P-06-1567 Condemn and investigate far-right group ‘White Vanguard’ in Wales  Correspondence from the Petitioner to the Committee, 12 January 2026

Dear Petitions Committee,

Thank you for the opportunity to respond further in advance of the Committee’s consideration of Petition P-06-1567.

I am writing to provide additional relevant information and to clarify an important point arising from the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice’s correspondence.

Since the petition was submitted, White Vanguard has reportedly experienced an internal split. However, there is now credible information suggesting that elements of the group are planning to “re-launch” later this month. In addition, some former members are understood to have aligned themselves with other ultra-extremist organisations, including Aryan Front. This pattern of fragmentation, re-formation and migration between groups is well recognised within far-right movements and does not indicate disengagement or reduced risk.

I would also like to note some disappointment at the recommendation that petitioners submit evidence to the police, as this has already been done. I am aware of at least one ongoing police investigation relating to incidents referenced in the petition. Furthermore, several of the most concerning incidents — including the public display of overtly fascist banners and the chanting of Nazi slogans — took place in the presence of police officers, without any immediate intervention.

This context is central to the concerns raised by the petition. The issue is not a failure to report, but uncertainty about enforcement thresholds, operational decision-making, and accountability when extremist behaviour occurs openly and in full view of authorities. For many in the community, the lack of visible action has been deeply unsettling and has undermined confidence that such behaviour will be robustly challenged.

The petition was therefore never solely about the existence of a single named organisation, but about:

• the public expression of extremist and Nazi ideology in Wales;
• the response — or lack thereof — at the time those incidents occurred; and
• the wider impact on community safety, cohesion and trust when such conduct appears to go unchallenged.

The prospect of a re-launch of White Vanguard, alongside the movement of individuals into other extremist formations, reinforces the need for scrutiny of how far-right activity is monitored in Wales, particularly during periods of instability when groups may become harder to track.

I would welcome the Committee’s consideration of whether this petition could assist in:

• seeking further clarification or evidence from relevant policing bodies;
• examining how far-right activity, including splintering and re-branding, is assessed and monitored in Wales;
• clarifying the guidance and thresholds applied to overtly fascist or Nazi behaviour in public spaces; and
• identifying any steps Welsh Government can take, within its devolved responsibilities, to strengthen accountability, community reassurance and public confidence.

I hope this additional information is helpful to the Committee, particularly given the immediacy of recent developments.

Yours sincerely,