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webmaster@south-wales.pnn.police.uk (Editor) — Thu, 4 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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No to elected police chiefs, says WLGA and PAW

webmaster@south-wales.pnn.police.uk (Editor) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Council leaders and their police authority partners across Wales have unanimously rejected Home Office proposals to have directly elected police chiefs.

John Davies, WLGA Leader (Pembrokeshire) said:

“This is a half-baked proposal that fails to recognise the strength of the current system in Wales. Not only would it add another level of bureaucracy to an already cumbersome policing system but would devalue the legitimate role of the local council which already has the democratic mandate to deliver services that meet local community needs. If the Home Office wants to consider this new role then surely these extra powers should be given to council leaders who are already doing the job.”

“The Home Office’s track record of recent years has not been good. We have seen a failed attempt at police re-organisation, a failure to properly fund the SNEN call system in Wales and calls for the devolution of the entirety of the criminal justice system. Combined, these do not point to a Home Office that is very in touch with the Welsh agenda. Sidelining the role of democratically elected councillors could prove to be a recipe for disaster, particularly if police authorities and councils were to work to different local political agendas.”

Ian Roberts, Chair of the Police Authorities for Wales said:

“When it comes the Welsh way of doing business we are seeing great results. Crime rates have fallen by 9% and re-offending rates are at the lowest level in over 10 years. The Home Office appears more interested in tinkering with the system, rather than recognising the good work being done. Successful crime fighting is about partnership working between the police, councils and other agencies, a model that is already working in Wales.”

“Whilst neither local authorities nor police authorities in Wales are complacent about existent structures and fully recognise there is always room for improvement, our position is one of successful partnership and joint working. Therefore services delivered to people in their local area should continue to be accountable to residents through their locally elected council and councillors.”

Welsh Police authorities win national award

webmaster@south-wales.pnn.police.uk (Editor) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Wales’ four Police Authorities are today celebrating after winning a top national award at an annual APA awards ceremony in Gateshead.

PAW (Police Authorities of Wales), the representative body for the four Police Authorities in Wales beat off strong competition from across the UK to be awarded the inaugural ‘Excellence Award 2008 for Regional Collaboration’.

Cllr Lindsay Whittle (Caerphilly), WLGA Spokesperson for Equality Social Justice and Community Safety said:

“This is an excellent achievement for PAW and is an important recognition of the hard work and leadership that the Welsh Police Authorities have shown in taking police collaboration forward. Furthermore, this award demonstrates the efforts of Wales’ Police Authorities to achieve the highest level of performance in serving their communities. Award schemes such as these play a crucial role in showcasing the excellent good practice that is happening in Wales and we must continue to build on and promote our successes.”

PAW, was created in 1995 as the representative body of the four Police Authorities in Wales. In 2007 it became a statutory Joint Committee and provides the governance to the Police Collaboration Programme in Wales.

Reaction to the Home Office Decision

webmaster@south-wales.pnn.police.uk (Editor) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Statement from Cllr Ian Roberts, Chair of Police Authorities Wales:-

“Police Authorities Wales are delighted that the Home Secretary has decided to abandon the idea of having directly elected officials in Police Authorities.

“In Wales we all opposed the suggestion of having directly elected crime policing representatives and made the appropriate representations to the Home Office.

“In our opposition from all political spectrums, we reminded the Home Secretary that Police Authorities are already made up of local councillors and independent community members. They represent a cross section of people from local communities who ensure that Police services in Wales are held to account, and are open and transparent.

“We were sure that the proposals would undoubtedly have lead to less accountability than at present. The principle of no taxation without representation would have been ignored and the views of the Welsh Assembly Government and Welsh Local Government Association as main players in Wales would have been disregarded. We are pleased that this is not the case and congratulate the Home Secretary on her decision.”