Agenda and minutes

It was proposed and seconded that Councillor A Lloyd-Jones be appointed as the Panel Chair.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that Councillor Alun Lloyd-Jones be appointed Chair of the Panel.

The Chair sought nominations for Vice-Chair, it was proposed that Professor
I. Roffe be the Panel’s Vice-Chair, which was seconded.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that Professor I. Roffe be appointed Vice-Chair of the Panel.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor L. George (Powys County Council).

The Panel extended their congratulations to the Police and Crime Commissioner and a team of Dyfed-Powys Police Officers for taking part and completing a 5 day charity bike ride challenge which raised money for the Safer Dyfed-Powys Diogel Charity.  The bike ride took place between 29^th April 2018 and 4^th May 2018 and raised approximately £5000.

There were no declarations of personal interest.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings of the Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Panel held on the 18^th May, 2018 be signed as a correct record.

5.1 Minute 4.1 – Agenda Item, Question by Councillor A. Lloyd Jones

An update was requested with regard to the Welsh Government funding for the All Wales School Liaison programme.  The Police and Crime Commissioner reported that as a result of a considerable amount of lobbying, the Welsh Government had agreed to continue to fund the programme for a further 12 months in order to obtain further evidence prior to making a final decision.

5.2 Minute 4.5 – Agenda Item, Question by Councillor M. James

It was commented that it was pleasing to note that the Police and Crime Commissioner had been working together with farming communities in order to reduce livestock worrying incidents.  The Police and Crime Commissioner stated that major steps had been taken in that every County would receive dedicated specific resources in order to eradicate livestock worrying offences.

In response to a query regarding the governance of the Rural Crime Strategy, the Police and Crime Commissioner stated that the Chief Constable Chairs regular Rural Crime Fora and partnership meetings.  Whilst the Forum was an operational function, the Police and Crime Commissioner extended an invitation to Panel Members to attend and represent on the Forum. 

5.3 Minute 7 – Agenda Item, Decisions taken by the Commissioner

It was commented that the old Police Station in St Clears opposite the carpark was unsightly and concern was raised that this may be contributing to an increase in negative public perception with regard to its former association with the Police.  The Police and Crime Commissioner stated that the building had been sold and that the building was no longer the responsibility of the Dyfed-Powys Police.

The Panel, in accordance with the provisions of Sections 12 and 28 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, received for consideration the Annual Report of the Police and Crime Commissioner for 2017/18.

The following questions/issues were raised on the report:-

• It was highlighted that there had been a few challenges with regard to the Goleudy Victim and Witness Service since its launch.  The Police and Crime Commissioner acknowledged that as a result of a few teething problems a number of improvements had been identified.  Improvements in service included, Goleudy agreeing to manage and support medium risk domestic abuse victims and all high anti-social behaviour cases.

Furthermore, the Police and Crime Commissioner stated that it had been proposed that Goleudy provide a performance report for which they would be accountable for.

• In response to a question regarding to the arrival of travellers in Aberystwyth, the Police and Crime Commissioner stated that following a discussion with the Chief Constable he would provide an update directly to the Councillor as the local member.

• In order to raise the profile of the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Panel it was suggested that the work of the Panel be recognised within the Annual Report.  The Police and Crime Commissioner agreed to take on board the suggestion.
  
  
• Reference was made to the provision of CCTV cameras. It was conveyed that the local press had reported positive news stories.  The Police and Crime Commissioner informed the Panel that he had spent an evening at Builth Wells Police Station to observe first-hand the CCTV facility being used operationally.  During the observation, an arrest had been made in which the CCTV would be used as evidence.  The Police and Crime Commissioner reported that he was pleased to see the CCTV working as it was intended and that he was looking forward to seeing the success being emanated to other areas.

The Police and Crime Commissioner informed the Panel that a flyer had been developed in order to provide information to the public on the provision of CCTV.  The flyer was available for the Panel to peruse.

The Police and Crime Commissioner invited the Panel to view the CCTV Central Monitoring area at Police Headquarters following the next finance seminar.

Following a query raised regard to Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) the Police and Crime Commissioner stated that an ANPR intelligence tactical desk had been introduced that provided a robust and far reaching facility.

In response to a query regarding the use of facial recognition, the Police and Crime Commissioner stated that whilst South Wales Police currently utilise the facial recognition function within their CCTV system, there was no intention to use the provision of facial recognition within the Dyfed-Powys Police CCTV system due to concerns regarding the accuracy.  However, should there be scope to utilise facial recognition in the future, the CCTV system installed had the capabilities to provide the service.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be received.

The Panel received, for information, a report detailing the decisions made by the Police and Crime Commissioner for the period 19^th December 2017 - 16^th July, 2018. The following issues were raised:

• In relation to the decision regarding Carmarthen Neighbourhood policing (NPT) base, the Police and Crime Commissioner stated that there had been a delay due to the presence of damp in the building.  However, following a meeting Carmarthenshire Town Council and subject to no issues with CADW, the NPT base would be opened in due course.

Following a comment raised regarding police visibility, the Police and Crime Commissioner stated that public contact with Police had changed considerably over the last decade and that the public were encouraged to ring 101 or 999, dependent of the degree of seriousness.  It was further commented that it was important for police to remain visible for the safety of the public and to meet the needs of some elderly and other individuals who may to prefer face to face interaction.

