ON MAY 2, the elections for Wales’ Police and Crime Commissioners will take place. These elections will shape the future of policing in Wales.
Residents in other parts of the UK will take part in local council and mayoral elections, residents in Wales will only be voting for the next Police and Crime Commissioners.
PCCs have only been elected since 2012 in Wales. Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) determine the police budget, oversee the employment of the Chief Constable, and collaborate closely with councils and community organizations on police strategies.
Wales is divided into four policing areas, each overseen by an elected Police and Crime Commissioner: North Wales, Dyfed Powys, South Wales, and Gwent.
Who is standing in the May 2024 election?
Candidates from each of the four main political parties in Wales—Labour, Conservatives, Plaid Cymru, and Liberal Democrats—are standing for election in each area.
Who can I vote for in South Wales?
The four candidates standing for the role of Police and Crime Commissioner of South Wales Police are Justin Griffiths, Ian Harrison, Dafydd Llywelyn, and Philippa Ann Thompson.
Below are details of each candidate, which party they are standing for and their election points.
The following statements are the prepared election statements taken from the website ‘Choose My PCC’
Justin Griffiths-Welsh Liberal Democrats
“If elected I would seek to implement a more transparent, accountable and community-based policing service.
“I would seek to restore proper community policing ensuring officers are visible in our communities and not diverted to other areas, whilst tackling inequalities in criminal justice and seek to implement the recommendations of the Thomas Commission in devolving of powers to the relevant devolved administration.
“I would implement a fairer and more compassionate policing service e.g. the focus on drug offenders being put on rehabilitation programs, this is an example of our holistic approach to reducing repeat offending and a reduction in court backlogs and overpopulated prisons.”
Ian Harrison-Welsh Conservatives
Ian Harrison is a family man with 3 grown children, married to Anne, living in Guilsfield near Welshpool.
Now retired and a County Councillor, Ian’s expertise are in global operations and innovation management, gained in the Brewing and Distilling industry and then Ethical Global Pharmaceuticals. He originally trained and qualified as a Master Brewer with a major UK Brewing Company. Following closure of the brewery where he was a packaging manager, he undertook the MBA course at Cranfield and moved into Corporate Management, firstly within Brewing and Distilling, and then Pharmaceuticals. His roles involved management troubleshooting, business process improvement, and improving competitive advantage.
These roles, whether within an operational or corporate context, involved significant attention to health and safety matters and, in the case of pharmaceuticals, strict attention to regulatory frameworks designed to ensure the safety and efficacy of new products and technologies. Hence, although he has no experience of policing, he fully appreciates the highly controlled framework within which they must operate.
If elected as Police and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed Powys Ian’s immediate priorities will be focused upon Force performance within the context of the Annual HMIC reports and he would plan to come to an early agreement with the Chief Constable to address this issue.
Residents tell Ian that they want to see more police officers, and that they want action on anti-social behaviour, tackling County Lines gangs, domestic violence and rural crime.
Dyfed Powys is an enormous rural area to police, and Ian intends to spend his time visiting and listening to many stakeholders and interest groups as he develops specific plans and initiatives to reduce crime, make residents safer and reinforce interfaces with victim support groups.
Dafydd Llywelyn-Plaid Cymru
“As your current Commissioner, operational, front-line policing has, and always will come before party politics. I have a strong track record of delivering on my promises and of listening to the communities of Dyfed Powys. I am proud of what I have achieved since 2016, but there is still so much to do.
“I am an approachable individual and I believe in listening to all members of the community in order to shape a successful police force.
“Since 2016, I have increased resources whilst also retaining the lowest council tax levels in Wales. During that time, we’ve seen:
- 150 more Police Officers;
- 150 more Police Staff;
- A CCTV system that is monitored 24/7 by police staff;
- A dedicated rural crime team;
- A focus on county lines drug dealing to target organised crime;
- Investment in Youth Offending Teams to divert young people away from crime;
- A new Offender Diversionary Scheme to reduce re-offending.
If re – elected:
- I will safeguard Neighbourhood Policing resources retaining a visible local policing presence;
- I will invest in the Communications Centre to ensure an accessible service;
- I will continue to put the victim at the heart of the service and develop a truly victim led service;
- I will work with operational staff to keep local police stations open;
- I will invest in a new and refreshed School Police programme to deliver early intervention and preventative work;
- I will prioritise working in partnership with organisations and agencies to safeguard the most vulnerable in society.
“Your safety is my top priority. I want to ensure that the Dyfed Powys Police Force remains one of the safest places to live in Wales and England.”
Philippa Ann Thompson- Labour and Co-operative Party
“I served in the Diplomatic Service, working with police and prison services overseas, on security from a human rights perspective, on the rule of law. I was an elected union leader, representing the interests of several thousand members of staff.
“I live in West Wales with my family. My great-grandfather was a member of the Pembrokeshire Constabulary: I hope he would be proud to know I am standing for Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner.
“There’s a huge crisis in funding for policing and public services. The Conservative Westminster Government has so much to answer for having destroyed our country’s economy. Labour believes security is the bedrock on which opportunities are built, communities thrive, and local economies prosper.
“Instead of standing up for security, the Tories have done the opposite. This wasn’t an accident – it was the result of deliberate choices. A choice to cut police from our streets, a choice to undermine respect for the rule of law. Our communities cannot afford more of the same. Things have got to change.
“Labour will be tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime. We need to overhaul the way public services and community organisations work with young people, restoring hope, but also stronger early intervention. We need action across society to tackle violence against women and girls, and we need policing rooted in our communities.
“I pledge to use my experience to support our police force so that our communities can have trust and confidence in our police.
“That means keeping in close touch with you, and working with the Welsh Labour Government, so we make better, fairer choices – for Wales’ future.“
