We have put together a round-up of all the latest news, weather, and travel information for Friday, April 29 as a report claims the UK’s visa schemes for Ukrainian refugees are “lacking in clarity, resourcing and accountability” and are heightening the risk of trafficking and exploitation. More than 100 experts have highlighted the “troubling implications” of the UK’s visa-based response, saying they are struggling to make sense of the “chaotic, fragmented and confusing” system.
In a report produced by experts at UCL for the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Dame Sara Thornton, the visa requirement is widely regarded as creating and heightening risks of human trafficking and exploitation. This compares to EU countries’ more open responses which were seen as a “major source of resilience” against such threats.
The UK’s “hostile environment” is also creating a “difficult climate” in which to respond to the crisis, they added. The report details issues raised during a round table of experts from governmental bodies, healthcare, legal groups, law enforcement and academics.
READ MORE: Body found on Welsh seafront
Numerous concerns were raised about the Homes for Ukraine scheme, with experts worried both about the “deliberately predatory hosts” and about conditions becoming increasingly exploitative over time. They identified the potential for domestic servitude, with unclear Government guidance heightening the risk of exploitative placements.
And they warned that councils are likely to struggle to house refugees who need accommodation because their relatives cannot house them or their placement with a sponsor breaks down. More detail on this story can be found here.
In other news, a murder investigation has been launched in Neath after a man was found dead inside a property.
Wales news headlines
Murder investigation launched after man found dead in Neath
A murder investigation has been launched after a man was found dead in Neath. Officers have confirmed that the body of a 66-year-old man was found at a property in Heol Catwg in Caewern on Wednesday, April 27.
A police cordon remains in place at the scene whilst crime scene investigators and specialist search officers carry out their enquiries. The 66-year-old man is yet to be formally identified.
Residents say they first noticed the police presence around 1pm on Wednesday, and explained it was a shock to see so many police in the area. Witnesses also described seeing two ambulances, a fire engine, and sniffer dogs at the scene. On the evening of Thursday, April 28, six police vehicles and forensic teams were carrying out their enquiries at the property.
South Wales Police have also confirmed that a man, 38, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently in police custody. An increased police presence will remain in the area for the coming days.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Darren George, said: “I can confirm a murder investigation is underway following the discovery of a man’s body in Heol Catwg yesterday. The community in Heol Catwg is close knit and I would encourage anyone who may have information in connection with the murder to please contact our incident room at Cockett Police Station using the following link quoting reference 2200138869 https://orlo.uk/yIDDo
“We are particularly keen to hear from anybody who may have heard or seen anything suspicious in the area between 8am on Monday morning, April 25 and 1pm yesterday afternoon, Wednesday April 27."
Body found on Penarth seafront after emergency services called to scene
There was a large emergency service presence near Penarth seafront after the discovery of a body. South Wales Police have confirmed that they were called to an area near the foot of the cliffs along Penarth seafront.
Emergency services were called just before 11am on Thursday April 28 following the discovery. Photos from the scene show the ambulance service and the Welsh coastguard were also present. The majority of the emergency vehicles were stationed near Sully.
A South Wales Police spokesperson said: "Emergency services are at a scene near the foot of cliffs along Penarth seafront following the discovery of a body. Police were called to the scene shortly before 10.50am today."
Police have yet to release any further details about the body.
Today's forecast
Wales will be dry with some sunny spells, according to the Met Office forecast for Wales.
Today:
After a bright but chilly start to the morning, it will be a dry day with a mixture of long sunny spells and occasionally cloudier skies. With only light winds, it will feel warm in any sunshine. Maximum temperature 16 °C.
Tonight:
After a fine end to the day, any cloud will clear leaving lengthy clear spells overnight. It will become cold, with a touch of frost in rural areas by morning. Minimum temperature -1 °C.
Here is how the roads and rail are affected at 7am
- Heol Ddu, Beddau, is closed in both directions due to an incident outside the care home.
National news headlines
Murder investigation launched after death of man in shopping centre
A murder investigation has been launched by Essex Police after a man was attacked at a shopping centre. Officers were called to Lakeside Shopping Centre near Thurrock at 4.30pm on Thursday.
Emergency services attended, but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The force said it is believed the man was attacked by two men, described as black or Asian.
One of the suspects was described as wearing blue ripped jeans, a white T-shirt, black trainers and a black puffer jacket, carrying a small bag, and the other was wearing a blue tracksuit and white trainers.
Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Scott Egerton, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “I want to extend my condolences to the family after this awful attack. At the time of the assault, this area of the shopping centre will have been busy so I believe someone will have seen what happened.
“I need them to contact my team of dedicated, specialist officers and staff. I know this attack will cause concern but at this stage we believe this is a targeted attack and there’s no risk to the wider public.”
