Latest news with #ImranLatif
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Cardiff councillor to pay hundreds after police station protest
Councillor to pay hundreds after police station protest 6 minutes ago Share Save Ted Peskett Local Democracy Reporting Service Share Save LDRS Councillor Imran Latif locked himself to another person at a police station protest in June 2024 A councillor has been ordered to pay hundreds of pounds after he locked himself to another person as part of a protest at a police station. Imran Latif, who represents the Penylan ward at Cardiff council, was suspended from the Liberal Democrats group last year after he was charged with two offences relating to the June 2024 protest about an individual who had been arrested at an earlier demonstration. The 45-year-old pleaded guilty to locking himself to a person to cause significant disturbance at a Cardiff Magistrates' Court hearing on Tuesday. The second charge, of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause a disturbance, was dismissed after no evidence was offered. A total of 16 people were arrested after what police described as a spontaneous protest in the front desk area of Cardiff Bay Police Station at 21:30 BST on 3 June 2024. It look place just hours after another protest involving 50 to 60 protesters in Cardiff city centre. At the time, it was reported people were protesting against the war in Gaza. The court heard how Latif entered the police station, sat on the floor and locked himself to another protester. Jaggery/Geograph The spontaneous protest took place at Cardiff Bay Police Station, hours after a bigger demonstration in the city centre
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lib Dem councillor ‘took part in pro-Palestine protest at police station'
Imran Latif will be allowed to continue his role as councillor for Penylan ward - @ A Liberal Democrat councillor took part in a pro-Palestine protest at a police station, a court has heard. Imran Latif, 45, walked into Cardiff Bay police station in June and chained himself to another protester at the front desk, a court has heard. The councillor, who has sat on Cardiff council since 2022, pleaded guilty at Cardiff magistrates' court to locking himself to a person to cause significant disturbance at a police station. He was acquitted of one other charge. Despite his conviction, he is set to continue his role as councillor for the Penylan ward. The 45-year-old has sat on Cardiff council since 2022 - @ The court heard the incident took place just hours after 50 to 60 people protested against the war in Gaza by walking through Cardiff city centre. Protesters went to the police station over concerns about someone who had been arrested at the demonstration, the court was told. South Wales Police said 16 people were arrested after the spontaneous protest at the front desk at 9.30pm on June 3. 'Fully realises the foolishness of that moment' Nadeem Majid, representing Latif, said he was not part of the demonstration that had taken place in the city centre earlier that day. Mr Majid said the councillor had attended the scene at the police station to find out what was going on. He said Latif 'fully realises the foolishness' of that moment and added that 'to his credit, he has been fully transparent'. Latif, who was suspended by his party after his arrest, was handed an 18-month conditional discharge by District Judge Mark Layton. He was also ordered to pay a total of £776 at Cardiff magistrates' court. A second charge of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause a disturbance was dismissed after no evidence was offered. A second charge of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause a disturbance was dismissed - @ Mr Majid, of M&M Solicitors, said: 'The conclusion of the matter today, resulting in one of the two charges laid against him being dismissed, is a great weight lifted off the shoulders of councillor Latif, who has had this matter hanging over his head for some time. 'Councillor Latif is pleased with the outcome of his case and is grateful to his legal team for their assistance and will now continue to serve his constituents in his capacity as councillor.' After the sentence, a Cardiff Council spokesman said: 'A conditional discharge by a magistrates' court does not preclude a Councillor from acting in the office of member of a Local Authority in Wales. 'In due course, it will be a matter for the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales to consider whether the actions of the councillor will meet the threshold of an investigation of a potential breach of Cardiff Council's Members' Code of Conduct.' The Welsh Liberal Democrats said they will now review the incident that took place in June 2024 through their internal processes. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Wales Online
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Wales Online
Cardiff councillor convicted after locking himself to another person at police station
Cardiff councillor convicted after locking himself to another person at police station Councillor Imran Latif, who represents the ward of Penylan in Cardiff, was suspended by the Liberal Democrats last year after being charged Cardiff Council ward member for Penylan, Imran Latif (Image: Alex Seabrook ) A Welsh councillor has been ordered to pay hundreds of pounds after being involved in a protest that took place at a police station last year. Cardiff Council ward member for Penylan, councillor Imran Latif, was suspended from the Liberal Democrats group last year after he was charged with two offences following a pro-Palestine protest that took place in June 2024. Councillor Latif, 45, pleaded guilty at a Cardiff Magistrates Court hearing on Tuesday, May 6, to locking himself to a person to cause significant disturbance. The second charge of using threatening/abusive words/behaviour likely to cause a disturbance was dismissed after no evidence was offered. South Wales Police confirmed last year that 16 people were arrested after a spontaneous protest occurred in the front desk area of Cardiff Bay Police Station at 9.30pm on June 3, 2024. Never miss a Cardiff story and sign up to our newsletter here. This happened just hours after another protest involving 50 to 60 protesters took place in Cardiff city centre. At the time, it was reported that people were protesting against the war in Gaza. The court heard how councillor Latif entered Cardiff Bay Police Station, sat on the floor and locked himself to another protester. Nadeem Majid of M&M Solicitors, representing councillor Latif, said his client was not part of the protest that took place in the city centre earlier that day and that he had attended the scene at Cardiff Bay Police Station in order to find out what was going on. The court was told by the prosecution that there was protesting at Cardiff Bay Police Station due to concerns about an individual who had been arrested at the earlier demonstration. Article continues below On the incident that saw councillor Latif lock himself to another person at the police station, Mr Majid said his client "fully realises the foolishness" of that moment and later added that "to his credit, he has been fully transparent". Councillor Latif was handed an 18-month conditional discharge by District Judge Mark Layton and ordered to pay a total of £776. A Cardiff Council spokesperson said: "A conditional discharge by a Magistrates Court does not preclude a Councillor from acting in the office of member of a Local Authority in Wales. In due course it will be a matter for the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales to consider whether the actions of the councillor will meet the threshold of an investigation of a potential breach of Cardiff Council's Members' Code of Conduct.' The Welsh Liberal Democrats said they will now review the incident that took place in June 2024 through their internal processes. Article continues below Mr Majid of M&M Solicitors, on behalf of councillor Latif, said: "The conclusion of the matter today resulting in one of the two charges laid against him being dismissed is a great weight lifted off the shoulders of councillor Latif, who has had this matter hanging over his head for some time. "Councillor Latif is pleased with the outcome of his case and is grateful to his legal team for their assistance and will now continue to serve his constituents in his capacity as councillor."
