Agenda and draft minutes

Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Panel - Friday, 30th July, 2021 10.00 am

Venue: Chamber - County Hall, Carmarthen. SA31 1JP. View directions

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR pdf icon PDF 296 KB

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Minutes:

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that

1.1  Councillor Alun Lloyd-Jones be appointed Chair of the Panel for the forthcoming calendar year;

1.2  Professor Ian Roffe be appointed Vice-Chair of the Panel for the forthcoming calendar year.

2.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND PERSONAL MATTERS

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Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors L. Edwards (Ceredigion County Council) and R. Summons (Pembrokeshire County Council).

3.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

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Minutes:

Committee Member

Minute Number

Nature of Interest

H. Thomas – Co-Opted Member

12 - Appointment of Chief Constable

Son chaired the external interview panel.

 

4.

TO SIGN AS A CORRECT RECORD THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON THE 19TH FEBRUARY 2021 pdf icon PDF 377 KB

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Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Panel meeting held on the 19th February 2021 be signed as a correct record.

5.

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

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Minutes:

No matters were raised at the meeting.

6.

QUESTIONS ON NOTICE FROM PANEL MEMBERS TO THE COMMISSIONER

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6.1

QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR KEITH EVANS

“What steps is the Commissioner taking in his discussions with the Acting Chief Constable regarding the welfare and wellbeing of Officers that have in particular, been involved in front line Policing during the Covid-19 Pandemic?”

 

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Minutes:

“What steps is the Commissioner taking in his discussions with the Acting Chief Constable regarding the welfare and wellbeing of Officers that have in particular, been involved in front line Policing during the Covid-19 Pandemic?”

 

Response by the Commissioner:

The Commissioner advised that the impact of covid had been challenging for all services and expressed his thanks to Local Authorities and the Health Board for keeping the community safe.  It was stated how important it was to support staff and that staff wellbeing was paramount to the force.

 

It was stated that there was an unprecedented demand on the police and ambulance service and that the peak in demand in August 2020 had been replicated in May, June and July this year. It was recognised that this placed staff under pressure with an increase of working hours however staff welfare was a priority for the leadership team and that initiatives such as wellbeing Wednesday had been rolled out and that medium and longer-term plans were in place to address.  Staff would also be encouraged to utilise leave from September onwards when a reduction in demand was anticipated.

6.2

QUESTION FROM PROFESSOR IAN ROFFE

"The Covid pandemic has affected all aspects of life, work and policing in Dyfed Powys, what aspects of the Commissioner’s response to Covid does he consider most significant that he would choose to highlight and what plans does the Commissioner have in dealing with Covid in the short to middle term?”

 

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Minutes:

"The Covid pandemic has affected all aspects of life, work and policing in Dyfed Powys, what aspects of the Commissioner’s response to Covid does he consider most significant that he would choose to highlight and what plans does the Commissioner have in dealing with Covid in the short to middle

term?”

 

Response by the Commissioner:

The Commissioner advised that recovery from covid was an opportunity to meet sustainability targets due to the reduction in travelling and the use of technology.  It was stated that it was important to embrace the new way of working through the use of technology. The Panel was advised that multi-agency hubs were in place and highlighted the importance of striking the balance between remote working and the return of staff to HQ.

 

With regard to flexible ways of working the Commissioner advised that if done correctly this would promote staff wellbeing. It was acknowledged that there was some ‘virtual’ fatigue and that striking the balance between virtual and physical ways of working was key.

 

It was stated that short-term additional funding had been provided but there was a need for longer term funding and planning. Finance would be the corner stone to service delivery and that the force was seeking a 3-year period of sustainability.

7.

DRAFT ANNUAL REPORT OF THE POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER pdf icon PDF 297 KB

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Minutes:

The Panel considered the draft Annual Report 2020/21 of the Police and Crime Commissioner. In presenting his draft report the Commissioner advised that the outbreak of Covid and the postponement of the 2020 Police and Crime Commissioner Elections had significantly altered the work programme for the financial year. 

 

The Commissioner highlighted the work that had been done in relation to the Penally asylum accommodation centre and how the centre was closed following successful lobbying of the Home Office.  The Panel expressed how appalled they had been with the living conditions at the centre.

 

The Panel welcomed the report and raised the following:

 

·         In response to a query the Commissioner advised that the Integrated Offender Management aimed to support the more prevalent offenders from reoffending. The Offender Diversionary Scheme was aimed at first contact offenders in an attempt to keep them out of the criminal justice system.

·         It was asked if there were plans to increase funding for the Safer Streets Fund.  The Commissioner advised that this had been the 3rd bid for the short-term fund and that Llanelli was the only area in the force that met the criteria. It was anticipated that the Home Office would continue to fund the scheme.

·         Reference was made to the fact that the report did not contain anything specific regarding race crime and modern-day slavery.  The Commissioner advised that these were operational issues and therefore not referenced in the annual report.  He also advised that the Commissioners role focussed primarily on hate crime but provided assurance that the force worked closely with Welsh Government regarding modern-day slavery and that race crime was a key priority for the force. 

