19 Nov 2019
Police and Crime Commissioners are elected by the public to hold Chief Constables and police forces to account, and engagement has a central role to play in helping the Commissioner and his team deliver their responsibilities for the communities of Dyfed-Powys, and meaningful engagement is a priority for Dafydd Llywelyn.
Developing good relationships locally is particularly important, especially when the work undertaken directly involves and affects the local communities. And it is also very important that all communities have equal opportunities to be heard, which is why the Commissioner travelled to Powys on November 6 and stayed there until November 7.
It was a packed couple of days, which included the following highlights on the first day:
- Meeting with Linda Pepper from Dyfodol Powys Futures, in Llandrindod Wells – Dyfodol Powys Futures received funding from the Commissioner’s Community Fund 2019 for their ‘Reaching Out / Estyn Allan’ programme.
- Meeting with Nia Lloyd, Director of YFC Wales, in Builth Wells – The YFC received funding from the Commissioner’s Community Fund 2019 for their ‘What’s the Crac’ project.
- To end the first day the Commissioner attended a public meeting in Llanwrtyd Wells; accompanied by the local Neighbourhood Policing Team. It was a great opportunity for the Commissioner to find out about local concerns, and importantly for the community to discuss these concerns with their local officers. A vital link was made between the two groups, who are now considering trialling a regular police surgery in Llanwrtyd Wells.
Day two
- Day two started with an unannounced visit to Newtown Custody Suite, with the Commissioner shadowing two of his Independent Custody Visitors to ensure that the welfare and needs of those in custody are catered for.
- It was then onto Newtown Port Talbot College (NPTC) in Newtown, where the Commissioner dropped into a sampler session presented by the Powys Roads Policing Unit to A Level Public Service students, and met with students from the Gateway to Further Education course to see some of the work they did for Hate Crime Awareness Week. He finished the College visit with a meeting with Sara Clutton, Hafren Theatre manager, and lead on the Hafren Creative Youth Intervention Project which received funding from the Commissioner’s Community Fund.
- The Commissioner’s next stop was with local Councillor Joy Jones; a good catch up on local issues, and then on to the Trehafren Estate, to meet with Gwen Evans, Youth Officer for Newtown and Welshpool and Melanie Pettit, Hafren Community Engagement Officer. They discussed plans for the project being funded through the Commissioner’s Community Fund - The Creative Youth Intervention Project.
- The day came to an end with a visit to Newtown Youth Club, where the Commissioner sought the opinion of the young youth club members on the local police service.
Dafydd Llywelyn said:
“I really value the opportunity to go out and meet as many people and groups as I can on community engagement days such as these.
“These are great opportunities for me to have open communication with the public, partners and stakeholders, so that the decisions I make are based on a sound understanding of the issues that affect and matter to them.
“It’s also very encouraging to be able to see first-hand the difference funding from my Community Fund really makes out there.
“I will continue to visit different areas on my community engagement days as it is so important that I get to hear your thoughts. Therefore, if you would like to request a visit or appointment please contact my office: opcc@dyfed-powys.pnn.police.uk / 01267 226440.”
ends
Notes
What is a Police and Crime Commissioner? PCCs are not the police – as the elected voice of the public, they make the police answerable to the communities they serve. They work in partnership across a range of agencies to ensure a unified approach to preventing and reducing crime.
What can they do? PCCs aim to cut crime, deliver an effective and efficient police service, provide stronger and more transparent accountability of the police, hold chief constables and the force to account, ensure community needs are met as effectively as possible and improve local relationships. Day-to-day policing operations are directed by chief constables.
Who is the Dyfed-Powys PCC? Dafydd Llywelyn was elected Police and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed-Powys in May 2016. Before that he had extensive experience of working within criminal justice, with more than 13 years at Dyfed-Powys Police. He was the force’s principal crime and intelligence analyst before becoming a lecturer in criminology at Aberystwyth University.
What is an Independent Custody Visitor? Please visit the Commissioner’s website at http://www.dyfedpowys-pcc.org.uk/en/the-office/volunteer-schemes/independent-custody-visitors/
Commissioner in a multi-agency meeting in Newtown.
Commissioner in Neath Port Talbot College (NPTC) in Newtown.
Commissioner in a public meeting held in Llanwrtyd Wells.
