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Croeso - Welcome

Welcome to another edition of my monthly bulletin which looks back at some of the highlights and key activities from October.

In this edition, we have a wealth of noteworthy updates to share with you once again.

First and foremost, you are probably aware of the news that broke early in October confirming that the Home Office were halting their plans to use Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli as an asylum accommodation. While I welcomed the correspondence from the Home Office to both myself and the Chief Constable confirming the decision, it is now imperative they are held accountable for their decision-making processes and their lack of strategic planning. I have written several letters to the Home Secretary over the course of the month demanding that local tax-payers get some answers. The costs associated with policing this site have been significant.  No lessons have been learnt from past experiences, and once again, we have been left to pick up the pieces with our local stakeholders.

In the last couple of days, I have also launched a public consultation on the proposed  2024-25 Policing budget for Dyfed-Powys Police.  Deciding on the precept level is always a challenging process, particularly in recent years where I have had to balance between unprecedented financial challenges and ensuring an appropriate level of policing service that our communities expect.  You can read more about the consultation below, and I would appreciate if you could take a couple of minutes to share your thoughts.

Other highlights from the last month include a Community Engagement Day in Aberaeron where I met with the Town Council, went out on the beat with local PCSOs, and met with a group of sixth form students from Aberaeron High School to discuss strip and search procedures.  I also travelled to the North of Powys for another Community Engagement Day where I met with several charities and community groups in Newtown and Welshpool.

Hate Crime Awareness Week also took place during October, and I was involved in several activities to raise awareness of the month including hosting my own Webinar with guest speakers where we discussed the challenges police forces face when investigating online hate crime projects.

You can read about all of these activities and more below.  If you have any questions, or would like to raise any local issues with me, please reach out to my office on e-mail.

Thank you once again for reading.

Dafydd Llywelyn

Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner

Demanding answers from Home Secretary in further letter to Home Office

I wrote a further letter to Home Secretary Suella Braverman in October, demanding that questions be answered in regard to the Home Office’s initial decision to accommodate asylum seekers at Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli – which resulted in months of local unrest, tensions, protests, criminal activity and job losses. 

The position had been untenable at times from a policing perspective, requiring frontline officers and staff to continually work in challenging circumstances which on occasions has compromised Dyfed-Powys Police’s positive relationship with communities.

On Thursday, 19 October 2023, I wrote again to the Home Secretary,  to demand that questions be answered in relation to the decision-making processes and seemingly lack of strategic planning, and asked;

• Who made the decision in the first instance and at what level or by whom was it authorised?

• Which Minister was responsible for the oversight of the decision?

• Was there a business case produced including the due diligence in ensuing that the decision was feasible and realistic?

• What Risk Assessments were undertaken to ensure that the Home Office were satisfied that this was an appropriate site?

• What are the associated costs incurred in relation to the running of the site since the decision was made to now?

• What are the cost reimbursement plans for local policing and other local services?

The costs associated with policing this site have been significant. Add to that, costs incurred by other service providers such as the Fire Service and the Local Authority, and as importantly, how much have the Home Office themselves spent on the site over recent months? Our taxpayers need answers and I urge the Home Office to provide a clear explanation for the position we find ourselves in and the significant pressure which have been placed on local service providers in Carmarthenshire and beyond. 

As you will be aware from previous correspondence, I am fully supportive of the Welsh Government’s strategy to house people in a dispersed model. This is sustainable in offering a longer-term solution for asylum seekers within the Dyfed-Powys area. It is a model that the people of Wales support, have embraced and have successfully delivered to re-settle Syrian, Afghan, Ukrainian and general asylum seekers in recent years.

In my Police and Crime Plan, I set out my vision to keep the communities of Mid and West Wales safe, maintaining trust and confidence in our police and criminal justice system as a whole.

The action taken by the Home Office has seemingly been in direct opposition to my commitments and I look forward to understanding their decision making on this matter.

Launching our Policing Budget Consultation

In the last week I launched a public consultation on the proposed 2024/25 policing budget for Dyfed-Powys Police.

Police and Crime Commissioners are responsible for setting the police precept which is the amount that local council taxpayers contribute towards policing.  As part of this statutory duty, it is key that they seek public opinion to assist in the decision-making process,

As part of the public consultation, residents and business owners of Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Powys are being asked if they think that Dyfed-Powys Police’s funding should be enhanced, increased, minimal, or frozen for the coming year.

Deciding on the precept level is always a challenging process, particularly in recent years where I have had to balance between unprecedented financial challenges and ensuring an appropriate level of policing service that our communities expect.

A Force Review was initiated last year to critically assess all areas of activity seeking efficiencies, cost savings and transformational opportunities. Significant progress has already been made by Dyfed-Powys Police to ensure that the Force operates as efficiently and effectively as possible, and this very much remains a focus.

