A Plaid Cymru MS has said the Welsh Government cannot ignore the public distress about the death of three people in a car crash in Cardiff, who were not found for two days, despite their families reporting five people missing.
Peredur Owen Griffiths MS told the Senedd that there had been "a great deal of public distress" following the crash, and added: "It would be wrong to pre-empt any findings of such an investigation, but you cannot ignore the public disquiet from the families and the friends of the crash victims."
Policing and justice are not devolved to Wales but Mr Griffiths said the Welsh Government needed to consider what involvement it could have, following the crash in which Eve Smith, 21, Rafel Jeanne, 24, and Darcy Ross, 21, died and Sophie Russon and Shane Loughlin were seriously injured.
READ MORE: Cardiff school pays tribute to crash victim Rafel Jeanne, calling him a 'joyful pupil'
Mr Griffiths referenced BBC reports that Winston Roddick, former police and crime commissioner for north Wales, was surprised at the police's lack of action given the young people's social media accounts had been inactive from when they went missing until when they were found nearly two days later.
The five young people went missing in the early hours of Saturday, March 4. They were last seen in Pentwyn and we now know the car crash happened not long after, but the exact time is not known. The first missing person report was made to Gwent Police at 7.34pm on Saturday, and several others (both to Gwent Police and South Wales Police) followed.
A helicopter search was requested at 11.50pm on Sunday, March 5 and the car was found just after midnight on Monday. The mother of one of the women found seriously injured in the crash has since criticised the police response, saying her claims weren't taken seriously and asking why it took so long to find the car.
Mr Griffiths said: "Although policing is a retained function of Westminster, this is a matter that should involve this Government due to its implications for community safety," and asked: "What input can you have into a police priority-and-escalation process around missing persons to ensure that episodes like this can be avoided in future and so that community safety can be improved?"
Ms Hutt confirmed the Welsh Government had been in "regular contact" with the police about the incident, adding :"Criminal justice isn't devolved to Wales and it's the responsibility of the UK Government, but I do understand that Gwent Police and South Wales Police, as I've said, have referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, and they will look at exactly what happened, and what happened in terms of the circumstances around this terrible tragedy."
She also said that those across the Senedd chamber sent their wishes to those injured in the crash, and recognised the "extraordinary public grief" expressed at the vigil on Tuesday. But she said: "Now, we need to await that Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation that is ongoing."
Presiding officer Elin Jones had opened the discussion by saying: "Our thoughts are with the families of the three young people killed in St Mellons over the weekend. One of them, Rafel, I remember watching playing rugby in the same team as my nephew in primary school, playing for CRCC, Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd.
"Such a young, fast talent on the rugby field. On behalf of us all in the Senedd, our sympathies are with the friends and families of Eve, Darcy and Rafel, and our hopes are with Sophie and Shane for a full recovery." Eve Smith, Darcy Ross and Rafel Jeanne died in the crash, with Sophie Russon and Shane Loughlin both taken to hospital for their injuries.
Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies agreed with Elin Jones' statement and questioned the minister on whether any Welsh Government agencies would have been made aware of the missing people at the time. He said: "I understand, obviously, the referral to the police complaints authority, but this is a part of the trunk road agency - the A48 is, close to the M4 - when a missing persons alert is put out by the police, what agencies that the Welsh Government sponsor would be alerted to such a missing persons alert?"
He asked specifically about highways officers, who are paid by and report to the Welsh Government. The Welsh Government has responsibility for trunk roads, but it has since been confirmed the A48 is not a trunk road.
Mr Davies added: "Looking at the pictures that visibly show that there has been an accident on this site, with trees lying flat on the ground and the motor vehicle leaving the road and going off onto the embankment... so, are the highways officers that are part of the motorway and trunk road agency alerted when a missing persons alert is put out by the police? If they are alerted, what actions did they take?" *The Welsh Government has since clarified that the A48 at St Mellons is not a trunk road. See below.
Ms Hutt responded: "All of the circumstances around this terrible tragedy will be looked at by the Independent Office for Police Complaints. We know that South Wales Police is continuing to investigate this fatal road traffic collision on the A48 in the St Mellons area of Cardiff. Clearly, therefore, all of the circumstances around this will be taken into account in that investigation."
Jane Bryant is the constituency MS for Newport West, which contains Maesglas where Eve, Darcy and Sophie are from. She said: "This news has been absolutely heartbreaking, and my deepest and sincere condolences go to the family and friends of Eve, Darcy and Rafel during this utterly awful time, and my thoughts go out to Sophie and Shane, who are in that critical condition, for their speedy recovery.
She said the "tragic incident" had reverberated around the country and was felt keenly in Newport and the "close-knit community" of Maesglas. She added that it was time for the IOPC to carry out its work, and urged that "we respect the families' wishes by giving them the privacy and space they need at what is an absolutely devastating time." She asked for the minister's assurance that she would keep "a close eye" on the IOPC's investigation, and work with police and crime commissioners and the community throughout the process.
Ms Hutt thanked Ms Bryant and acknowledged the importance of the case to the constituency, adding: "This is something that is going to be with us in Wales, in the communities, and, indeed, in this Senedd, as we work through and as we learn what the outcome of the investigation is.
"I will certainly be keeping a close eye on the work, and, through my liaison with the police and crime commissioners representing us in Wales, we'll be asking for any updates that we can have in terms of the circumstances. I also would say that it is important for the families, in respecting their privacy and their grief, but, I know, in recognition of the widespread support and grief and love for those showing their grief and love for those families and their friends, that family liaison officers, I have been assured, are working with the families affected."
*These quotes were taken directly from Andrew RT Davies' question in the Senedd. Since this article was published, it has been clarified that the A48 is not a trunk road, it is part of the local authority road network and it is not patrolled by Welsh Government traffic officers, who in any case are not made aware of missing persons alerts.
Mr Davies has since tabled questions in the Senedd on these topics, with the deputy minister for climate change answering: "The A48 at St Mellon’s is part of the Local Authority road network and our Welsh Government Traffic Officers do not patrol that section... Welsh Government traffic officers are not made aware of missing persons alerts. However, our inspection teams, safety patrols and Welsh Government traffic officers are on alert for any changes to the carriageway, such as fresh marks or damage to the road, to the vegetation or to barriers."
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