Panel chair): Reassured by
improvements.
A REVIEW by local residents shows that the way Dyfed-Powys Police handle public complaints is improving.
The independent review of the force’s complaints process showed an improvement in the quality of complaint files and complaint responses.
The work, carried out by a volunteer residents’ panel, suggests that correspondence was better written, more thorough and more sympathetic than files reviewed six months earlier.
The volunteer panel, formed by the Police and Crime Commissioner Christopher Salmon last year, also praised the continued improvement in the timeliness of complaint responses.
Panel chair Tony Richards said: “It’s reassuring to see that our recommendations for improvement are being accepted by the police; their implementation is evident. The panel provides completely independent scrutiny of the way in which Dyfed-Powys Police manages complaints. This is good news for the wider community and the police as it identifies areas for improvement and existing good practice.”
Mr Salmon said: “It’s encouraging to know that policing is being improved by the residents of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys. I want to thank them for all of their hard work, and want to see this improvement continue.”
The panel highlighted areas for future learning including the need to ensure care and clarity in correspondence to complainants.
Superintendent Richard Lewis, head of the force complaints team, said: “We thank the Residents Panel for their feedback. We’re eager to improve and will keep working closely with the volunteers.”
Dyfed-Powys Police received 276 formal complaints in 2014 (with 580 issues being raised in these), 290 compliments and 1,652 expressions of concern.
The residents’ panel is next expected to report in April. Anyone interested in knowing more about the panel, or who would like to volunteer, can find out more here or get in touch with the office on 01267 226440.
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