Female students are being advised to walk in pairs at night in Cardiff during freshers’ week after a series of sexual assaults near university buildings. Three women have been attacked within five days in and around the Cathays area of the Welsh capital, where the main Cardiff University building is based and where many students live and socialise.
Police are advising women not to walk alone after dark and extra, high-visibility patrols have been instigated. Cardiff University said its security team had been visiting student residences to discuss personal safety.
Detectives said they could not confirm whether the same attacker carried out all three assaults, but said there were similarities between the incidents. South Wales police said the first attack took place in the early hours of Sunday 20 September near the Cardiff University main building. A 20-year-old woman was attacked at 3am.
A second assault took place in the early hours of Tuesday morning in the student area of Cathays Terrace, where a woman was attacked in a rented house. The victim was also 20. The third was at around 4.30am on Thursday at Gorsedd Gardens – close to the National Museum Cardiff – where a woman, 19, suffered a serious sexual assault. The gardens were sealed off on Thursday as police combed the area.
Supt Andy Valentine of South Wales police said: “While there are similarities in terms of the locations, times and nature of the offence, it is too early to say whether the same man is responsible. We are working extremely hard to identify who is responsible and the victims are being supported by specially trained officers.
“We understand this is likely to cause concern within the local community and enhanced patrols by our local neighbourhood policing teams are continuing. Specially trained officers are also continuing to support the victims. I would appeal to residents to be vigilant and report anything suspicious to police. As always, we would remind people to follow basic safety advice, including staying in pairs and groups when walking around at night, to drink responsibly, and to stick to well-lit, populated areas.”
Valentine said that a man had been arrested but that inquiries were still at an early stage. Later on Thursday it was announced that a second man had been arrested, in connection with the incident on 20 September. A spokesman said: “The man, aged 40, from the Riverside area of the city, has been taken to Cardiff Bay police station. A 22-year-old man from Cardiff who was arrested earlier today remains in custody.”
The Welsh capital has recently filled with thousands of new students – as well as rugby fans attending Rugby World Cup games at the Millennium Stadium.
A spokesman for Cardiff University said: “We recognise that these are very serious incidents and we’re working closely with South Wales police to help their investigation. Police officers are increasing their presence in the area with additional high-visibility patrols to offer reassurance.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to creating a safe environment for our students, our security team has been visiting student residences to discuss personal safety. We’re in consultation with our students’ union and are discussing appropriate measures to help ensure our students’ safety. We offer a range of professional support services to our students. We encourage anyone affected by these events to speak to someone in student support.”
