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Croeso - Welcome

Welcome to the January edition of my monthly bulletin which is an opportunity to take a moment and reflect on the key activities that shaped the opening month of the year.

In this edition, we have a wealth of noteworthy updates to share with you once again.  A key moment was the Policing Precept announcement for 2024-25.  After careful consideration and consulting with the public, the precept level will increase by 6.2% for the upcoming financial year.  This decision is driven by the critical need to sustain essential services, ensure accessibility and visibility, particularly in the face of reduced government support

Invites have also been sent out to key stakeholders regarding my annual St David’s Day Conference.  This year’s focus on recognising vulnerability within offenders, is particularly timely and aligns with our commitment to understanding and addressing the root causes of crime.

It was a privilege for me to be at the opening of the Centre for African Entrepreneurship’s new base in Llanelli this month.  Last year I provided funding for the Centre to establish a base in Llanelli to work with the diverse communities in the town, and I am excited to see how they will contribute positively within the communities in Llanelli to help shape a more equal society.

Earlier in January, I also held a Community Engagement Day in Aberystwyth, which included insightful discussions with the University’s students and staff on student wellbeing matters. And, finally, at the end of January, I also had an opportunity to welcome new members to my Youth Ambassador scheme with an induction event held in Police Headquarters with support from colleagues at University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

You can read about all these activities below. Thank you once again for taking the time to read the bulletin.  If you have any questions, please reach out to my office on e-mail.

Dafydd Llywelyn

Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner

Announcing Policing Precept Level for 2024-25 tackling financial challenges whilst improving Accessibility and protecting Neighbourhood Policing

On 26 January 2024 I confirmed the police precept for 2024/25 following a meeting of the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Panel.

The Police and Crime Commissioner, it is my responsible to set the budget for the police, which includes setting the precept which is the element of council tax that goes to the police.

After a process of extensive scrutiny, Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Panel unanimously supported my precept proposal for 2024/25, which will increase the average band D property by 6.2%, or £19.38 per annum which is approximately £1.62 per month.

In November 2023 and, as a consequence of severe financial challenges, Welsh Government announced that their manifesto pledge to fund 600 Police Community Support (PCSOs) across Wales, was no longer possible.  All Forces were requested to immediately pause recruitment. This will mean significant reductions in future grant funding.  Clearly, PCSOs are an integral and important part of neighbourhood policing and much valued resource by communities. The cuts raise a number of operational risks and financial concerns.  Furthermore, Welsh Government also notified policing in mid-December 2023, that the totality of funding for the All-Wales Schools programme (£0.3m) would be withdrawn from 1st April 2024. 

I understand the burden that any increase in precept places on taxpayers. However, this decision is driven by the critical need to sustain essential services, ensure accessibility and visibility, particularly in the face of reduced government support.

Our commitment to community safety remains to be the priority, and we are confident that this increase is a necessary investment, safeguarding the safety and well-being of our neighbourhoods. It will allow for essential investments in our Force Control Centre, addressing the urgent need for increased staffing and upgraded technology systems, ensuring that the Force has the ability to respond promptly and effectively to the needs of our communities.

Funding leads to the opening of a new Centre in Llanelli to empower ethically diverse communities

On Tuesday 30 January, I was speaking at the launch of a new centre in Llanelli, that aims to provide age-appropriate, racially and culturally sensitive services to communities with multifaceted and complex needs and have been historically marginalised.

The Centre for African Entrepreneurship is a centre that empowers and supports ethnically diverse communities, specifically migrants, through providing a bespoke and person-centred service that meets their individual needs.

The Centre’s head office is based in Swansea and having received funding from my Office, they now have established a base in Llanelli to develop their Pathways to Prosperity project in the area.

The project will create opportunities for individuals to thrive, contribute positively, and shape a more equal society.  The funding that was provided through my Office reflects our commitment and dedication to respond to local needs and empower diverse communities.

Welcoming new members to our Youth Ambassador Forum

On Wednesday 31st January, we welcomed young people from across the Force area to Police Headquarters in Carmarthen, who have been appointed as new members of the Dyfed-Powys Youth Ambassador scheme, and who will work with me to ensure that young people’s voices are heard.

A total of nine young people (five new members and four current members) are now members of the Youth Ambassador programme, ranging in age from 15 to 24 years old, and were invited to the Police Headquarters on 31st of January, for an induction and training session to support and prepare them in representing young people from Powys, Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. The training was provided in partnership with experienced Youth Work lecturers from University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s Faculty of Education.

