Balaclava youths target cyclists and officers on Cardiff river path

Police have increased patrols on Cardiff’s Taff Trail after reports of youths in balaclavas targeting cyclists, pedestrians and plain-clothed officers.

Police have stepped up patrols on riverside paths in Cardiff after youths in balaclavas targeted pedestrians and cyclists on the Taff Trail, including an attempted assault on plain-clothed officers. Parents said children riding bikes have also been attacked on the route since June, while South Wales Police has identified the Taff Trail and Bute Park as areas with higher levels of youth anti-social behaviour.

The force is increasing patrols on its section of the 55-mile (88.5km) Taff Trail, which runs from Brecon in Powys to Cardiff. While police said they did not have statistics for crimes on the trail for June, two boys aged 13 and 11 were arrested earlier this month. Crime map data from South Wales Police shows Llandaff North recorded 34 reports of anti-social behaviour in June, Riverside had 18, and Gabalfa had eight.

Speaking at a cyclist safety meeting on 28 July, Insp Tim Ursell said a youth was arrested on the Taff Trail a couple of weeks ago after jumping out

"on two of my plain-clothed officers"

and was

"fully prepared to assault them"

The force confirmed officers received a 999 call reporting an attempted robbery at 15.45 BST on 23 July near Sophia Gardens. A 13-year-old from Old St Mellons was arrested, and following a plain clothes patrol, a second boy, 11, from Penylan, was also arrested. Both have been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Police said the Taff Trail along with Bute Park are the areas experiencing a higher level of youth anti-social behaviour. Insp Tim Ursell briefed those at a charity meeting on the latest developments in policing Cardiff's highways and keeping bikes safe.

A police officer speaking to members of the public. He's wearing a black South Wales Police uniform. There is a man looking at him in a blue and white checkered shirt. There's a green shoulder by him. There's also a woman with grey hair and glasses sat next to the officer. — Image caption, Insp Tim Ursell briefed those at a charity meeting on the latest developments in policing Cardiff's highways and keeping bikes safe

Kirsten Price, 36, from Whitchurch, said her 12-year-old son was attacked by a large group of youths, some wearing face coverings, while out on his bike near Blackweir in Cardiff on 25 July. She said he got kicked off it before the group turned on his friend,

"grabbing at his collar of his top and pushing him around"

The mother said the situation got

"frightening"

and her son had a

"tug-of-war"

with the youths to get his bike back. He then rode off to find adults further up the Taff Trail for help, who took them to his friend's house.

"It's the first time anything like this has ever happened,"

Kirsten said. Her son did not sustain any physical injuries but has not been out on his bike since, she said.

Kirsten added:

"I know there's quite a lot of instances where it's just not younger people who are attacked - it's people of all ages."

She said she worries the behaviour of youths she believes are aged 12 to 16 might

"escalate"

and could one day lead them to carry knives. Kirsten added

"it needs to be nipped in the bud"

A man in a modified green bike. He's wearing a black helmet, green cycling too and black shorts while being sat down in his Recumbent Cycle. — Image caption, Rhys found it "intimidating" being followed on the Taff Trail by someone wearing a balaclava

Rhys Holmes, 36, was followed by someone wearing a balaclava and said he found it

"quite intimidating, particularly as it was half nine in the morning and you wouldn't expect it"

. The avid cyclist, who has superficial siderosis, an external rare progressive neurological condition that affects the brain and spinal cord, has had to relearn how to walk since his diagnosis and is profoundly deaf with a cochlear implant.

He uses the Taff Trail to cycle to Pedal Power, an inclusive cycling charity, which he said has been

"the best form of mental and physical wellbeing therapy"

"As cycling has given me a sense of independence again, having to worry about all this is quite worrying in the least,"

he added.

"I do know people feel intimidated by balaclava-wearing illegal e-bike riders. I know of someone who was attacked on the Taff trail, but it was a bunch of youths.

"This was only a few weeks ago, and of course they were very shaken up."

Another cyclist said he had been assaulted three times by youths, but he has noticed an improvement with the rise in patrols.

A cycle and pedestrian path with double yellow lines on the left hand side. It's around autumn with brown leaves covering the grass area and a bit of the path. — Image caption, Part of the Taff Trail links Llandaff with the city centre, through Bute Park

A mum-of-two from Llandaff North said her 13-year-old son was attacked near Llandaff Rowing Club while out on his push bike around 16:00 BST in mid-June. The 46-year-old, who wished not to be named, said her son was riding ahead of a friend when a group of youths, believed to be around 12 and not wearing face coverings,

"kicked the bike from underneath his friend"

"The wheel was kicked off so they weren't really attempting to take the bike,"

she said. Her son then got punched in the face by one of the boys and tried to defend himself by hitting him back. A couple who saw the incident went to help them and waited with the two boys until the mother arrived. While the whole family were

"shaken and upset for the boys"

, she said she has become angry after hearing that this was

"not an isolated event"

"We are aware of the on-going concerns in the area following an increase in reports, and we have increased the our policing response as a result,"

said Insp Ursell.

"This includes both high visibility reassurance patrols ensuring the area remains safe, alongside plain clothed patrols and the use of other specialist resources.