Ely riots: Action plan drawn up for Cardiff community
Residents of an area of Cardiff shaken by riots last year say it needs more investment to help young people and challenge misconceptions.
Disorder in Ely on 22 and 23 May 2023 followed speculation that teenagers Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, were being chased by police when they died in a bike crash.
The aftermath of the riots, which saw 15 officers hurt and 27 people arrested, was described as an "absolute warzone".
An action plan is due to be presented on Tuesday to Cardiff council after it consulted more than 1,200 people from the area.
School pupils who were involved in the conversations said the area is the same as any other in the UK, but young people need more spaces to socialise.
What does the community want?
Louise, 17, a student at Cardiff West Community High School who has lived in Ely since she was nine, said she did not really understand negative perceptions of the area until she got older.
"I don't think it is that bad to be honest," she said.
She said there were "a lot of preconceptions of Ely being an awful place, but I don't think it is as bad as people say it to be.
"In reality every place will have bad things or bad things happen in that area.
"A couple years prior there were a lot of people drinking on the streets, but I don't see that as much these days."
She said she knows there are facilities such as youth clubs available, but they "are not advertised enough" or do not look "physically appealing" which can put people off.
"I think the community is welcoming. They are nice people," she added.
Louise described the riots as "quite scary" as her and her friends were not sure what was happening.
"It was the night before my maths exam so it was really overwhelming," she said.
Fellow pupil Amelia, 16, said any negative opinions she has of the area often came from other people.
When she tells people she is from Ely they often think it is "quite a rough area".
But she does not recognise that description having lived in the area all her life, and pointed to the "community spirit" on Facebook groups and how people "come together and defend each other".
"Because we are such a small community everyone is so close knit with one another," she said.
Her input into the work that will help make up the action plan for Ely was that more investment is needed for youth clubs and spaces for young people.
Georgia Afferion, 26, said Ely needed more community spaces that are more closed off so they "can't easily be ruined".
"There's not many places in Ely that people can access that are so green and so natural," she said.
"There is a lot of green space that is not used and not well kept, so I definitely think there are things that can be developed."
She said the resources and centres that are available need to be better advertised and be held at a low cost or be free so more people can enjoy them.
How did the Ely riots unfold?
When Kyrees and Harvey died in a crash on 22 May 2023last year word quickly circulated that the deaths in Ely were a result of the boys being chased by police.
The deaths sparked a riot in the suburb but the circumstances behind the accident remained unclear.
Police insisted the teenagers were not chased, but CCTV footage analysed by BBC Verify appeared to show police following them minutes before the crash.
The force later confirmed they had been following the two boys before their deaths.
There have been 35 arrests in connection with the disorder but no charges, and inquiries are still ongoing, said the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
Gross misconduct notices were served on the driver and passenger in the police van.
Almost one year on the events of May 2023 are still raw for the community of Ely.
The plan has been developed in the community over the last nine months, aimed at addressing the concerns and improving the lives of residents in the area.
It was created by the local community, working with the Public Sector Board (PSB), which includes Cardiff council, South Wales Police, and Cardiff and Vale health board.
Becky Matyus from Action in Caerau & Ely (ACE), who helped coordinate and record community concerns, said it will be "the result of a lot of community conversations and working together to hear what's great about our community and what people are struggling with, and develop ideas and actions to make a positive difference".