Children's reading ability in Wales lags behind other parts of the UK
Children’s reading habits and comprehension lags behind in Wales compared to the other UK nations, according to a major study of more than 1m children. The annual “What Kids Are Reading” report from Renaissance Learning looked at analysis of regional variation in reading habits and includes 20,000 children from Wales.
It found that although children in year one of primary in Wales read books one year above their chronological age on average their peers in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland read books two years ahead of their chronological age.
That pattern continues through primary and then children’s reading “slumps” when they reach secondary school in all four nations.
“Wales does badly in comparison to the other regions, and indeed has become worse during the last year, especially in primary,” the report warns.
“Beginning to read graphic novels of low readability may be a part of this problem. Its level of difficulty stays lower for longer. Primary teachers in Wales are in need of in-service training to encourage them to encourage their children to be more proactive.”
On the reading “slump” as children go to secondary school the document adds: “Typically, across the UK pupils in primary school read harder books as they get older and there is then a decline when pupils reach secondary school. This is particularly marked in Wales where reading level and comprehension were both lower than in the other nations. Older pupils in secondary school were still reading the same difficulty of books as upper primary pupils.
“Pupils in primary schools in Wales also consistently showed a much higher quality of comprehension when reading (91% to 96%) than pupils in secondary schools (87% to 89%). In primary, the difficulty of books was much lower than in England, while the quality of comprehension was much the same.
“In secondary, the difficulty of books was again much lower than in England, but the quality of comprehension was slightly higher. It is striking how, from Year 7, the difficulty of books declines sharply, with the transfer to secondary school having a significant effect even on highly motivated readers.” Find full details of the report here
Sport headlines
Swansea City and Wales dealt Ben Cabango blow
Ben Cabango will miss Swansea City's final two matches of the season and will be unavailable for Wales duty in the summer due to an ankle injury.
The defender was on the receiving end of a strong challenge from ex-Swan Jamal Lowe in the opening half of his side's 3-3 draw with Bournemouth on Tuesday night. You can read Russell Martin's assessment of the game here. Cabango continued to play through the pain barrier but was forced off shortly after half-time in the clash with the Cherries.
It has been confirmed the central defender will miss the Swans' games against Nottingham Forest and Queens Park Rangers after suffering ankle ligament damage, with Cabango also set to be unavailable for Wales' World Cup play-off final against Scotland or Ukraine along with their four Nations League matches in the summer.
“Unfortunately, Ben is done for the season,” said Martin. “He had a scan on Wednesday and it is not good news for us, or for Wales. He is out for the summer.
“He will be back with us for pre-season, although he might miss the first week or two. He will go to see a specialist on Tuesday.
“It’s an ankle injury and I don’t know how he played on with the extent of the injury. He has been outstanding and improved so much and was in a great place.
“It will be tough for him to miss out this summer because of what is at stake for Wales. It’s a blow for him, for us and for Wales, but he has to make sure he rests and recuperates and comes back fit and firing.”
Huw Edwards leads chorus of anger over Wales games vanishing from free-to-air TV as S4C face 'huge blow'
Huw Edwards has led a chorus of disapproval at the shock news big Wales football matches are to be lost to free-to-air television.
The broadcaster took to social media to express his concerns following the news that a new streaming service will show Wales' World Cup and Euro qualifiers, as well as Nations League matches, from 2024 onwards. Edwards was one of a number of individuals unhappy that S4C, who have covered Wales games for almost 20 years, are to lose the rights.
Instead, Nordic-based streaming service Viaplay have won exclusive rights to show Wales matches in the future. It means Wales games will no longer be shown on Sky Sports and S4C. The Welsh language channel has continuously broadcast international matches since 2003.
Viaplay plan to offer Welsh language coverage and say that some matches will be shown free-to-air. But veteran broadcaster Edwards took to social media to argue that S4C was the proper place for Welsh football and that as a supporter he loves their coverage.
He tweeted: "FACT: S4C is the natural home of Wales football... and we the fans love the coverage". The comments provoked a number of responses from concerned Welsh fans, with some describing the decision as "outrageous" and fearing that it would lead to a "drop-off in the following" of the Wales team.
Covering sporting events has perhaps been the channel's bread and butter over the years, attracting Welsh and non-Welsh speakers in and outside of Wales. Sgorio - S4C's football programme - attracts viewers in their thousands. A Wales v Denmark Nations League clash four years ago attracted 237,000 viewers on Sgorio Rhyngwladol ('International Sgorio').
In the S4C annual report published in 2021, the channel revealed that year's Wales v England Six Nations rugby match had the biggest reach of any of their broadcasts over the past 10 years. It was felt Amazon Prime Video's new deal to exclusively broadcast live coverage of Wales' autumn rugby internationals was deemed a "retrograde step" for the channel. Full story here.
