
Littering and fly-tipping 'growing problem' in Wales
The results highlight public support for the increased use of existing penalties and for the introduction of new penalties such as driving licence points for people who litter from cars.
Mick Antoniw MS said: "These results are crystal clear.
"Littering and fly-tipping is a growing problem across Wales and people expect government to do something about it.
"The public is also unconvinced that current penalties act as a credible deterrent, with 66 percent saying that penalties are too lenient.
"A clear majority of people in all parts of Wales want to see current penalties used more effectively and 58 percent support the introduction of penalty points being added to the licence of anyone who throws litter from a car window.
"I believe it is time for us all to get serious and get tough on this sort of anti-social behaviour, which blights so many communities.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Large drop in number of pupils studying Welsh at A-level since 2005, data shows
More than 500 fewer students studied Welsh to a high level this year than in 2005, the latest data shows. The drop has come despite the Welsh Government having set a target of one million Welsh speakers by 2050. Around 538,000 people can speak the language in Wales. Data examined by the PA news agency shows some 372 students took Welsh as a first or second language at A-level this year, down from 927 in 2005. The lowest year on record was 2023, when just 353 pupils took the subject. This year has been the lowest year for people taking Welsh as a first language, with 185 entries, compared with 260 in 2020. Some 187 pupils took the subject as a second language, with 209 having taken it in 2020. Efa Gruffudd Jones, the Welsh Language Commissioner – an officer appointed by the Welsh Government to oversee an independent body aiming to promote the use of the Welsh language – described the drop as a 'matter of concern'. Speaking to PA, Ms Gruffudd Jones said she supported calls from the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol (Welsh National College) for Welsh to become a protected subject. She said: '(This would) make sure that every educational institution post-16 offers the course. 'What I hear from people who get in touch with my office, if only you know three or four people want to study it, then schools don't offer the subject at all. 'I believe they need 12 before they decide to run the course. I don't think that's right. 'I think it should be offered at every educational institution post-16.' Ms Gruffudd Jones also said the qualification itself is under review, and the content needs to be made more attractive and relevant to students. She added: 'The other thing is that you can study many more courses through the medium of Welsh now than you used to be able to. 'You can study psychology, criminology, etc, through the medium of Welsh. 'Maybe people in the past who would have wanted to study through the medium of Welsh chose Welsh, but now they have a wider range of choice.' The commissioner stressed that Welsh is not the only language to have seen a decline, with many European languages having seen a drop across the UK. Total entries for French, German, and Spanish were down by 20% from 443 to 352 in Wales this year, with Ruth Cocks, director of British Council Wales, describing the drop in interest in international languages as a 'concerning story'. Ms Gruffudd Jones said the reason for the move away from studying languages was unclear, but may be due to pupils being encouraged to study more Stem subjects. 'I understand that we need people with technical ability, but I would argue that you also need linguistic ability in order to communicate with people in workplaces, to articulate yourself well in future,' she said. 'I would argue that literature gives you some insight into the world. 'I don't think really that it should be either or. 'What's important is that it doesn't go any lower, and we continue to make efforts to attract people to learn Welsh to a high standard.' The Welsh Government's aim to have one million Welsh speakers by 2050 was first set out in 2017. Earlier this year, a new five-year plan was unveiled by the commissioner to help achieve the goal. And the Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Bill, which aims to close the gap in Welsh speaking ability among pupils from different schools, passed in the Senedd. Figures from the 2021 census showed a decline in the number of people who can speak Welsh compared with a decade earlier. Around 538,000 people in Wales – roughly 17% of the population – said they could speak Welsh, compared with 562,000 in 2011, around 19% of the population. Recent years have seen Welsh place names take prominence over English as the default, with Eryri replacing Snowdonia on official communications from the national park authority. In response to the decline in A-level entries, a Welsh Government spokesperson said: 'We would like more learners to take Welsh as a subject. 'A consultation is taking place to look at creating new Welsh AS and A-levels, making them engaging and attractive to learners. 'We see the Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Act 2025 as a means to provide more children and young people with access to the language within the education sector than ever before. 'We want all young people to leave school with better Welsh skills, regardless of whether they do A-level Welsh or not.'


