03 Jun 2020
The Police and Crime Commissioner, Dafydd Llywelyn, will today, 3rd June 2020, present his office’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic to the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Panel.
The unforeseen outbreak of COVID-19 and the subsequent postponement of the 2020 Police and Crime Commissioner elections to 6 May 2021 has significantly impacted on what and how the Police and Crime Commissioner’s office operates at this time. Whilst the majority of the Commissioner’s staff are working remotely, they continue to work hard for the communities served by Dyfed-Powys Police.
Working closely with Dyfed-Powys Police, the Police and Crime Commissioner has confirmed that whilst the priorities in his 2017-21 Police and Crime Plan remain unchanged, the primary focus for 2020/21 will be on:
- ensuring the Chief Constable has sufficient resources to respond to and recover from the emergency;
- ensuring, on behalf of the public, that the police respond in ways that are necessary, sufficient, proportionate and ethical;
- facilitating effective partnership working among agencies and groups working in community safety and criminal justice;
- commissioning services, particularly for victims of crime, and providing grants for policing and crime reduction purposes; and
- ensuring residents served by Dyfed-Powys Police have the information they need to understand how their service is performing.
Already, the Commissioner and his team has:
- continued to respond promptly to correspondence from residents. Despite seeing a large increase due to queries or concerns relating to the Government Restrictions, all communication has continued to be actioned or responded to on a daily basis by the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner;
- ensured the Chief Constable and Police and Crime Commissioner-funded support services have the resources they need to keep going through the pandemic;
- been lobbying Welsh and UK Governments for testing for frontline service personnel and consistent messaging and legislation about the movement restrictions;
- set up regular opportunities for the Chief Constable to report on how Dyfed-Powys Police are responding to and coping with the crisis; and
- quickly set up opportunities for residents to have their say on policing in their area.
Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said: “I want to take this opportunity to thank the public for supporting Dyfed-Powys Police through this difficult time by adhering to the regulations and responding appropriately.
“Officers and Staff are working tirelessly to support the NHS by ensuring people follow the guidelines, whilst still responding to the more ‘regular’ calls for police support.
“I am encouraged and grateful to all members of the Dyfed-Powys Police family for their ongoing professionalism in responding to the challenge the outbreak has presented.
“I cannot express enough my sincere gratitude to all those working and supporting those on the frontline of all our emergency services – it is down to your commitment, care and sacrifice that West Wales are thankfully experiencing some of the lowest infection and mortality rates. Diolch o galon.”
You can read more about the Commissioner’s response to Coronavirus on this brief infographic, or for more detail, including the police response, in the full report.
ENDS
More information:
Gruff Ifan
