The paucity of due diligence in the Welsh Government’s greyhound racing ban

One man's fight needs to become all of ours

It is something that was always suspected but has now been confirmed by the Welsh Government themselves thanks to a freedom of information request from greyhound racing fan Stefan Wells. The lack of any research done ahead of pushing through the ban is nothing short of an abject dereliction of duty.

Those in the sport will know Stefan Wells and his relentless fight against the lies and mistruths perpetuated by those who are anti greyhound racing.  When the ban was announced, he wrote to Animal Welfare Wales, the branch of the Welsh Senedd for answers to questions. Those questions and replies are as follows:

The number of visits that were made to the Valley Greyhound Track by ministers to hear from the owners and staff.

None

The number of visits that Huw Irranca-Davies made to the Valley Greyhound track to hear from trainers, owners and staff.

None

The number of visits that were made to greyhound trainer’s premises in Wales by ministers to hear from trainers, owners and staff.

None

The number of visits that Huw Irranca-Davies made to greyhound trainer’s premises in Wales to hear from trainers, owners and staff.

None

So…absolutely no attempt made by any member of the Senedd to engage with anybody on the racing side of the fence. While that lack of due diligence ahead of a decision of the size of banning an entire sport from the country is not going to come as any surprise to those within the sport, it certainly opens the door to bigger questions of why this was the case.

Questions need to be asked of the process

How can such a decision be made when only one side has been heard? 

Why are the Senedd so confident that they have made the right decision given their complete lack of research? 

Is there an ulterior motive to only listening to one side of the argument?

It was David Deans, a political reporter for BBC Wales who put it out to the public that greyhound racing in Wales was the sacrificial lamb in order for Labour to get the support required to pass their budget. Their need for one vote from the opposition led to Jane Dodds taking advantage of the opportunity.

Dodds is a known anti when it comes to greyhound racing but many of her claims were easy to disprove in an expose that we published earlier in the year.  Of course, Dodds took the only action available to her and doubled down on her claims, but the clock continues to tick on greyhound racing in Wales with Huw Irranca-Davies wanting to ban the sport “as soon as practically possible”.

In a report on the ban being announced the BBC stated that a Welsh Conservative spokesman had said: "While there are various views on the banning of greyhound racing in Wales, it is important that any changes are taken forward in a way that engages stakeholders and is fair."

That’s not off to a great start then, is it? 

To really rub salt into the wounds, the BHA released pictures of the Senedd cross party group visiting Alison Thorpe Racing and Maywood Stud to “find out more about the Welsh racing and bloodstock industry.”  

The difference in treatment of the two sports in clear contrast. That is not a knock on horse racing in any shape or form, fair play to them for getting the Senedd to engage, we just wish greyhound racing had been offered the same courtesy.

Official complaint to the First Minister

It is not just been the freedom of information where Wells has been digging, however. Wells would make an official complaint to the First Minister about Huw Irranca-Davies. The ministerial code says that holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

The argument from Wells was clear. 'The Welsh Government's own Summary of Consultation Responses (to the public consultation on animal welfare and specifically greyhound racing) highlighted the lack of evidence to support the case for a ban on the sport. The summary made clear there has been a coordinated campaign against licensed greyhound racing, seeking to drown out the voice of local people including those whose livelihoods rely in the sport.'

Despite repeated requests, Irranca-Davies failed to meet with the sport in Wales, or its regulator the GBGB. Wells asked, 'How was it possible that anti greyhound racing bodies where in attendance at the Senedd when Huw's announcement to ban was made and yet it was a complete shock to anyone involved in the sport in Wales?'

A reply from the office of the First Minister stated that 'she (the First Minister) is of the view that the Deputy First Minister reached his decision responsibly, after careful thought and taking into account a range of factors, and she cannot agree that the Deputy First Minister acted in a way which would be a breach of the Ministerial Code.'

The reply went on to say. that 'the Deputy First Minister is also setting up an Implementation Group which will consider the various possible approaches to the ban and help to identify the best way forward.' 

Just spitballing ideas but perhaps actually engaging the sport would help? 

Speak to those who look after the dogs day in and day out. Despite his concerns being swept under the rug, Wells is not giving up and is starting to make some progress which we will update on further down the line. 

Searching for an Ombudsman ruling

Wells also made a complaint to the Ombudsman that the 'Welsh Government’s decision to ban greyhound racing was not done with proper, full diligence, listening to both sides and carrying out a proper consultation and that Wells would suffer from not being able to visit the track with friends and family and seeing people he knows suffer financially from the ban.'

The reply to the Ombudsman was as follows:

'The Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2019 (“the Act”) sets out when we can investigate a complaint.

The Act stipulates that a complainant must have directly suffered a personal hardship or injustice as a result of maladministration or service failure to allow the Ombudsman to investigate and/or uphold their complaint.

I cannot see from the information you have supplied that, even if Welsh Government was in some way at fault, you have suffered personal hardship or injustice (over and above any of the residents of Wales) directly as a result, particularly as you do not appear to live in Wales yourself.'

A fairly clear response then but it does mean that those who do live in Wales need to be taking up the mantle. The next election in the Senedd is May 7, 2026. 

10 months does not give greyhound racing a lot of time but if we are to win this fight, we need to stand up and be counted. This is a fight that everyone can play a part in for the good of the sport. 

The one thing that we can’t do is sit on our hands. Greyhound racing is no longer going to be an easy target. Flood social media with pictures and videos of your racing dogs in the paddocks, on the beach, playing with toys. All the things that those who are desperate to use the word 'rescue' claim doesn't happen.

Those in Wales and those who know people in Wales, get those letters into your local MS, make them justify their decisions. Write to the Ombudsman yourself and complain about the lack of due diligence, go racing at Valley! Show the world how greyhound racing really is, not how it is perceived to be.