Two arrested as lock knife, £2.5k of crack cocaine, £4.5k cash seized under Section 60 Notice in Cardiff

Following two stabbing incidents in Cardiff within a 24 hour period we issued a Section 60 Notice which gave officers the authority to stop and search anyone in Butetown, Grangetown and Riverside areas of Cardiff.

The Section 60 Notice was in effect from 2pm on Saturday, February 1 to 6am on Monday, February 3.

As a result of the 70 stop and search:

• Two people were arrested in Riverside

And officers seized:

• A lock knife
• Crack cocaine worth up to £2.5k (estimate)
• £4.5k cash
• A small amount of cannabis.

Eral Tyrone Mathurin, 34, from South London, has subsequently been charged with being in possession 66 grams of “crack” cocaine, a controlled drug of class A, with intent to supply it to another person.

Mathurin appeared at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on Monday and is remanded in custody for a trial next month.

An 18-year-old man from Riverside was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and possession of cannabis.

He has been released under investigation.

This decision to issue a Section 60 Notice was taken following 2 stabbing incidents in the city within 24 hours:

The first was around 7.40am on Friday 31 January in Smeaton Street in the Riverside area of Cardiff. A man has been taken to the University Hospital of Wales with stab wounds. His condition is described as stable.

The second was at 2.23am in Loudoun Square, Butetown, Cardiff on Saturday 1 February. A 33-year-old man was taken to the University Hospital of Wales where he remains in a stable condition.

Although these incidents are not being linked, the notice was put in place with the aim of preventing serious violence, to find dangerous instruments or to apprehend anyone carrying weapons.

Both men are expected to make a full recovery.

Detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances of both incidents.

Tackling knife crime is a priority for the force.

In the last seven months the Cardiff Operation Sceptre Team, named after a national initiative, has:
* arrested almost 250 people
* seized more than 70 weapons
* carried out nearly 600 stop searches.

This covert team is on the streets making it uncomfortable for anyone who matches the profile of those involved in knife crime.

Families and communities can play their part in helping to tackle serious violence by taking responsibility for their children and young adults who are on the fringes of criminality or at risk of carrying a knife.

Anyone with concerns can call 101, Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or 999 in an emergency.

For more information on stop and search visit:

http://www.southwalescommissioner.org.uk/en/our-work/equality-inclusion/stop-and-search/