I first established a Youth Forum in 2018 with youth ambassadors and we have continued to build on the work to date, so that Dyfed-Powys has a Forum of Youth Ambassadors who are ready to ‘influence’ and ‘challenge decision-making’, to ensure that the communities of Dyfed-Powys have a Police Force that successfully safeguard children and young people and promote their wellbeing.

They will now be representing the voices of young people from all backgrounds, and will support me with my scrutiny work by challenging decisions, provide recommendations, and influence change for the benefit of young people in our area.

Annual St David’s Day Conference Puts Spotlight on Vulnerability of Offenders

Recognising Vulnerability within Offenders will be the focus at my annual St David’s Conference this year, which will take place on Friday 1st of March at Dyfed-Powys Police Headquarters in Carmarthen.

Recognising vulnerability in offenders is essential for developing a more nuanced and effective approach to criminal justice according to PCC Llywelyn.  Identifying and understanding vulnerabilities allows for targeted and effective interventions and will aid in reducing the risks of reoffending and victimisation. 

By addressing the underlying issues that contribute to criminal behaviour, there is a better chance of breaking the cycle of reoffending and promoting long-term positive change.

The Conference will provide an insight into how a range of organisations and support services providers work to understand an offender’s vulnerabilities; how they identify situations where offenders may be at risk of victimisation within the criminal justice system; and how they support in putting appropriate safeguards in place to protect vulnerable individuals from harm.

It is important to recognise that many offenders are often victims themselves, who might have possibly experienced crimes worse than their own. Additionally, a significant number of them suffer with mental health problems.

Understanding these underlying factors is essential as we strive to find more compassionate and effective solutions. Sending individuals to prison isn't always the better choice; instead, we must work collaboratively to develop interventions and support systems that address the root causes and contribute to rehabilitation.

My conference this year will bring together experts and stakeholders to discuss collaborative initiatives, raise awareness, and look at effective strategies that aim for a safer and more secure society.

Guest speakers at the Conference include:

• Michelle John, Director - PEGS Support
  Recognising and responding to Child to Parent Abuse

• Rebecca Zerk, Director of the Centre for Age, Gender and Social Justice

  Elize Freeman, Deputy Director of the Centre for Age, Gender and Social Justice

  Aberystwyth University
  Older victims’ experiences of adult family abuse

• Mike Wilkinson, Deputy Chief Executive, New Pathways
  Responding to Harmful Sexual Behaviours displayed by victims of violence

• Christina Line, Chief Operating Officer, The Nelson Trust & Gemma Humphreys, Women’s Criminal Justice Service Manager – Wales, The Nelson Trust
  Female Offending Services and Women's Centre Approach

• Victoria Harris, Assistant Chief Probation Officer HMPPS

  Liz Bowen HMPPS

  Strategic approach to managing offenders and the Female Offending Blueprint

This will be my eighth annual St David’s Day Conference, with previous conferences focusing on Coercive Control (2017); Mental Health in Policing (2018); Cyber-Crime (2019); Rural Crime (2020), Victims (2021), Anti-Social Behaviour (2022), and Policing by Consent (2023).

The Conference will take place at Dyfed-Powys Police Headquarters in Carmarthen, while there will also be an opportunity for individuals to join online. 

I am looking forward to welcoming all to the conference this year as we consider how to respond to vulnerabilities within offenders, and developing a more nuanced and effective approach to criminal justice.

Visiting Aberystwyth, Ceredigion as part of Community Engagement Day in the area

On 24 January 2024 I went on a Community Engagement Day to Aberystwyth, Ceredigion where I had the opportunity to meet with students and representatives from Aberystwyth University, as well as visiting New Pathways’ Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Bow Street to discuss resources and support available at the Centre.

Aberystwyth has a large population of students which represents 40% of the town’s population making the town a student-centred town. Whilst visiting the University, I had an opportunity to meet with the Students’ Union Staff to discuss issues that are of significant importance to students and young people. I also met with the Director of Student Services to discuss the challenges the University face in providing support for their students, and what are the pressing concerns when it comes to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of students.

With it being Neighbourhood Policing Week at the time, I also met with officers from Aberystwyth Neighbourhhod Policing team to discuss local issues and how they engage with various groups and communities within Aberystwyth to ensure visibility and effective engagement.

In the afternoon, I had the opportunity to visit New Pathways’ Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Bow Street.  New Pathways have been commissioned by my Office to provide specialist support for adults, children and young people in Dyfed-Powys area, who have been affected by rape, sexual assault or abuse.  Their Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Ceredigion is based in Bow Streets, where they offer confidential medical and practical support to people who have recently been raped or sexually assaulted.

I am grateful to everyone I met today for their time and look forward to further community engagement work in February.