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Following a very busy festive period, January can be a quiet time for some, but that wasn’t quite the case for my team and I, with lots of activities taking place throughout the month. None more important than the two Policing Board meetings I hosted, where I held the new Chief Constable, Dr Richard Lewis, and his Senior Officers to account for the first time. I also put my Police Precept Proposal to the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Plan at the end of the month, of which they were unanimously in support of a 5.3% increase for 2022/23. You can read more about the proposal put to the Panel below. I am grateful to them for their continued support.

We are currently looking to fill a vacant position on our Joint Audit Committee, on which you can find out more information below. I have included details of successful funding applications by organisations and charities in Dyfed-Powys providing services for children who have adverse childhood experiences.

I would also like to remind you of the publication of my new Police and Crime Plan 2021 - 2025, published in December, and you can read all about here. As mentioned in my last bulletin, I would welcome any opportunity to discuss my vision and priorities with residents and partners, so please contact my Office if you would like to be notified of any upcoming engagement opportunities.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who took the time to respond to the ‘Do you feel safe in your local area?’ survey. We received a good response rate, and staff in my Office are currently analysing your responses and the feedback you shared. If you noted in your survey that you would like to receive a copy of the results and find out more about what action was taken as a result of your feedback, we will be in touch.

Thank you once again for taking time to read my bulletin. Please feel free to share wider, and if you have any questions, you are welcome to contact my Office here.

Diolch yn fawr,

Dafydd Llywelyn

Police and Crime Commissioner

Police precept for 2022.23 to meet key priorities

On 28 January 2022, I confirmed the police precept for 2022/23 following a meeting of the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Panel.

After a process of extensive scrutiny, Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Panel unanimously supported my precept proposal for 2022/23 which will see a 5.3% increase equating to a monthly increase of £1.22 for a Band D property.

In setting the precept, I consider an array of factors, including the Chief Constable’s future resourcing requirement, Police Officer recruitment targets, the level of reserves, future investment requirements for critical infrastructure, efficiency and productivity plans, in addition to feedback from residents of the Dyfed-Powys area.

Each year seems to bring additional and unforeseen financial pressures and burdens, and 2022/23 is unfortunately no different. Despite additional grant funding to support the recruitment of additional Police Officers, it is clear that the financial landscape continues to be challenging.

I am grateful to the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Panel members for their continued support. This level of funding will enable Dyfed-Powys Police to focus on the delivery of my new Police and Crime Plan and to continue to safeguard our local communities under the experienced leadership of the new Chief Constable Dr Richard Lewis.

Recruiting new members for the Joint Audit Committee

My Office is seeking new independent members to join our Joint Audit Committee.

The Joint Independent Audit Committee provides independent advice and assurance on the overall governance of both my Office, and Dyfed-Powys Police.

The Committee will review and scrutinise the adequacy and effectiveness of risk management, internal audit and control, and corporate governance arrangements of both organisations, as well as reviewing financial management and reporting.

The Joint Audit Committee is a key component of our corporate governance arrangements, and this is a great opportunity for anyone who has an interest in this area and would like to help scrutinise the way that police finances operate.

To find out more about the role of the Committee and the competencies required, follow the link below.

Funding from Welsh Government to organisations in Dyfed-Powys that provide support to those affected by Adverse Childhood Experiences

In October 2021, the Welsh Government opened a £200,000 grant scheme for individuals and organisations across Wales who undertake activities with those who are, or have been, affected by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

I was pleased to see that four organisations here in the Dyfed-Powys area were successful in receiving funding from the Welsh Government.

Adverse childhood experiences can harm children’s developing brains and lead to changes in how they respond to stress. It can damage their immune systems so profoundly that the effects show up decades later. ACEs can also cause chronic disease, and mental illness, and are at the root of most violence.

I am therefore extremely pleased to see these four organisations leading the way here in Dyfed-Powys in looking to support individuals and families by delivering activities that will aim to improve mental and physical health, and encourage our communities to build their collective strength and support for one another.

To read more about the successful applicants, click here.

Since announcing the announcement of successful grant applicants, the Welsh Government have announced that further funding has been made available.

The grant scheme aims to bolster initiatives that support individuals growing up, or living in homes, where there is domestic abuse or substance misuse, as well as those which provide practical support for families to help them deal with issues like family finance, or parenting to improve resilience.

The grant scheme is inviting applications across three distinct streams:

• Organisations supporting women from racially and ethnically minoritized backgrounds.

• Organisations supporting women with neuro-diversity needs

• Organisations supporting women and children who have experienced domestic or sexual abuse/violence

The application process is being administrated by our colleagues at the South Wales Office of Police and Crime Commissioner.