The Chief Executive introduced a presentation to Council from the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Chief Constable of South Wales Police and informed of the programme of future presentations to Council.  Members of the Council were introduced to the Mr Alun Michael, Police and Crime Commissioner, the newly appointed Chief Constable, Jeremy Vaughan and Chief Superintendent Dorian Lloyd.

The Police and Crime Commissioner informed Council that he was pleased with the way the Police and Crime Commissioner’s throughout Wales have worked together in a unique way during the pandemic with the Crown Court service, the Welsh Government and local government to get the courts back up and running to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.  He thanked the Council’s leadership and officers for the way in which it had worked with the police jointly during the pandemic.  He stated that the next challenge is for the four national governments to work together on a single set of guidelines over Christmas and for it to be policed.  He informed Council that one of the most recent successes was the implementation in March of a programme to hold the perpetrators of domestic abuse to account, and which has since being rolled out in the local authority areas of Neath Port Talbot and Swansea. 

The Police and Crime Commissioner informed Council of the high demand of the service of the police pre-covid and during the pandemic. South Wales Police faces immense financial challenges, although funding had been received for the employment of additional police officers. 

The Chief Constable informed Council that a greater number of 999 calls had initially been received at the start of the pandemic.  He stated that South Wales Police had invested in a joint enforcement team with BCBC.  He informed Council that he had a major focus on the wellbeing of the workforce. He stated that the Police and Crime Plan is being refreshed and he was pleased that he had taken on a winning team, with South Wales Police being regarded as one of the best forces in England and Wales.  He informed Council that time had been taken top pause and reflect on the values of the force and that the mission remains the same to tackle those who target South Wales to deal in drugs, but also to assist addicts with programmes to combat their addictions.      

He stated that investment had been made in the service where the public make the first point of contact with the police.  He informed Council that the police had worked effectively with the Council on early intervention services.  He stated that he wanted his officers to be problem solvers and to empower communities and with the Black Lives Matter movement, he wanted South Wales Police to challenge the status quo and be leaders in diversity.  He also wanted his police sergeants to be the most confident and capable leaders and the force would invest in leadership.  He referred to the impending retirement of Chief Superintendent Lloyd and he thanked him for his leadership and wished him well for the future.

A member of Council referred to the rise in vulnerable people during the pandemic and the reliance on the services of voluntary bodies and questioned what steps the police are taking work with voluntary organisations and the DWP to protect vulnerable people from people masquerading as volunteers offering to collect prescriptions and shopping.  The Police and Crime Commissioner informed Council that South Wales Police had been the first police force to have entered into a compact with the voluntary sector and that funding is provided to work with victims.  The Chief Constable requested that any concerns Members have be reported to the police for investigation.  He stated that the police have a commitment to early intervention and partnership working that there are social workers based within the control room to assist vulnerable people. 

A member of Council questioned the impact of policing Cardiff as a capital city on the police budget and asked what the precept for the forthcoming financial year might be.  The Chief Constable informed Council that policing the capital city costs an additional £4m per year on top of delivering policing throughout South Wales and that the budget for policing was £60m less than it was previously.  The Police and Crime Commissioner informed Council that Edinburgh as a capital city receives an additional premium from the UK Government / Home Office, however South Wales Police has not received such recognition, he continued to make the case to the Home Office for policing Cardiff to be similarly recognised as Edinburgh.  He also informed Council that 50% of the police funding comes from the Home Office and that additional needed to be done prior to deciding on the precept. 

A member of Council questioned whether the 101 service was fit for purpose.  The Chief Constable informed Council that the 101 service handles 330,000 calls annually and that the public who have used its service have been surveyed, with there being high levels of satisfaction. 

A member of Council asked in relation to PACT meetings and how does the police communicate with local communities during the lockdown period.  The Chief Constable informed Council that neighbourhood policing is a priority and that 24 PCSOs had been recruited.  The Chief Superintendent informed Council that there is a commitment to PACT meetings and a key challenge had been communicating with residents remotely. 

A member of Council referred to many constituents suffering from low level crime, anti-social behaviour and traffic offences and questioned the steps being taken to tackle offenders.  The Chief Superintendent informed Council that it remains a daily priority to understand and tackle anti-social behaviour and road traffic offences and that the police is committed to neighbourhood policing and that patrols are briefed on the priorities.         

RESOLVED:           That Council:

(1)  Noted the presentation by the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Chief Constable of South Wales Police.             

(2)  Noted the future presentation to the December meeting of Council as outlined.