Agenda item

The Panel wished to satisfy itself that the Well-Being of Future Generations Act Plan for Carmarthenshire and the Police and Crime Plan for Dyfed-Powys were consistent with each other and served to promote collaborative working between public services throughout the country. As part of this process, the Panel invited Councillor Cefin Campbell, Executive Board Member for Community Safety, to attend the meeting for the purpose of setting out the Council’s view on this issue. Cefin Campbell gave evidence on several questions posed by the Panel:

1. Whether he considers there is any need to review the Police and Crime Plan in light of the changing nature of the threats to our communities.

Councillor Campbell reported being overall satisfied that the plan meets the needs of Carmarthenshire. He pointed out that the plan’s four main priorities cover major operational issues linked to crime and disorder in the area. He welcomed the Police and Crime Commissioner’s commitment to reviewing the plan annually, noting that this would enable adequate responses to quickly changing threats. The Councillor suggested that the focus should be on adapting operational matters, overarching strategic aims could likely be retained. The Councillor also informed Panel Members that operational matters are reviewed with partner input (including the Public Services Board) on a regular basis, ensuring targeting of resources is based on current need.

2. Whether he considers there is any need to review the plan in order to better align it with the well-being plan for Carmarthenshire to ensure the needs of Carmarthenshire residents are addressed as effectively as possible.

The Councillor informed that there are two relevant points of reference for Carmarthenshire: the well-being plan of Carmarthenshire Country Council and the well-being plan of the Public Services Board (PSB). He noted positively that none of the thirteen well-being objectives identified in the Council’s plan are crime or disorder related, reflecting the comparatively low rates of recorded crime in the Dyfed-Powys area. He identified two of the four key objectives in the PSB plan, Early Intervention and Strong Connections, as relating to crime and disorder and pointed out that both objectives are recognised in the Police and Crime Plan. The Councillor concluded that the Police and Crime Plan aligns closely with the well-being plans.

A query was raised asking whether the plans made any reference to police officer’s close involvement with people with mental health issues. Cefin Campbell pointed out that several general objectives in the plans relate to mental health issues. The Police and Crime Commissioner added that the Police Force has infrastructure in place to address these well-being objectives, for example the Adverse Childhood Experience programme for which it received Welsh Government funding.

3. Whether he considers there is any need to change how the Police, Council and other public sector stakeholders collaborate in Carmarthenshire in order to assist in effective delivery of the Police and Crime Plan.

The Councillor emphasised that a strong working relationship between these organisations already exist, as exemplified by the Police and Crime Commissioner’s membership in the PSB. Referring to his role as the Chair of the Carmarthenshire Community Safety Partnership, the Councillor explained that the partnership recently reviewed its priorities in a multi-agency workshop on the 27^th September. In light of new data and intelligence, mainly provided by the Police, the partnership will announce the following reviewed priorities on its meeting on 23th November: 

·         Class A drugs and County Lines

·         Violent crime including domestic abuse

·         Counter-terrorism

·         Cyber crime

·         Child sexual exploitation

The Councillor concluded that there is no need to alter collaborative arrangements with the Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner because the existing arrangements are very good.

4. Whether he considers there is any need to review the Commissioners Rural Crime strategy in order to better align it with the well-being plan for Carmarthenshire.

The Councillor responded that there was no need to review the Rural Crime Strategy because the work of the Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner specifically addresses the needs of rural areas in line with well-being objectives. He pointed out that a report on the future of rural communities, to be published in March 2019, will discuss some of these issues. The Councillor also welcomed the appointment of Rural Crime Officers.

The Police and Crime Commissioner confirmed that the Police regularly met with the farming unions to discuss issues affecting rural areas, such as the impact of motorbikes and quad bikes on the countryside. The Rural Crime Unit was having a positive impact on rural crime.

5. Whether he considers there is any need to review the rural crime strategy in light of the changing nature of the threats to our communities.

The Councillor reiterated his belief that there is no need to review the Rural Crime Strategy because existing provisions and priorities for rural areas are adequate. He expressed support for continual reviews on the operational level.

6. Whether he would like to see any changes in relation to the Commissioner’s approach to the management of the Police estate, including on the question of the location/relocation of police stations.

The Councillor suggested that problems relating to anti-social behaviour being concentrated in town centres are best addressed by regenerating town centres, for instance by introducing integrated service centres. Several Panel Members expressed support for this suggestion and encouraged different County Councils to collaborate on the issue.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to note the evidence from Councillor Cefin Campbell, Executive Board Member for Community Safety.