South Wales police left residents ‘unprotected’ during Swansea riot

Independent review finds officers stood by rather than tackling rioters during Mayhill unrest in spring 2021

A police force left residents in danger, at risk and unprotected" for a protracted period" during a riot in which cars were set on fire and bricks were hurled at houses, leaving people fearing for their lives, an independent review has concluded.

The chief constable of South Wales police, Jeremy Vaughan, apologised that his force had failed to act quickly enough during the disturbance in Swansea and accepted residents had been tormented" by the rioters.