Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Keith Evans.

2.1      Professor Ian Roffe be appointed Chair of the Panel until the Panel Annual General Meeting 2025;

2.2      Councillor Keith Evans be appointed Vice-Chair of the Panel until the Panel Annual General Meeting 2025.

An error was highlighted within minute 7:-

‘With reference to the one off £10,000 goodwill payment to each of the 3 Local Authorities within Dyfed Powys, the Commissioner confirmed no caveats had been placed on the payment.’

Should read:-

‘With reference to the one off £10,000 goodwill payment to each of the 4 Local Authorities within Dyfed Powys, the Commissioner confirmed no caveats had been placed on the payment.’

RESOLVED that subject to the amendment being made the minutes of the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Panel meeting held on the 15^th May 2024 be signed as a correct record.

Minute Item 4

An update was requested, in regard to the review of the existing format of the school programme.  The Police and Crime Commissioner explained that despite the disappointment of the retraction of funds, the schools programme would be retained within Dyfed Powys Police and letters notifying schools had been sent.  In addition it was reported that a new format of the programme would be developed replacing the current All-Wales programme.  This would be designed to dove-tail activities of the schools programme with other interventions and work being undertaken with young people across the force.  Following a discussion with fellow Police and Crime Commissioners across Wales regarding portfolios, the Panel were informed that Mr Llywelyn would be leading on the child centred approach and youth justice within Wales.

Minute Item 7

An update was requested in regard to the review on the operation of the neighbourhood policing teams specifically in terms of the visibility approach.  The Police and Crime Commissioner reported that as a result of the reduction in funding from Welsh Government towards the Police Community Support Officers (PCSO’s) has necessitated decisions as part of the mid-term precept setting to retain the level of PCSO numbers before the previous manifesto commitment by the Welsh Government to increase by an additionality across Wales.  Therefore, Dyfed Powys Police would have in the region of 140 PCSO’s.  Furthermore, the quantum of funding from Welsh Government has dropped from 50% to 25% from the previous 50/50 split between Welsh Government and local police funding through the precept.  It was pleasing to announce that the numbers of PSCO’s were able to be retained despite the decrease in funding however, it was important to carry out continuous monitoring in terms of visibility of policing.

The review of the neighbourhood policing has culminated in a restructure which would generate a central prevention hub with a reduced level of staffing, allowing the local prevention staff to be realigned to the frontline aspect of neighbourhood policing.  However, aware that that this area had been subject to review 3 times over the last 5 years, Mr Llywelyn stated that he had made representation that it would be prudent to allow the core function to of the neighbourhood policing team which was to provide a visible presence of a named individual within communities to be retained.

In terms of drive for neighbourhood policing and the safer streets initiative, it was asked when would the public see some tangible changes?  The Police and Crime Commissioner stated that improved engagement with the public would occur by way of the Engagement Strategy which was currently in draft form.  In addition, events and open-door events at Police Headquarters had been held to provide local community leaders an opportunity to carry out a role as a conduit between constituents and policing services.  It was explained that local level Inspectors should have the confidence and autonomy to deal with difficult matters without the need for them to be escalated/elevated to Chief Inspector or Superintendent level.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

[NOTE: Councillor S. Hancock had earlier declared an interest in this item.]

The Panel considered the 2023-2024 Annual Report of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

The Panel thanked the Commissioner for all the hard work put into the user-friendly report.

In response to a query raised in regard to the recent Microsoft outage, the Police and Crime Commissioner stated that the systems within Dyfed Powys Police were not impacted upon. 

In reference to a report that was published within the Cambrian News last week regarding the Information Commissioner who held an inquiry into Freedom of Information requests held by the Dyfed Powys Police force, which had subsequently issued a compliance enforcement order in response to the relaxed manner in which it was responded to, it was asked if this applied to the just the force and what was the Police and Crime Commissioner doing to monitor the situation?  The Police and Crime Commissioner stated that he had posed questions to the Chief Officers and there was an audited trail of minuted meetings where the issues had been raised by his office.  A variety of reports were provided to the meetings of the Police and Crime Commissioners office were monitored. In addition, investment of a Chief Inspector into the department has taken place to review the processes and structures, as well as fact finding work to look at how other forces manage these types of issues.  Furthermore, it had been discussed at a joint Audit Committee on behalf of the Police and Crime Commission and the Chief Constable.

The following observations/comments were raised on the report:-

• Reference was made to page 63 of the report - Complaints Reviews.  It was asked if compliments were also collected? It was felt that there were opportunities to learn from compliments as well as complaints. In acknowledging that the number of compliments was fewer than complaints, the Police and Crime Commissioner explained that good news was celebrated where necessary and provided examples of areas where compliments had been received.  Representatives of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner attend the Force’s ‘Lessons Learned Forum’.  The forum provided an opportunity to consider positive news as well as some of the negative matters.

