It’s midday on Tuesday, July 27 Wilson Road in Cardiff. Locals drop in and out of shops and takeaways along the street. A grandmother pushes a baby in a pram and children make a beeline for the pizza restaurant.
Young families spill out of the corner shop, armed with shopping bags. Two men bump into one another outside the local butchers, and the laughter of their conversation can be heard from afar.
Any visitors to the area would think it’s a perfectly safe place to live. But Wilson Road falls within a small, one square mile area of Cardiff where police were granted permission for 24 hours to stop and search anyone after a “number of incidents” where violence has been threatened or used.
A section 60 notice came into force in the north Ely area of the city at 4.15pm on Monday evening, July 26, and ended at 4.15pm on Tuesday, July 27.
Grand Avenue in Ely fell within the area covered by the stop and search notice
(Image: Mark Lewis)
A statement from South Wales Police explained: “This decision has been taken after information has been provided following a number of incidents in the locality where violence has been threatened or used. Section 60 is aimed at preventing serious violence, to find dangerous instruments or to apprehend persons carrying weapons.
“There is a real concern that this matter could escalate. There will be an ongoing police presence in the area to provide reassurance to our communities.”
For Muhammad Noman, the manager of Pronto Pizza on the road, the notice doesn’t come as too much of a surprise.
While he admits that generally it’s a “quiet area”, he recalls that only the day before a woman came into his takeaway after she was involved in a hit-and-run incident and asked to see his CCTV.
Muhammad Noman, the manager of Pronto Pizza on Wilson Road
(Image: Mark Lewis)
His shop has also faced the brunt of vandalism by local youths.
“Some kids and young people have smashed eggs many times on my windows. I’ve complained to the police several times, but because there was no injury or damage they won’t come to visit,” said the 37-year-old.
“Two to three guys have also stole ice creams from my shop – one of my customers even witnessed it being stolen, but the police don’t do anything.”
Walking along the road, local resident Rose, who’s lived in the area for twenty years, said she’s “not at all” surprised by the stop and search notice – in fact, she welcomes it.
Cowbridge Road West in Ely was also subject to the section 60 notice
(Image: Mark Lewis)
While she’s grown used to the police helicopter circling the area day and night – “I call it the ‘Ely Copter'” she said – she would like to see more police presence on the ground.
“It doesn’t surprise me crime is on the increase when there’s no police officers around,” she said, looking around. Though the notice was still in force at the time Rose spoke to WalesOnline, there were no officers nor their vehicles in sight.
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“Young men, young girls – not just children – are going on motorbikes, freewheeling up the road. I’m surprised there’s not one around here now. You see the police going one way, and they’re going another way.”
While Rose said she hasn’t seen anyone carrying weapons or witnessed any violence herself, she believes spot checks should be the norm in the area.
“I haven’t seen crime, because I live in a pretty quiet cul-de-sac. But I do know parts of [Ely] can be atrocious.”
But some people who live and work in the area are more surprised by the notice.
Marie, 59, who lives nearby, admits her friend who lives on Deere Road has witnessed drug dealers right outside her house. But apart from seeing “gangs of kids” on the corners, Marie herself says she’s “never had a problem”.
Deere Road in Ely
(Image: Mark Lewis)
“I feel safe in the area. I’ve lived here all my life,” she said. “Knife crime is not an issue here – not that I know of. No, I am surprised. I don’t see it.”
An employee of Wilson Road Fish Bar, who did not want to be named, is also surprised by the notice – and believes crime in the area has improved in recent years.
“I haven’t noticed any violence in the area during the day. But sometimes the police come and check the CCTV cameras, but they don’t tell you what happened or anything like that,” he said.
“It’s a completely changed area now compared to what it was years ago when there were lots of youngsters and gangs – it’s really quietened down.”
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