Forty people are arrested across UK after armed police were called to ‘disturbance’ at traveller site in Cardiff that left three people with serious injuries
- Police raided a traveller site in Cardiff, South Wales during a major investigation
- Further arrests have been made across London and the south east of England
- Following the initial fracas, one man was left with life threatening injuries
Police investigating a disturbance at a traveller site in Cardiff have arrested more than 40 people across south Wales and other parts of the UK.
In Cardiff 20 people – 15 men, four teenage boys, and a woman – have been arrested after three people were left in hospital following the incident.
There have been a further 26 arrests, including 18 by the Met Police, four by Thames Valley Police, and others in Befordshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey and Gwent.
The majority of the 46 arrests took place on September 22 and all of those arrested remain on police bail.
Armed police were called to Shirenewton gypsy and traveller site in Trowbridge, Cardiff, shortly after 4pm on Sunday, March 21.
A 27-year-old man received ‘potentially life-changing injuries’ during the ‘large scale disturbance’ while the two other men, aged 25 and 55, were also taken to hospital with serious injuries, police said.
Police in Cardiff have arrested more than 40 people in a series of raids across the Welsh capital
Armed police joined uniformed officers and plain clothes detectives during the operation
A number of weapons were seized at the time and several arrests were made shortly after.
Detective superintendent Ceri Hughes, from South Wales Police, said: ‘This recent enforcement follows a complex six-month investigation by a team of South Wales Police detectives and has involved the assistance of many other police forces.
‘In March we made a commitment to identify those responsible for this large-scale disorder and I’m pleased to say that, with the support of other police forces, a significant number of people have been arrested.
‘We believe that those arrested were involved in the serious disorder at Shirenewton gypsy and traveller site on March 21 this year.
‘As always South Wales Police strives to protect all communities from serious harm.
A number of people were arrested during the raids in Shirenewton, Cardiff
Part of the operation involved a series of co-ordinated raids on traveller sites in Cardiff
‘Anyone who thinks they can commit such violence in the South Wales Police area should think again. It will not be tolerated and we hope this multi-force operation makes that message very clear.
‘We again thank local communities for their patience, understanding, and co-operation while arrests and searches were carried out.’
Witnesses or anyone with information, including video and dashcam footage relating to the incident, are asked to contact South Wales Police quoting reference number *098726.
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