• In response to a query regarding the Evidence Based Research Coordinator whom started on 5^th February, the Police and Crime Commissioner explained that he had given this role free reign to undertake the initial academic research of policing with a focus on rural policing.  The Police and Crime Commissioner had the portfolio of the lead for data analytics and academic research with Universities.  It was hoped that examples of good practice and evidence-based activities that had been brought and implemented into the Force would be reported to the Panel in 6months time.
  
  
• Reference was made to the Objectives 1 of the new Strategic Equality Plan, page 86 of the report.  It was asked what work would be undertaken to ensure that this objective would be realised?  In acknowledging the difficulties of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

[NOTE: Councillor S. Hancock had earlier declared an interest in this item.]

The Panel received for consideration a progress report on developing a New Police and Crime Plan.  Since the Police and Crime Commissioner elections in May 2023 the Commission is required to adopt a new Police and Crime Plan for his current term of office.

The report sets out the progress made to date and the proposed timetable for the adoption of the new plan.

The following observations/comments were raised on the report:-

• In response to a query regarding the future format of holding the Chief Constable to Account, the Police and Crime Commissioner stated that this would be included in and aligned to the governance review.  The new Police and Crime Plan would include the new performance measures which would hold the Police Force to account as part of the delivery.

• In regard to the online link to the consultation, it was observed that it would encourage more respondents if the narrative in the drop-down boxes were visible.

RESOLVED that the Progress Report on Developing a new Police and Crime Plan be received.

[NOTE: Councillor S. Hancock had earlier declared an interest in this item.]

The Panel received a progress report on the Deep Dive Review of Stalking and Harassment for consideration.

At its meeting in October 2023, the Panel received a report on the findings of a deep dive scrutiny review which set out to determine whether Dyfed Powys Police was effectively managing perpetrators of stalking and harassment.  This report provided the progress against each recommendation.

The following observations/comments were raised on the report:-

• Reference was made to Recommendation 18, page 14 of the report.  It was asked, how long the pilot for the service through which stalking victims would receive specialist support from an Independent Stalking Advocacy Caseworker (ISAC) would be?  The Police and Crime Commissioner stated that as he did not have the specific information to hand, he would circulate the response to the panel.  In addition, he would check but there was a possibility that this provision was weaved into the new contract management for the new victim services.  The Commissioner would provide a response informally in writing to the Panel.

• Reference was made to Recommendation 5, page 14 of the report.  It was asked, if in the Police and Crime Commissioners opinion, do the Courts take breaches of protective orders seriously enough?  The Police and Crime Commissioner in stating that this was a difficult question for him to respond to, it was highlighted that additional awareness sessions on the Domestic Violence Protection Orders had been provided to the magistrates across the Dyfed Powys Police area via Teams and the Domestic Violence Co-ordinator.

• Reference was made to Recommendation 4, page 5 of the report.  It was asked, how much of a take up had there been for the Stalking Champion role?  The Police and Crime Commissioner explained that he had not received any comments to suggest there had been issues in terms of identification, therefore there was an assumption that this had been well received as he had not heard anything to suggest the contrary.  Expressions of interest were sought from individuals who would like to volunteer for the role.  As a result, in acknowledging that this recommendation required further work, consideration would be given to ascertain whether there was sufficient coverage in the different departments.  The Commissioner stated that he would prefer to provide a more comprehensive response and offered to provide a response in writing to the Panel.

• An expression of thanks was extended to the Police and Crime Commissioner for providing such a valuable report to the Panel.

RESOLVED that the Progress Report on the Stalking and Harassment Deep Dive was received.

[NOTE: Councillor S. Hancock, Councillor W. Powell and Mrs H. Thomas had earlier declared an interest in this item.]

The Panel considered a report on decisions taken by the Commissioner between 27^th April to 12^th July 2024.

Section 28(6) of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 requires the Panel to review decisions made and actions taken by the Police and Crime Commissioner in connection with the discharge of his functions and to also make such reports and recommendations to the Commissioner in relation to those decisions and actions as the Panel considers appropriate.

RESOLVED that the report be received.

[NOTE: Councillor S. Hancock had earlier declared an interest in this item.]

The Panel considered a performance report in relation to the Policing Protocol for Q1 of the financial year 2024-25.

It was reported that this Quarter has seen the change in performance of a number of actions, 4 actions had changed from Amber to Green and 8 had moved from Green to Amber.  In addition, an improvement had been made in terms of performance with two actions having moved from Amber to Green.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

[NOTE: Councillor S. Hancock had earlier declared an interest in this item.]

The Panel received the Progress report of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Business Plan for Quarter 1 – 2024/25.  The report outlined the progress that had been made in delivering the requirements of the business plan in alignment with the priorities in the Police and Crime Plan.

The report highlighted that the actions that were currently marked as a Red were on the basis that work had not yet commenced and that work would be undertaken in Quarter 2 and beyond in an effort to deliver those actions.

RESOLVED that the report be noted