Agenda item

Police and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed Powys Police

Discussion with Mr Dafydd Llywelyn, Police and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed Powys Police

Minutes:

County Councillors D O Evans and L George disclosed Personal Interests in regard to this matter as Council representatives on the Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Panel.

 

The Commissioner indicated that he had a number of roles which included setting the direction for Dyfed Powys Police, preparing the Police and Crime Plan 2017-21, and holding the Chief Constable to account for the delivery of the Police and Crime Plan. He was also responsible for the appointment and dismissal of the Chief Constable and for funding policing in Dyfed Powys. The level of funding could be vetoed by the Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Panel. Funding for the Police was approximately 50% from the Home Office and 50% from Council Tax Payers.

 

The Commissioner acts as the bridge between communities and the Police Service. Dyfed Powys Police is well engaged with its communities and a review of how Community Policing Teams are deployed is currently being undertaken.

 

The Commissioner commissions and funds services e.g. grants for services to domestic violence victims as well as smaller grants such as for services for missing young people. Other funding by the Commissioner such as for drugs and alcohol services (£70,000 in Powys) are for commissioned services to reduce the demand on the Police Service. The Youth Offending Team in Powys has been given additional funding by the Commissioner (from £20k to £45K per annum) and and additional £25k has been made available to the Community Safety Partnership this year.

 

The Commissioner leads on data analysis and is seeking to establish a strategic process for the analysis and sharing of information across public bodies. The Commissioner is also heavily involved in the estate for Dyfed Powys Police, to ensure that the police has adequate and appropriate estate resources available.

 

Question / Comment: How much collaboration is there with the County Council, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority and the Health Board in relation to the joint use of buildings? Is the plan to rationalise, or replace police stations which will lead to more closures? Has the closure of the court in Brecon had an impact on the work of Dyfed Powys Police?

Response: Other than attendance of police officers at court the impact of court closures has been limited as evidence files can now be submitted electronically. However the Commissioner agreed that access to justice should be close to people. A commission was currently looking at justice in Wales. The Commissioner believed that there were opportunities for the use of digital courts in rural Wales.

With regard to the police estate, discussions were ongoing about the joint use of facilities such as in Brecon with much of the discussion through the Public Service Board. Co-location of services was already happening. There was also a need for investment in the estate and a need to rebuild at some locations.

 

Question / Comment: How does the Needs Assessment link to the Police and Crime Plan and does finance rule it all (50% from the Government and 50% from Council tax payers) – Is the crime plan produced based on the available finances or is the plan driving the funding?

Response: The depth the plan can go into depends on the funding available. The strategic crime plan comes from the Home Office, but it only funds less than 50% of the total funding. The danger of this is that it could focus the plan on local issues rather than strategic issues. There are 50 measurable items in the plan which need to be prioritised. Focussing on serious crime initiatives could lose public support as they are not relevant to them. The plan is restricted by the funding available e.g. the provision of CCTV cameras.

 

Question / Comment: If the plan is to be achieved, the public have to pay twice – Council Tax and the precept from the Police?

Response: Agreed. The public willingness to pay more is at a tipping point. The Home Secretary allowed Police and Crime Commissioners the discretion to vary the police precept by £2 per month per property. However this is a 10.7% increase which was implemented generally across England and Wales. Not making this increase would have led to a reduction in the numbers of police officers in Dyfed Powys. However with the increase, the Dyfed Powys police precept is still the lowest in Wales for a Band D property.

 

Question / Comment: Is Brecon police station in a poor state of repair? If a new building is to be established how will the Commissioner ensure that the new building is built to last?

Response: The police station in Brecon is not one you would want to keep for the long term, probably no longer than 5 years. As there is a need for much repair to the building, the better option is to build a new building. However the building is not in a state of disrepair and the custody suite is at the standard required by the Home Office. Any new building needs to be value for money and most new buildings are expected to last at least 35 years.

 

Question / Comment: What is the general policy regarding Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs)?

Response: A review is looking to restructure community policing. However the resources are not changing and there are 140 PCSOs in Dyfed Powys with some of the funding coming from Welsh Government. The current PCSOs are well thought of but need better support especially in terms of a line management structure.

 

Question / Comment: Is there a funding formula which determines how much funding comes from Welsh Government and Government and can Members have access to the formula?

Response: Yes the formula can be made available. It has been under review for 10 years. The new funding formula if implemented could lead to a £7m reduction of funding to Dyfed Powys Police.