Fire scars on the pavement, concrete barriers blocking the road and signs warning that 'crime and anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated'. The reminders of a night which shocked the city of Swansea are still visible to see when taking a stroll down Waun Wen Road.
But it is the traumatic memories of a night of fear and distress that will live on the longest for the residents who found themselves stuck in the middle of a huge riot in Mayhill in May 2021. They have reflected on an evening which saw cars set on fire, homes damaged and innocent people terrorised after an independent review criticised the response from South Wales Police, who twice refused for a public order unit to be deployed, leaving cowering residents "unprotected".
It said there were "significant failings", and called for a full investigation. The review said there was "a protracted period during which the residents of Waun Wen Road were in danger, at risk and unprotected by the police". It said one specific example was when a threat to life was identified in respect of a particularly vulnerable individual which resulted in the deployment of officers with shields. The officers later withdrew and the withdrawal, while "maximising the safety of officers", needed further examination.
