Following the violent disorder that took place at Tenby train station, Dyfed-Powys Police has stated that it will continue to work closely with partner agencies in the upcoming summer months to ensure safety in our communities and a robust approach to violent offending. Two teenagers arrested in connection with an incident which resulted in four youths sustaining stab wounds on the evening of Tuesday, April 7, have been released on bail pending further enquiries; along with a further three teenagers that were arrested on suspicion of Grievous Bodily Harm and Violent Disorder.

Officers will be working with longstanding partners such as Pembrokeshire County Council, British Transport Police, and Transport for Wales services to provide reassurance to locals, business owners and tourists.

Reports on social media suggest that the anti-social atmosphere had been building in Tenby throughout the day, with a large volume of youths meeting up on North Beach for a party, with one person suggesting that there was nearly a 100 heading to the locality from other parts of the county.

Earlier on the same evening, Pembrokeshire County Council were forced to close the public toilets alongside the multi-storey car park, after a gang of youths vandalised them.

The police force received a total of 12 calls for the 12 hours from 9am to the time of the incident for the whole of the Tenby section on Tuesday.

Three of those calls were reporting anti-social behaviour to Tenby on Tuesday prior to the incident; whilst there were six additional calls under different call types that are related to young persons, damage, a medical issue regarding a young person, and a potential theft.

Superintendent Louise Harries, BCU Commander for Pembrokeshire, said: “Dyfed-Powys is home to some of the most picturesque and welcoming locations that our country has to offer, which our residents are lucky to have on their doorsteps, as well as attracting thousands of tourists all year round.

“As such, we do not want our spring and summer months to be in any way defined by anti-social behaviour or violent disorder taking place, which understandably causes fear and concern.

“The events which took place at Tenby train station on Tuesday 7th April were wholly unacceptable. Dyfed-Powys Police responded in the immediate aftermath of the incident, but now our colleagues at British Transport Police (BTP) have primacy over this investigation and are conducting fast-paced enquiries into establishing the facts.

“Whilst we maintain a strong working relationship with our partners all year round, this incident has of course prompted further specialised joint work to robustly tackle anti-social or violent incidents, as well as ensure the peace of mind of our communities.”

Over the next weeks and months, members of the public can expect to see a visible police presence in hot spot locations for these incidents, which will act as a reassuring presence as well as a deterring factor for potential offenders.

If necessary, officers will make arrests and enact prosecutions in response to any criminal behaviour, as well as having the powers to issue orders under anti-social behaviour legislation.

This includes requiring individuals to provide their details under Section 50 of the Police & Reform Act, and Sections 34 and 35 of the anti-social behaviour Crime and Policing Act which directs people to leave a specific area for up to 48 hours.

Superintendent Harries added: “In addition I would like to extend our appreciation to our local community and business owners for their help and support, not only following the violent incident in Tenby, but which is always present. Our local people and business owners are the backbone of our communities, and we recognise that unacceptable behaviour impacts community spirit and the livelihood of those businesses.

“Anyone with concerns should never feel like they cannot contact us for support, no matter how minor they feel the issue is. All reports into the force help with building intelligence and an understanding of where we need to allocate our resources. We want your community to be a pleasant environment to spend time in, so please inform us of any concerns.

“The reports we have received into our control room, as well as the conversations that officers have had while out on foot, have all been extremely helpful for us in building a picture of how we can move forward.”

Richard Brown, Assistant Chief Executive of Pembrokeshire County Council, said: “The incident at Tenby railway station was deeply concerning and our thoughts are with everyone affected. Incidents of this nature understandably cause anxiety for residents, businesses, and visitors.

“The Council is working closely with Dyfed-Powys Police and partner agencies to support the ongoing investigation and to address wider issues linked to antisocial behaviour. This is a shared challenge, and effective prevention relies on early reporting, strong partnership working and timely intervention.

“We would encourage residents and business owners to report concerns, and we ask parents and carers to remain aware of where young people are spending time, particularly in the evenings.

“As we move towards the summer period, we will continue to monitor the situation closely and will play our full role alongside the police and partners to help maintain public safety and confidence.”

British Transport Police Superintendent Jonathon Cooze said: “We recognise the concern felt within the community following the recent incident at Tenby station, and I would like to reassure the public that our investigation is progressing at pace.

“Yesterday, (9/4) a further three teenagers were arrested on suspicion of Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) and Violent Disorder and were later released on bail. A 16-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man who were previously arrested have also been released on bail while additional enquiries continue.

“I would urge anyone who witnessed the incident, or events leading up to it, to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 916 of 7th April.

“Residents can expect to see an increased police presence in the Tenby area over the coming days. British Transport Police will continue to work closely with Dyfed - Powys Police, Transport for W ales and other partner agencies to address antisocial behaviour and provide reassurance to the local community.”

Transport for Wales (TfW) will have additional security teams at stations and on board its rail services across west Wales this weekend and throughout the summer months.

Simon Turton, Security Manager at TfW, said: “Incidents of serious anti-social behaviour are thankfully uncommon, and we want to reassure our customers and colleagues the railway is a safe place for the public.

“We’ll have additional security at stations and on-board services, with a particular focus on late night services and key locations across our network.

“This extra presence is supported by CCTV at stations and on-board trains and our train crew wearing body-worn cameras.”