,000 safety upgrade

The pedestrian and cycle-only bridge, which spans the River Tawe, is having its original non-slip surface replaced for the first time since opening in 2003. Swansea Council says the upgrade will improve safety for the hundreds of walkers and cyclists who use it daily and comes as part of a wider investment in highways infrastructure across the city.

The Sail Bridge is one of Swansea’s most recognisable structures and is frequently used for major sporting events and leisure routes linking the city centre to the SA1 development. Its curved deck and soaring mast have made it a symbol of the city’s waterside regeneration.

The works are part of Swansea Council’s multi-million pound highways investment programme, which includes planned resurfacing across main roads city-wide during 2025/26.

“The Sail Bridge is one of our most popular landmarks and is used regularly by the public,” said Cllr Andrew Stevens, Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure. “The original surface is understandably suffering from wear and tear and we want to make sure it can be used and enjoyed for many years to come.”

While the bridge is closed, pedestrians and cyclists are being asked to use alternative crossings via the Tawe bridges or the Trafalgar Bridge, located further along the river.

“The planned upgrade will enable us to replace the non-slip surface and get it back open as soon as possible,” added Cllr Stevens. “All other bridge crossings in the area will be open and accessible and should be used as an alternative while it’s closed.”

Related infrastructure stories from Swansea Bay News

Temporary shuttle service to support Morriston Hospital access during six-week bridge closure
Published July 2025: Council introduces shuttle bus to maintain hospital access while key Morriston bridge undergoes essential works.

Busy Morriston Road bridge to close for six weeks
Published July 2025: Major bridge closure announced as part of Swansea’s ongoing transport infrastructure upgrades.

Council granted £803k to draw up plans for Grade II listed Port Talbot bridge
Published June 2025: Funding secured to develop restoration plans for historic bridge linking key routes in Neath Port Talbot.

Swansea road repairs and resurfacing schemes get £1m boost
Published May 2025: Additional funding announced to accelerate city-wide road maintenance and resurfacing projects.

#bridgeClosure #CllrAndrewStevens #SA1 #SailBridge #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #SwanseaMarina

Swansea Marina ‘sea bin’ trial aims to help keep marina water clean

The technology is being trialled, thanks to Swansea Council teaming up with environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy.

Sea bins are bucket-shaped devices that rise and fall with the tide, collecting floating litter and debris.

As water is drawn in by a pump, it passes through a catch bag which then traps the waste.

Clean water is pumped back out, while litter and debris are safely contained for proper disposal.

Powered 24 hours a day, the sea bin at Swansea Marina has a capacity of 30 litres to collect waste.

Cllr Cyril Anderson, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “It would be a lot better if people didn’t irresponsibly drop their rubbish in the first place, but the trial of this sea bin shows we’re continuing to be innovative in all we do to keep our city and waterways as clean as possible.

“We’re delighted to have partnered with Keep Wales Tidy on the introduction of this technology and will continue to explore its effectiveness as part of the ongoing trial.

“Research shows about 80% of marine litter originates from land-based sources, so it’s important we do all we can to protect our marine environment and encourage people to either use bins or take their waste home with them.”

The initiative is being funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The council say the sea bin is being regularly monitored to investigate what it collects and to check for any unintended impacts or interactions with wildlife.

#CllrCyrilAnderson #Environment #KeepWalesTidy #litter #SeaBin #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #SwanseaMarina

Firefighters tackle charity fitness challenge

The Welsh Firefighter Fitness Challenge, which is part of the British Firefighter Challenge series, was organised by Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS).

The challenge helps to raise funds for the Fire Fighters Charity, which supports the mental well-being and physical health of all serving and retired members of the UK’s fire family.

The event, which sold out in a record time of 21 minutes, took part, for the third year, at the Dylan Thomas Square, Swansea Marina. The square was once again filled with spectators from start to finish throughout the entire day.

Each contestant was dressed in full structural firefighting kit where they took part in a series of physical challenges designed to test strength, agility, and stamina. There were a total of eight challenges to complete. This consisted of a 50m run, 50m hose carry, Road Traffic Collision (RTC) equipment carry and lift, hammer force, another 50m hose run, hose roll, container carry and finally the dummy drag. The fastest competitor to complete all eight challenges, won the race.

Alongside the firefighter fitness challenges, MAWWFRS hosted a ‘Community Safety Village’ where members of the public were able to access free safety advice and information from our Community Safety Team as well as from a variety of partnership organisations. Some of those that joined us on the day were: South Wales Police, Go Safe, Guide Dogs Cymru, Specsavers Mumbles, Wales and West Utilities, Sadie’s Butterflies, British Red Cross Swansea Bay University Health Board.

Chief Fire Officer Roger Thomas said:

“The Welsh Firefighter Fitness Challenge was a much-anticipated event, and I’m pleased to say despite the wet weather it exceeded expectations! The sense of community spirit was evident throughout the day from the enthusiastic cheers supporting the firefighters taking part in the challenge to the buzz of the Community Safety Village, where partners gathered to provide advice and information to the public.

The event helped raise vital funds and awareness for The Firefighter Charity. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated and contributed to making the Welsh Firefighter Challenge such a great success.”

#FirefighterCharityChallenge #Marina #MAWWFRS #MidAndWestWalesFireAndRescueService #Swansea #SwanseaMarina

New sensors a ‘life-saver’ for water safety aids

Swansea Council say waterside vandals are stealing rescue aids or needlessly throwing them in the water in areas including Swansea Marina and the River Tawe.

Now, pioneering new electronic sensors are being put in place to help keep the aids at their posts and alert the council’s Water Safety Team when one goes missing or is disturbed.

The move comes as the team begins its summer-long campaign to encourage people to go safe in the water – and to avoid it completely if they’ve been drinking alcohol.

Andrew Stevens, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, urged residents to continue to report missing water safety aids and anyone they spot tampering with them to the police.

He said: “It’s a criminal offence to tamper with rescue aids and we check CCTV to see if we can identify those responsible. Any evidence will be immediately forwarded to the police for prosecution.

“Our water safety team inspects our network of water safety aids every fortnight and replace missing aids within 24 hours of them being reported missing.

“We’ve already fitted sensors at a number of locations around the city and we’re looking to do more in the coming months when more supplies of sensors come in. But the best thing anyone can do is leave the safety aids where they are except for when they’re needed.

“Vandalism of these devices is a criminal offence for a reason. It’s not a victimless crime and puts people’s lives at risk. The new sensors will help save lives by alerting our teams when a safety aid goes missing.”

Andrew Suter, Swansea Council’s Water Safety manager said the water safety team has a rigorous approach to checking rescue aids in the Marina area and along the Tawe to help keep people safe.

He said the council has joined with other emergency services to promote the summer-long Respect the Water campaign.

Mr Suter said: “Around 140 people lose their lives to drowning around our coasts each year and it’s one of the main causes of death among young adults.

“Going near the sea, swimming in a river or a lake or reservoir is especially risky if you’ve had a drink and you misunderstand the conditions you’re getting into.

“During the warmer summer months thousands of people visit our beaches, over Bank Holidays, especially when there’s an extended period of warm weather and sunshine.

“That’s why we have worked in close partnership with expert lifeguards at the Royal National Lifeguard Institution for a number of years to ensure our beaches are covered at the busiest time.”

#RiverTawe #Swansea #SwanseaMarina #vandalism #WaterSafety