A FURTHER report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has found ‘some shortcomings’ in the Dyfed-Powys Force’s approach to investigating crimes and has suggested that insufficient attention is being paid to the victims of crimes when allocating investigators.
The report is not all bad news, however: it finds that the force works effectively with partners and highlights its joint work with Barnardo’s to support runaway children.
Dyfed-Powys Police has a strong ethic to protect the vulnerable. However, the report finds that this is overshadowed by difficulties that call-handlers have in identifying vulnerability at the first point of contact. Additionally, the service to some domestic abuse victims falls short of acceptable standards.
Perhaps most troublingly, the report finds that there is a lack of availability of experienced detectives and out-of-hours coverage.
More positively, the force has three integrated offender management (IOM) units. HMIC found these to be well managed and their staff are highly motivated and their systems and ways of working are effective at curbing the offending behaviour of the most prolific offenders in Dyfed-Powys.
In October 2015 HMIC graded the force’s financial and workforce future planning as “requiring improvement” – the only force in Wales not to receive a grading of “good”.
Last week HMIC said the force also “required improvement” in the way in which it treats members of the public.
Dafydd Llywelyn, who is the former Principal Crime and Intelligence Officer at Dyfed Powys, has today been equally as critical of the current Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner, Christopher Salmon. Mr Llywelyn, currently lecturing in Criminology, said today’s report made him think that “enough is enough”.
He added that the workforce and residents in Dyfed and Powys communities needed a new Commissioner who could competently lead the force.
Dafydd Llywelyn said: “In recent weeks and months HM Inspectorate of Constabulary has been very critical of Dyfed Powys Police Force. I am deeply concerned to see yet another damning report today.
“Let’s take stock of the current position of Dyfed Powys: HM Inspectorate has said the police force has put workforce cuts before organisational requirements, has no clear plans as to how the force will manage future budget cuts and that the force is not performing well in child protection cases.
“Last week HM Inspectorate issued a damning verdict on the way the force treats and engages with the public. Today the independent watchdog said the force must improve how it keeps us safe and improve on how it can reduce crime.
“All of these critical reports have been issued within the last few months. The current Conservative police and crime commissioner has presided over a catalogue of failures and I think enough is enough.
“Dyfed Powys Police force, the resident is serves and its workforce are desperate for new and competent leadership. That leadership can only come with a change of Commissioner in May.”
Mr Llywelyn concluded: “As things stand, with critical Inspectorate report after critical Inspectorate report, the public would not have any confidence in the decision making and appointment by the current Commissioner.”
In response to today’s HMIC report Police Effectiveness 2015, Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner Christopher Salmon said: “Dyfed-Powys has the lowest crime rates in England and Wales.
“Crime and antisocial behaviour combined have fallen further and faster here than anywhere else in Wales since 2012.
“Dyfed-Powys Police investigate every crime. They take more cases to court than the average in England and Wales.
“Since my election in 2012 we have more officers spending more time on our communities’ streets.
“We have more officers investigating the most serious crimes and my Help Hub has increased support for victims.
“There is always more to do but I am confident that Dyfed-Powys is effective and keeping people safe and reducing crime.”
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