Officers have been given extra powers to direct people to leave King Square in Barry over the coming days, following continued anti-social behaviour, fighting, fires and criminal damage.
The announcement follows the news of Criminal Damage to the Town Hall on Wednesday, 4th November, with reports of smashed windows and damaged property.
Local businesses have also reported abuse, criminal damage and bins being set alight at the rear of commercial properties along Holton Road.
Barry Town Council has confirmed that the King Square flagpole has been torn down by young people, meaning the Union Jack will not be flying on King Square this Remembrance Sunday. It also says that it is reviewing the viability of planned festive events and activities to ensure they can be delivered safely.
The additional powers, granted to officers under Section 34 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and is in place from Thursday 4th November, until Saturday 7th November 2026.
The order enables officers to direct individuals or groups to leave the area for 48 hours if their behaviour has or is likely to contribute to disorder or cause harassment, alarm, or distress to members of the public.
Those who are under the age of 16 and subject to this legislation will be taken home or to a place of safety.
Sergeant Andrew Nealon said "We remain committed to ensuring our town centre is a safe space for people to enjoy and this type of behaviour won’t be tolerated. We have already taken a range of proactive and reactive measures to tackle it. We have identified many young people in connection with the issue and officers have visited their homes to speak to parents and guardians and are referring individuals through the anti-social behaviour framework.
"Other measures we are taking include dispersal orders in hot-spot areas, proactive patrols in these areas, and the review of CCTV availability to support any criminal investigations. We are also working in close partnership with the Vale of Glamorgan Council, schools, and youth Justice Services to tackle the community concerns through a multi-disciplinary approach."
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