Wales Online
2 hours ago
- Wales Online
Death row killer gouges out both his own eyes and eats them in bid to avoid execution
Death row killer gouges out both his own eyes and eats them in bid to avoid execution Andre Thomas, 39, was sentenced to death in 2005 for the murders of his estranged wife and her two children. His execution was postponed after he gouged out his eyes The father removed the hearts of his kids (Image: Harold Democrat) A man sentenced to death for the brutal murder of his wife and children, in a horrific act of self-mutilation, gouged out both of his eyes and ate them in an attempt to avoid execution. Andre Thomas was handed the death sentence in 2005, but his execution was delayed after he removed his own eyeballs. He was discovered in his cell, covered in blood, prior to his court appearance in 2004, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. In another shocking incident, Thomas gouged out his remaining eye and consumed it, leaving him completely blind. His legal team stated that he believed this act of self-harm would prevent the government from hearing his thoughts. The news comes as police hunt a killer on the run as family of 'horrific' Welsh murder victim say they are 'terrified'. The 39 year old is currently incarcerated in Texas for a triple murder to which he has confessed. He admitted to killing his estranged wife, Laura Christine Boren, their four year old son, and Boren's 13-month-old daughter. Thomas told authorities that he believed God had instructed him to commit the murders, claiming he thought his victims were demons. He also removed the hearts of both children, as reported by the Associated Press, reports the Mirror. Thomas gouged out his remaining eye and consumed it (Image: Texas Execution) Article continues below He was found guilty in 2005 and automatically received the death penalty. His execution is scheduled for 5 April 2023. Jason Clark, an agency spokesperson, confirmed: "Thomas said he pulled out his eye and subsequently ingested it." In March 2023, Judge Jim Fallon granted an order suspending Thomas' execution warrant, following a request from his legal team for extra time to assess his mental condition and determine whether he met the competency requirements for capital punishment. According to the Supreme Court, whilst the death penalty isn't prohibited for individuals with serious mental disorders, it mandates that a person must be deemed competent. Marie Levin, Thomas' solicitor, stated: "We are confident that when we present the evidence of Mr. Thomas's incompetence, the court will agree that executing him would violate the Constitution. Andre Thomas before and after each of his self-inflicted attacks (Image: AP) "Guiding this blind psychotic man to the gurney for execution offends our sense of humanity and serves no legitimate purpose." Levin described Thomas as "one of the most mentally ill prisoners in Texas history ... not competent to be executed, lacking a rational understanding of the state's reason for his execution." After consuming his first eyeball, Thomas received treatment at a medical facility before being moved to a prison psychiatric unit. His trial barrister, Bobbie Peterson-Cate, remarked that he would "finally be able to receive the mental health care that we had wanted and begged for from day 1." In March 2023, over 100 faith leaders and others issued a plea for mercy to halt his execution. However, J. Kerye Ashmore from the Grayson County District Attorney's Office, who prosecuted the case, stated they knew "nothing about the case" and had not read any reports or evaluations concerning his mental state. Article continues below Thomas continues to be on death row.


Glasgow Times
7 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Large drop in number of pupils studying Welsh at A-level since 2005, data shows
More than 500 fewer students studied Welsh to a high level this year than in 2005, the latest data shows. The drop has come despite the Welsh Government having set a target of one million Welsh speakers by 2050. Around 538,000 people can speak the language in Wales. Data examined by the PA news agency shows some 372 students took Welsh as a first or second language at A-level this year, down from 927 in 2005. The lowest year on record was 2023, when just 353 pupils took the subject. This year has been the lowest year for people taking Welsh as a first language, with 185 entries, compared with 260 in 2020. Some 187 pupils took the subject as a second language, with 209 having taken it in 2020. Efa Gruffudd Jones, the Welsh Language Commissioner – an officer appointed by the Welsh Government to oversee an independent body aiming to promote the use of the Welsh language – described the drop as a 'matter of concern'. Speaking to PA, Ms Gruffudd Jones said she supported calls from the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol (Welsh National College) for Welsh to become a protected subject. She said: '(This would) make sure that every educational institution post-16 offers the course. 'What I hear from people who get in touch with my office, if only you know three or four people want to study it, then schools don't offer the subject at all. 'I believe they need 12 before they decide to run the course. I don't think that's right. 'I think it should be offered at every educational institution post-16.' Ms Gruffudd Jones also said the qualification itself is under review, and the content needs to be made more attractive and relevant to students. She added: 'The other thing is that you can study many more courses through the medium of Welsh now than you used to be able to. 'You can study psychology, criminology, etc, through the medium of Welsh. 'Maybe people in the past who would have wanted to study through the medium of Welsh chose Welsh, but now they have a wider range of choice.' The commissioner stressed that Welsh is not the only language to have seen a decline, with many European languages having seen a drop across the UK. Total entries for French, German, and Spanish were down by 20% from 443 to 352 in Wales this year, with Ruth Cocks, director of British Council Wales, describing the drop in interest in international languages as a 'concerning story'. Ms Gruffudd Jones said the reason for the move away from studying languages was unclear, but may be due to pupils being encouraged to study more Stem subjects. 'I understand that we need people with technical ability, but I would argue that you also need linguistic ability in order to communicate with people in workplaces, to articulate yourself well in future,' she said. 'I would argue that literature gives you some insight into the world. 'I don't think really that it should be either or. 'What's important is that it doesn't go any lower, and we continue to make efforts to attract people to learn Welsh to a high standard.' The Welsh Government's aim to have one million Welsh speakers by 2050 was first set out in 2017. Earlier this year, a new five-year plan was unveiled by the commissioner to help achieve the goal. And the Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Bill, which aims to close the gap in Welsh speaking ability among pupils from different schools, passed in the Senedd. Figures from the 2021 census showed a decline in the number of people who can speak Welsh compared with a decade earlier. Around 538,000 people in Wales – roughly 17% of the population – said they could speak Welsh, compared with 562,000 in 2011, around 19% of the population. Recent years have seen Welsh place names take prominence over English as the default, with Eryri replacing Snowdonia on official communications from the national park authority. In response to the decline in A-level entries, a Welsh Government spokesperson said: 'We would like more learners to take Welsh as a subject. 'A consultation is taking place to look at creating new Welsh AS and A-levels, making them engaging and attractive to learners. 'We see the Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Act 2025 as a means to provide more children and young people with access to the language within the education sector than ever before. 'We want all young people to leave school with better Welsh skills, regardless of whether they do A-level Welsh or not.'