However, working efficiently and effectively, does not mean the Force can meet all the growing demands placed on it. 

The financial challenges faced are considerable.  High inflation, cost pressures along with requirements to provide critical infrastructure are compounded by the increased volume and complexity of crime and overall demands for police services.

At this stage of planning, there are also uncertainties and both operational and financial risks around how much funding will be received from both the UK and Welsh Government through national Police Grant settlements and specific grants which underpin an extensive range of police and frontline activity.

I am painfully aware of the pressure the cost-of-living crisis is putting on everyone, which I will take into consideration as I navigate the array of challenges striving to make the best decision for the safety and security of our community whilst ensuring a sustainable and financially resilient police service.

The public consultation process allows me to consider your thoughts on funding levels and feedback.  Over half of our policing budget comes through the policing precept, therefore it is very important for me to hear your views and I would be grateful to you for taking the time to complete this short consultation survey.

The precept consultation period will run from 3rd of November to 17th of December providing ample opportunity for residents and businesses to voice their opinions and contribute to the decision-making process.

The public can participate in the consultation by clicking on the link below.

Hate Crime Awareness Week and our Webinar on Online Hate

During October we had Hate Crime Awareness week running between 14th and 21st of October which is a national week of action to encourage communities affected by hate crime, local authorities, police forces and other key partners to work together to tackle local hate crime issues.

The national theme this year was Faith based hate with a focus on Antisemitism. 

In addition to this, the Wales Hate Support Centre were holding onto their #WalesTogether theme as they aimed to create a dialogue and discussion around tackling hate within the context of Wales.

To mark Hate Crime Awareness Week I was involved in several events to support the important campaign, including hosting a webinar on Online Hate Crime on Wednesday 18 October, which delved into the complex challenges that police forces in England and Wales encounter when investigating online hate crime reports.

The panel of expert speakers at the webinar, included representatives from Dyfed-Powys Police, the Wales Hate Support Centre at Victim Support who provide support for victims of Hate Crime across Wales, dedicated local Community Cohesion Officers, and the National School Liaison Project Lead, who all provided valuable insights and solutions to address the growing concerns around Hate Crime.

I also attended a Hate Crime Awareness Workshop with young children in Newtown as part of my Community Engagement Day in Powys on 19 October.

The workshop was being delivered by Dyfed-Powys Police Officers and coaches from Swansea City FC Foundation.  The workshop was delivered to young people from the Premier League Kicks programme that I have funded in Newtown.

Through the PL Kicks programme, children and young people get an opportunity to attend free weekly football sessions that are run by Swansea City FC Foundation, which aims to divert young people away from crime by providing them with fun, sporting activity in a safe environment.

North Powys Community Engagement Day

On 19th of October I was in North Powys on a Community Engagement Day, where I met with Councillors in Welshpool and Newtown as well as local charities and community groups in the area.

During the morning I joined Newtown Neighbourhood Policing Team on foot patrol where we visited some hotspots in the area.  Following the foot patrol, I met with Councillor Joy Jones of Newtown to visit some of the local charities and community groups in the area, including the Community Kitchen, and Credu.

Credu is an organisation that works to support family members and friends across Powys who are looking after someone who is unwell or disabled.  Their aim is to support young and adult carers to enjoy well-being as they define it, be recognised and valued and have choices, voice and influence.

I also met with volunteers from The Community Kitchen in Newtown, which is a café that is being run by local volunteers, who provide free meals to those who are in need.

In the afternoon, I attended a meeting with Welshpool Town Council to address some of the local concerns the Council have raised over recent months in relation to crime and anti-social behaviour.

Earlier in the week I also had an opportunity to hold a Community Engagement Day in Aberaeron, Ceredigion.  During the day, I met with the Town Council to discuss the new CCTV cameras that are being installed in the town over the coming month.  I also went out on foot patrol with the local PCSOs, and met with a group of Sixth Form Students from Aberaeron High School who were keen to meet with me to discuss matters in relation to strip searches.

Being out in our communities hearing your views, and meeting charities and organisations that are working so hard for the benefit of their local area is a privilege to me.  I have other Community Engagement Days scheduled throughout November and December in Pembrokeshire and South of Powys.  If you would like me to visit your area to discuss any local concerns or visit local work that is taking place,  then please reach out to my Engagement and Communications team via the below link.

Scrutiny review into Dyfed-Powys Police’s management of stalking and harassment perpetrators

A reminder to you that in September, I published a report on a Deep Dive review my Office has undertaken which scrutinises how Dyfed-Powys Police manages perpetrators of stalking and harassment. The report includes several key recommendations for the Force to consider as they look to improve their response to policing stalking and harassment.

You can watch the video above to learn more, or alternatively, click on the link below to read all about the Deep Dive.