Ely Riots: Mother Of Three Fears Being Made Homeless After Council Eviction Threat
Cardiff Council served eviction notices on 17 households related to people charged for rioting in Ely in May 2023.
Mother reveals that council officials delivered eviction warnings with police vans stationed nearby, and has now been forced to contact homelessness services.
Anger at police stemmed from the deaths of Harvey Evans, 15, and Kyrees Sullivan, 16, who had been chased at speed by cops.
Cardiff Council told voice.cymru the notice is a “warning” of further action, whilst South Wales Police declined to comment.
By Mark S Redfern. Cover image: The memorial for Harvey Evans and Kyrees Sullivan, Snowden Rd, Ely.
A Cardiff council-tenant whose son was charged for riot offences in the May 2023 Ely Riots has told voice.cymru of the shock of being served an eviction notice out of the blue.
The Council confirmed in a statement that notices were sent to 17 households in the Ely area last week informing tenants of their intention to repossess their homes.
Tensions in the area remain high between locals and South Wales Police during a raft of recent court action against those accused of rioting on the night.
Thirty-one people have been charged with riot offences with the court process moving slowly, with some of those who have pleaded guilty to be sentenced in December and others going on trial as late as February 2026.
Jane, not her real name, has told us of the panic and worry receiving this notice has had on her life as her son awaits sentencing. She has lived in her council-owned home for eight years, now fearing homelessness for her and her three children after receiving her notice.
“I’m honestly devastated. The parents are getting punished now, it’s disgusting. Apparently I got to go speak to the homeless accommodation place just in case. They can put me in temporary accommodation but what happens to my children? My daughter has to go down the local Hwb today, just in case.”
Jane and her daughter have not been charged for any offences related to the incident, but her eldest son has.
“We all suffer from mental health issues, even my son. All of Ely has suffered for two and half years now. To me the police have gotten away with it and it’s still very emotional around Ely.”
Riots broke out in the neighbourhood sparked by the deaths of two young boys who were pursued at high speeds through the streets by a police van, the chase ultimately leading to an ebike crash that killed both Harvey Evans, 15, and Kyrees Sullivan, 16.
The force initially refused to acknowledge cops gave chase with top brass blaming social media “rumours” for anger on the streets, before admitting their actions after footage emerged of the incident.
The police officers involved were later probed by the Independent Office of Police Conduct and served misconduct notices, though a later investigation by the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to charge the officer behind the wheel for dangerous driving.
Anger at cops prompted unrest in the area during the evening of May 22nd 2025, with cars being set alight in tense confrontations with local police and a wave of heavy-handed arrests of local youth in the following weeks.
The notice reads: “You have been served this Notice following information from South Wales Police that a member of your household has been charged with involvement in disturbances in the Ely area on the 22nd/ 23rd May 2023 (often referred to as the ‘Ely Riot’).”
Jane continued: “When Cardiff Council came around to give me the notice they came with a police van waiting at the end of the street. They hand-delivered it with a police escort around all the houses getting served.”
voice.cymru asked South Wales Police what outcome they hoped to achieve by helping Cardiff Council evict these seventeen households, but they declined to comment.
We followed up by asking whether targeting the families of charged Ely youth might further damage their relationship with residents of the area, but the force declined to comment a second time.
Ely, home to about 15,000 of Cardiff’s residents, is one of the most deprived areas in the city and Wales as a whole, with about 28% of children belonging to low-income households.
“There’s nothing for them to do around here.” Jane told us. “The only thing we’ve got over this side of Ely is the rec, which they want to take off us again now.” Cardiff Council is planning to build a new access road through the nearby recreation ground, with locals petitioning against the proposals.
Cardiff Council told voice.cymru: “It is the Council’s normal process, where a serious charge has been made and the court case date is a significant time in the future, to serve a notice. Any further action would then be considered following the court hearing.”
The notices are a “warning” by their Anti-Social Behaviour Team that the Council say often don’t conclude with an eviction according to past records. Sources working in the public housing sector familiar with council tenant evictions have told voice.cymru that kick-outs for anti-social behaviour have been rising in recent years.
The Council spokesperson continues: “This approach is about encouraging tenants to take responsibility for their homes and neighbourhoods, promoting good relationships between neighbours, and protecting the wider community.”
But Jane says that the notice and the heavy handed manner it was delivered gives her no assurance whatsoever, and the notices feel like collective punishment.
Ruth Power, chief executive of Shelter Cymru, confirmed that the organisation had already : been contacted by concerned tenants.
“We are concerned that for those social tenants affected, whole households are now living in fear of homelessness – and this might be due to action being taken against one member of their household,” she said.
Those affected by the eviction notices can also contact tenants union ACORN via their member defence enquiry form or emailing [email protected].
