A 14-year-old girl was left with facial injuries following an assault in a small lane. South Wales Police said officers received a report of an incident on Caerleon Road, Dinas Powys, at about 5.20pm on Thursday, November 17. A police spokesperson said the incident involved a group of teenage girls who are known to each other.
The 14-year-old girl was taken to hospital by a family member as a precaution. According to local councillor, Malcolm Phillips, the 14-year-old was knocked unconscious as a result of the assault.
"The incident saw the girl who was assaulted in hospital for about five hours," Cllr Phillips said.
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Inspector Stuart McDean, from Penarth Police Station, said: “At around 5.20pm on Thursday, November 17, South Wales Police received a report of an assault in Caerleon Road, Dinas Powys. The incident is believed to involve a group of teenage girls who are known to each other.
“A 14-year-old girl was taken to hospital by her family as a precaution, officers have checked on her welfare, and it has been confirmed she suffered minor injuries. Our school liaison officers have spoken to local schools regarding the incident which no doubt was extremely upsetting for the girl and her family."
The teen's Dad, Paul Newman said: "I'm just grateful to the resident who heard something was going on and called for help as they lived all the way up the road, if they hadn't done something who knows what could have happened."
The dimly lit lane where the assault took place has now come under scrutiny as residents say more needs to be done to make the area safe for pedestrians.
Mr Newman said: "It is concerning because it's not just like there isn't enough light. It's pitch black in some places and I know my daughter has to go around there sometimes. It's not a nice place to be and there is trash and cans everywhere so something does need to be done because no one can monitor it."
Cllr Phillips is one of the people organising a light vigil and campaign on Friday, November 25, to highlight the need for improved lighting to be provided on a footpath after the incident took place. The event will be held at Eastbrook Railway station at Chamberlain Row Dinas Powys between 6.15-7.15pm.
Residents will be encouraged to light up the footpath with torches, lanterns and phone lights and start the Walk In Safe Environments Campaign, where there will also be a petition to sign to get better lighting in the area.
Cllr Phillips said: "What tends to happen is people are now avoiding this footpath so it's quite a long way around for them to walk to do that. All the people who use the station would have to use that footpath so it's something which really does affect the residents.
"We invited the girl and parents down to the footpath and they're also in favour of the event to campaign to get lighting there so they are more than in favour of what we're doing."
Inspector Stuart McDean, from Penarth Police Station added: “We appreciate the concern felt locally and PCSOs will be attending Friday’s event as well as carrying out extra patrols in this area.”
South Wales Police urges any resident who feels unsafe in a particular area to complete the StreetSafe online tool. StreetSafe is a service for anyone to anonymously tell police about public places where you have felt or feel unsafe, because of environmental issues such as street lighting.
Using that information, the police can direct their patrols and make improvements to infrastructure such as lighting and CCTV.
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