Nine arrested after Cardiff residents clash with police over bike … – The Independent

In this piece for Independent Voices, Cardiff University criminologist Matthew Williams writes:

In the aftermath of the riots in Ely, Cardiff this week, some social commentators took to Twitter to point the finger at a range of societal ills that they felt played their part in the build-up to the collective violence.

Claims of “deprivation”, “distrust” in authorities and “disillusionment” with the future rang out across social media. Counterarguments pointed at the role of the police, with rumours circulating online alongside CCTV footage, that suggested a pursuit of two young local boys just before their tragic deaths.

As a criminologist, it is my job to understand the causes and consequences of criminal behaviour. I spend much of my time speaking to perpetrators about their lives and what they think lies behind the worst of their behaviours.

Most recently, I have been preoccupied with the motivations of people who violently attack others because of their difference, widely known as hate crime perpetrators. What I have learnt from speaking with these people is also useful for understanding what happened in Ely this week.

You can read his thinking in full here:

South Wales Police has so far recovered 180 pieces of body-worn footage from police officers at the scene, according to the force.

Officers are also going through hundreds of hours of public CCTV and videos posted on social media, it said.

The force appealed for witnesses to come forward with information, mobile phone footage, CCTV or social media posts that might help inquiries.

People were “scared in their own homes” on the night of the riots in Ely, South Wales Police has said.

“During the incident several vehicles were set alight, property was damaged, police officers were injured, and people were scared in their own homes,” the force’s latest statement said.

“More arrests are expected as we continue to identify those involved.”

A total of nine people have been arrested so far over the riots which followed a road crash which killed two teenage boys in Cardiff, South Wales Police has said.

Three boys – all aged 16 – and a 15-year-old girl were arrested on the night and day after the disorder, and are all on police bail pending further enquiries, the force said.

A further five – aged 16, 17, 18 , 21 and 29 – were detained early on Thursday morning and are being held in custody on suspicion of riot, police said.

A total of nine people have been arrested over the serious disorder in the Ely area of Cardiff on Monday, including five who were detained early this morning, South Wales Police said.

The family of one of two teenagers whose deaths in a road collision sparked rioting over claims they were being pursued by police have pleaded for “peace within the community”.

Harvey Evans, 15, died alongside his best friend Kyrees Sullivan, 16, when the electric bike they were riding crashed in the Ely area of Cardiff on Monday evening.

Video footage on social media appears to show the two boys being followed by a marked police van minutes before the fatal crash.

In a statement released by South Wales Police, Harvey’s family said: “We ask for peace within the community and request that people leave the investigation to the police so we can get the answers we so desperately need to lay Harvey to rest.”

The family of Kyrees said both he and Harvey were “best friends since they were young and went everywhere together”.

Their statement said: “Kyrees was a loving, caring handsome young man, a loving son to Belinda and Craig, little brother to Aleah and Jordan and a special uncle KyKy to Myra.

“He was loved so much by his grandparents and aunties and uncles and his many cousins.

“Him and Harvey along with Niall were best friends since they were young and went everywhere together, they both had so many friends and were very well liked doing many things together, having fun & laughs.

“They were loved by not only their families but by their community as well. Belinda, Craig & families would like to thank everyone for all their kind words, flowers, and messages since they lost their son.”

The families of two teenage best friends killed in a crash in Cardiff that sparked riots have paid tribute, saying their “hearts are truly broken” as they pleaded for “peace within the community”.

Harvey Evans, 15, died alongside Kyrees Sullivan, 16, after the crash in the Ely area on Monday evening.

Video footage on social media appears to show the two boys on an electric bike being followed by a marked police van minutes before the fatal crash that prompted a riot hours later.

Their families have now paid tribute to the boys, saying they were “loved by not only their families but by their community as well”.

Police faced what they called “large scale disorder” after receiving reports of a collision on Snowden Road in Ely around 6pm on Monday, with tensions reaching breaking point as cars were set on fire and fireworks were shot at officers.

Alun Michael told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Tuesday morning: “My understanding is that there was a road traffic accident involving two teenagers on an off-road bike or scooter and sadly, they died. That’s an incident obviously that is being investigated in its own right.”