A query was raised with regard to the opening hours of the Carmarthen NPT base.  The Police and Crime Commissioner stated that he had recently challenged the Chief Constable with regard to future opening hours and that Sup. Int. Claire Parmenter as part of a team had been directed to undertake a review of the opening hours of all NPT’s.  In light of the aforementioned review, the Panel were keen to receive clarity and consistency with regard to NPT opening hours across the force.

• In response to query raised regarding policing in pairs, the Police and Crime Commissioner stated that there was no requirement for police to be visible in pairs, however pairing was necessary for mentoring purposes.

• Referring to the decision regarding the ICT Backup solution the Police and Crime Commissioner explained the contract procurement process with the final sign off being made by the Police and Crime Commissioner.

• It was asked how decisions were made in accordance with the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act (Wales) 2015 (WBFGA) and if there was a standardised approach?  The Police and Crime Commissioner reassured the Panel that each decision made did not have a detrimental impact on the WBFGA and stated that he would include how decisions impacted the WBFGA in future reports.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be received.

The Panel received for consideration the agenda, reports and minutes for the Police Accountability Board meeting held on the 8^th May 2018.

The Chair stated that some of the pages were illegible and duly requested that the quality of the reports be improved for the future meetings.

Concern was expressed in relation to the increase in sickness absence attributed to psychological disorders, it was asked what was being done to address this?  The Police and Crime Commissioner stated that sadly the trend was consistent with national trends which was increasing year on year.  He added that a reason for the increase could be attributed to individuals being more comfortable reporting their reasons for absence as the stigma regarding mental health and psychological disorders lowers.

The Police and Crime Commissioner reassured the Panel that proactive measures had been put in place to assist individuals and reduce the increasing trend through organised staff well-being seminars, fairs and surveys.

In response to a query, the Police and Crime Commissioner stated that the public were urged to call 101 as this would enable to quantify on average how long each call took to be resolved.

It was asked, if the results of a recent staff survey could be shared with the Panel? The Police and Crime Commissioner stated that he would make enquiries.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report on the Police Accountability Board held on 8^th May 2018 be noted.

The Panel received the Chairman’s Annual Report 2017-2018 which aimed to raise public awareness of the role and work of the Panel.  The report had been developed in accordance with the guidance issued by the Centre for Public Scrutiny.

The report provided a review of the year 2017-18 and included the panel’s 4 objectives for 2018-19.  The following individual panel members had volunteered to act as Panel champions for each objective:-

1. Scrutiny of the Police Precept - Cllr Keith Evans

2. Scrutiny of how the PCC holds the Chief Constable to account - Cllr William Powell

3. Scrutiny of the Police and Crime Plan - Professor Ian Roffe

4. Improving Public awareness of the Police and Crime Panel - Cllr Alun Lloyd Jones

In addition, the report proposed the following distribution schedule be as follows:-

·         Publish the Annual Report on the Panel website and circulated to traditional media outlets that are active in the force area;

·         E-mail the Annual Report to all MPs, AMs, MEPs, County Councillors and Town & Community Councils in the force area.

In addition to the abovementioned distribution schedule, requests were made to include libraries, Chairs of other Police and Crime Panels and that copies to be made available at the National Eisteddfod.

Furthermore, the Legal Services Manager stated that he would e-mail all Panel members seeking recommendations where to distribute the plan in their areas.

The Panel highlighted some typographical errors which Officers noted.

The Chair expressed sincere thanks to the Legal Services Manager for his guidance and support in developing the report.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that:

9.1      the Chairman’s Annual Report 2017-2018 subject to the typographical amendments being made, be endorsed;

9.2      the distribution list set out in the report to include libraries and Chairs of other Police and Crime Panel be approved.

The Panel received the Panel Communication Strategy report and the Strategy was circulated to the Panel for consideration.

The Strategy had been developed in order to satisfy legislation which required Police and Crime Panels to promote their activities with a view to raising public awareness and engagement.  Furthermore, the Strategy provided assurance that its activities were conducted in a cost-effective manner which in turn would comply with the conditions attached to the Home Office Grant which funded the work of the Panel.

The report highlighted that since the creation of the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Panel all promotional activities had been undertaken by Carmarthenshire County Council’s Media and Marketing Team which included:

­   the creation and maintenance of the Panel’s website;

­   the production of large number of press releases;

­   engagement work with traditional media outlets across the force area;

­   engagement work with the press offices of the other 3 unitary authorities across the force area.

As a result of the above work, the Panel noted that the last 12 months had seen a significant increase in public and press interest in the work of the Panel. 

In order to increase the level of public understanding of the specific role of the Panel, the Strategy sets out how, through the use of traditional media and online/social media this would be achieved.

The Panel noted that webcasting the meeting could be a method of providing a cost-effective means of engaging with the press and public and was therefore proposed that the Panel trial this for its next scheduled meeting on the 16^th November 2018.

The Chair thanked the Carmarthenshire’s Media and Marketing team for all the exceptional work that they carry out for the Panel.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that

10.1     The Panel Communication Strategy be endorsed;

10.2     as a trial the next Panel meeting scheduled to take place on 16^th November, 2018 in Carmarthen be webcast.