·         In response to a request for an update regarding restorative justice, the Commissioner advised that the force was committed to restorative justice and that there had been an increase in referrals.

·         In response to a query regarding the sustainability working group the Commissioner advised that the spend profile had been delayed due to covid and market conditions. Additionally, the panel was advised that the availably of materials was an issue.

·         It was asked if there was adequate SARC provision available to victim of sexual abuse.  The Commissioner advised that there were sufficient geographically located facilities available however this was due to change to centralisation by the Health Board. There will be a centre in Bronglais and Swansea Bay but the timescale for centralisation was yet to be defined.  Concern was expressed regarding centralisation and the impact that travelling would have on victims.

 

The Chair asked the Commissioner to pass on to all his staff and police staff the Panel’s thanks and appreciation for the work they had undertaken over recent months.

 

RESOLVED that the draft annual report be received.

8.

RECORDING OF REPORTED CRIMES pdf icon PDF 301 KB

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Minutes:

The Panel considered a report detailing the Commissioner’s response to the notification by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) that they would be publishing a Cause of Concern in relation to Crime Data Integrity (CDI) on 7th May 2021.

 

The Commissioner advised that the report provided an update around the work undertaken to mitigate the issues identified.

 

In response to a query the Commissioner advised that the force used an in-house records management system but had moved to a records management system called Niche which was already being used by other forces.  It was acknowledged that a records management system would not solve all the problems identified and that it was important that at the first point of contact staff were appropriately skilled to correctly grade the calls.

 

It was asked if consideration had been given to using a similar approach to Lincolnshire with regards to public and 3rd sector consultations.  The Commissioner advised that partners had been consulted however not all around the table as the same time.  He advised that an update would be provided at the next meeting.

 

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

9.

MENTAL HEALTH AND POLICING pdf icon PDF 317 KB

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Minutes:

In its annual report for 2020-2021 the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Panel resolved to undertake an inquiry into how the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed-Powys addressed the issue of Mental Health and Policing. The panel established a subgroup to conduct this inquiry.

 

The Panel considered the report detailing the outcome of the inquiry. The Panel was advised that the subgroup had been satisfied that due regard had been given to Mental Health and Policing in the Police and Crime Plan.

 

The Panel was advised that there was always room for improvement but considered that Dyfed Powys Police was on par with other forces and maintaining partnership working would aid this.

 

The Commissioner advised that he wholeheartedly accepted the report recommendations and emphasised that the issue was a priority.  

 

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

 

[Note: At 12.50 pm the Panel adjourned and reconvened at 2.00 pm].

10.

DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE COMMISSIONER pdf icon PDF 204 KB

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Minutes:

The Panel considered a report on decisions taken by the Commissioner during the period 9th February 2021 – 22nd July 2021.

 

In response to a request for the panel to view the Youth Ambassadors’ video on Youth Experiences of Police, the Commissioner advised that arrangements could be made for the Panel to view the video in Autumn when covid restrictions had been relaxed.

 

In response for an update regarding the purchase of land in Dafen, the Commissioner advised that the project was currently at RIBA stage 5 and close to establishing the final price point and commercial contract for delivery.  A more detailed timetable would be available for the next Panel meeting.

 

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

11.

POLICING PROTOCOL - PERFORMANCE REPORT pdf icon PDF 390 KB

AT THE CONCLUSION OF AGENDA ITEM NO.10 (BUT NO LATER THAN 12.30 P.M.) THE MEETING WILL STAND ADJOURNED UNTIL 2.00 P.M.

 

THE MEETING WILL RECONVENE AT 2.00 P.M. FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE REMAINING ITEMS OF BUSINESS ON THE AGENDA.

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Minutes:

The Panel noted the performance report in relation to the Policing Protocol.

 

As the report was dated Quarter 4 2020/21 it was agreed that a more current report would be presented to the committee for consideration at a future meeting.

 

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

12.

APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF CONSTABLE pdf icon PDF 316 KB

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Minutes:

[Note: H. Thomas declared an interest at the start of this item].

 

The Chair welcomed to the meeting Mr Richard Lewis the Commissioner’s preferred candidate for the post of Chief Constable of the Dyfed Powys Police Force.

 

The Panel subsequently received a report on the appointment of the preferred candidate for the position of Chief Constable for Dyfed-Powys Police.

 

The Panel thereupon interviewed Mr Richard Lewis and asked a series of questions relating to his professional competence in order to assess his suitability for the role following which it was agreed to note the appoint of Mr Lewis to the role of Chief Constable of the Dyfed Powys Police Force.

 

On behalf of the Panel, the Chair also thanked the Temporary Chief Constable Claire Parmenter for her work for the Dyfed-Powys police force.

 

UNANAMOUSLY RESOLVED to note the appointment of Mr Richard Lewis as Chief Constable of Dyfed Powys Police and to welcome him to the role.