10 Mar 2020
On Tuesday, 3rd March 2020, Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn held a youth conference - Ein Llais / Our Voice, to discuss the findings of a recent consultation on youth attitudes towards policing and crime.
During January and February 2020, the Commissioner's Office worked in partnership with Hafan Cymru and Hywel Dda Health Board on a consultation to seek the views of young people on policing, crime and health issues. The themes of the survey looked specifically at attitudes towards the police; police accessibility; police support; the health and well-being of young people.
With over 800 young people aged between 14 and 25 involved in the consultation, responses were received through online questionnaires and focus groups, and when discussing the survey findings with partners at the Conference, the Commissioner confirmed that genuine consideration will be given to the findings when planning for the future of policing in Dyfed-Powys.
Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner, Dafydd Llywelyn said, "As Commissioner, I am passionate about building strong relationships with young people, and it is encouraging to see that so many young people have been willing to take part in this survey.
“The responses in general, are very positive, but they have also highlighted some challenges for us in ensuring that our youth are protected from crime and also diverted from any involvement in Crime.
“Since my election as Commissioner, I have regularly engaged with various groups of young people from different backgrounds across the force area. I have also set up a youth forum as a platform for their voice to be heard. The findings of this survey will enable my office to provide the forum with a slightly more structured system for the future, so that the forum can be further developed. This will give me more opportunities to engage with young people which will then ensure that their voice can influence policing matters in the future”.
Cai Phillips, Ambassador and member of the Commissioner's Youth Forum and also a member of the Welsh Youth Parliament said “It is encouraging to see that so many young people have given up their time to take part in this consultation. The voice of young people is important. We are the future. We are the ones that will be living in the Dyfed-Powys area in the future, and we might be future victims of crime, so it is extremely important that our views and concerns are taken into consideration. The voice of young people has strengthened in recent years as more and more organisations such as the police, county councils, the government and so on, establish young people's forums and councils. I sincerely thank Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn in that regard, for reaching out to young people, not only through his youth forum, but through this consultation. I now look forward to discussing the findings with the other ambassadors when the Youth Forum meets again in the coming weeks”.
Sarah Jennings, Director of Strategic Partners at Hywel Dda University Health Board said: "It is important that all young people have the opportunity to have their voice heard, so we are delighted to have worked in partnership with the Police and Crime Commissioner and Hafan Cymru to better understand the issues faced by young people, some of which span across both health and policing”.
Hafan Cymru in partnership with University of Wales Trinity Saint David is currently preparing a detailed report for the Commissioner on the survey findings.
Leigh Martin from Hafan Cymru, said: "Hafan Cymru is delighted to have been able to work with the Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Commissioner on this important project to understand what Young People need from the police now and in the future".
Dr Carolline Lohman-Hancock of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David added, "Hafan Cymru has undertaken an impressive piece of research across the whole of Dyfed-Powys; through collecting data on the views and experiences of young people in regards to Policing and Health. The University of Wales Trinity Saint David is pleased to have undertaken the data analysis for this important research. This data can support the development of future policy which responds to the needs of young people now and in the future."
Police and Crime Commissioner at the Youth Conference
