Councillor Randell Thomas-Turner, the first black mayor of Haverfordwest in southwest Wales, has been forced to hire personal security guards after receiving death threats linked to his role.
The 37-year-old made history in May when he became the first Black elected mayor of the Pembrokeshire town, which has around 14,500 residents. At the time, he described his appointment as a reflection of "how far our community has come."
Security at Traditional Ceremony
However, the mayor later arranged private security for the town's traditional Beating of the Bounds ceremony, citing personal safety concerns. The event involves a water-borne procession to assert the town's fishery rights and has roots in medieval boundary-marking traditions.
In a statement, Cllr Thomas-Turner said Haverfordwest Town Council "does not tolerate racism, discrimination, harassment or threatening behaviour of any kind." He added that any matters relating to individual councillors were personal issues being handled by the relevant authorities. He affirmed his commitment to serving the town "with pride, dedication and service."
Council's Response
The council confirmed that the security arrangements were made privately by the mayor and were not commissioned or funded by the council. All costs were paid by Cllr Thomas-Turner himself. The council stressed that the presence of security should not be interpreted as evidence of a specific threat to the event, participants, or members of the public. The ceremony passed without incident and remained a safe, family-friendly occasion.
In a further statement, the council condemned "all forms of abuse, intimidation and threatening behaviour" directed at those serving their communities, saying respectful public discourse was essential to local democracy.
Mayor's Vision
Cllr Thomas-Turner, who is also the youngest person to hold the mayoralty in Haverfordwest for a century, said he was "honoured" by the appointment and hoped to help build a future based on "unity, opportunity, compassion, and community spirit."
Pembrokeshire county councillor Michael Williams described the situation as "appalling but sadly not surprising," arguing that some people had become increasingly emboldened to express racist views publicly. He called the reports "an absolute disgrace" and said those responsible should be ashamed of themselves.
