South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Annual Report
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19 /20 South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Annual Report SUMMARY OF OUR IMPACT Contents 2 Introduction 3 Funding of Services 5 Priority 1 6 Priority 2 13 Priority 3 17 Priority 4 22 Priority 5 36 Priority 6 37 Introduction I am pleased to introduce my annual report for the financial year 2019/2020, which summarises the work my team and I have undertaken during what has been an extraordinary twelve months. For another year we have benefitted from the strong operational leadership of Chief Constable Matt Jukes and his team 3 of Chief Officers, whilst my team and I continue to provide healthy challenge and support as a 'critical friend' to the Force; as well as leadership on early intervention, prevention and partnership working. I am also pleased to announce that this year, my team has achieved 'Investors in People' accreditation. During 2019/2020, we have continued to focus on vulnerability by delivering the DRIVE programme in Cardiff and Cwm Taf, as well as launching the Joint Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy (2019 - 2024) in conjunction with South Wales Police and partners. The DRIVE programme challenges the behaviour of high risk, high harm perpetrators of domestic violence and abuse to reduce victimisation and reoffending. The dramatic findings of the independent evaluation by Bristol University show that the DRIVE programme has significantly reduced levels of harm; with physical abuse reduced by 82%, sexual abuse reduced by 88%, harassment and stalking behaviours reduced 75%, and the risk to victims reduced by 82%. These findings have proved the value of the DRIVE programme in tackling the type of violence and abuse that has been the scourge of our society for too long. These stunning results not only benefit the victims, their families and the wider community, but are INTRODUCTION also of clear financial benefit of the police and partners – Instead the announcement was made in January and as a particularly the NHS - as we break the cycle of harm. Though result, my team worked with against a tremendously difficult central funding for the programme ran out in March 2020, time constraint in order to consult the public and make a we are not prepared to abandon this valuable service. I will precept recommendation to the Police and Crime Panel by therefore fund the programme beyond March 2020 and will the legal deadline of the end January. also expand the programme to other parts of South Wales. The unprecedented nature of 2020 continued as the In October 2019 we launched the Joint Violence Against Coronavirus pandemic descended upon the UK in March Women and Girls Strategy (2019 - 2024) to much acclaim. 2020. As the financial year drew to an end, we found The launch was attended by Deputy First Minister Jane ourselves in lockdown as we came together to 'stay home, Hutt, who praised the commitment of South Wales Police, protect the NHS, and save lives'. I am heartened by the my team and Welsh Government to achieving sustainable immediate co-operation between Welsh Government, change by taking a Public Health approach to this issue. Local Government, the Criminal Justice System, the Informed by the lived experiences of survivors, the strategy four Welsh Chief Constables and four Welsh Police and sets out the principles that underpin our desire to work in Crime Commissioners to navigate these extraordinary close partnership towards the eradication of all forms of circumstances. We will reflect upon the crisis in full when it is violence and abuse against women and girls. The strategy time to publish my annual report for the next financial year. In adopts the tried and tested Public Health approach to the meantime, I must emphasise that my commitment to the tackling violence and abuse by understanding root causes communities of South Wales remains unwavering even in the and identifying opportunities to intervene early so that such face of this unprecedented foe. violence and abuse is prevented in the first place. I am enormously proud of the way that the Police Officers, The further roll out of the DRIVE programme and launch PCSOs and staff of South Wales Police worked tirelessly to 4 of the Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy are take our communities with us in following the rules set out further examples of our commitment to early intervention clearly by Welsh Government. It has been a brilliant example SOUTH WALES POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER | ANNUAL REPORT 2020 REPORT | ANNUAL AND CRIME COMMISSIONER POLICE SOUTH WALES and prevention, as already demonstrated by our work of the police being a part of the communities they serve – around Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE's) and enforcing when necessary but in the first instance providing trauma-informed practises in previous years. Writing in The local leadership. At the time of writing, people are still Times in September 2019, Chief Inspector of Constabulary dying of the Coronavirus, while people are also desperate Tom Winsor challenged police forces across England and to get their lives back to normal, to travel, and to spend Wales to do more to prevent crime and disorder. South time with friends and family. Nevertheless, our plea has Wales Police was the only Force named for good work in to be for a continuation of care, community solidarity and this area, which was said to be 'paying rich dividends, not mutual respect. only in saving police time, but much more importantly in the reduction in human suffering and the waste of human potential'. The comments are a ringing endorsement of our approach as leaders in this field. As we entered 2020, we struggled with the aftermath of the General Election called in December 2019. This election had a direct implication on the announcement of the police Rt Hon Alun Michael funding settlement, which is typically made in December. South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Funding of Services (£13m) We aim to be the best at understanding and responding to In 2019/20 the Police and Crime Commissioner allocated the needs of all our communities and our work with partners over £13 million of funding across South Wales to support if fundamental to people getting the response they need, safe, confident, resilient communities: when they need it. Crime & Community Safety Mental Health & Substance Misuse 15% 5 SOUTH WALES POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER | ANNUAL REPORT 2020 REPORT | ANNUAL AND CRIME COMMISSIONER POLICE SOUTH WALES 30% Victims Services 12% £13m 8% VAWG Services 35% Early Intervention SECTION TITLE Progress Against This section highlights progress in 2019-20 towards delivering the priorities in my Police and Police & Crime Plan Crime Plan 2019-23 2019-23 Priority 1 We will reduce and prevent crime and anti-social behaviour to keep people safe and confident in their homes and communities Together with the Force, we have continued to be tough on The ‘Help Point’ continues to be delivered in Swansea crime and the causes of crime, identifying the underlying in partnership with St Johns Ambulance, Health Boards, issues and tackling them through early intervention and Welsh Ambulance Service Trust and Universities. To date prompt, positive action based on evidence, partnership and approximately 90 people are treated at the Help Point evaluation of ‘what works’ each month, with only 13% of attendees needing further treatment at the Emergency Department. In 2019/20 the Commissioner contributed £57,500 to the cost of the Help Point and evaluation of the service has demonstrated a benefit of roughly £65,000 to policing and £650,000 to the local NHS – but the contribution through student volunteers and the St John’s Ambulance team feeds an ethos of shared endeavour that is priceless. We continue to promote and develop our successful ‘#DrinkLessEnjoyMore’ campaign, adapting messaging and imagery to ensure it remains relevant to audiences and evolves to encompass related cultural issues such as ‘pre- loading’ and more recently, issues associated with drinking in the home. However, the core focus of the campaign remains on the Night Time Economy (NTE) and highlighting that those that have drunk excessive levels of alcohol will be denied entry into premises, whilst also encouraging groups to look after each other to reduce instances of vulnerability. Activity linked to the campaign remains most apparent around key events in the calendar such as major sporting events, Varsity, Halloween and Christmas. PRIORITY 1 5. To develop and upscale the South Wales Violence The Wales Violence Surveillance System across Wales utilising multi-agency Prevention Unit data to ensure there is a holistic picture of violence. The Wales Violence Prevention Unit has been established by 6. To create a multi-agency hub of expertise on violence the Police & Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables in prevention with the right people from the right Wales, working with Public Health Wales and supported by organisations empowered to deliver the work of targeted money from the Home Office awarded in August the Unit. 2019 as part of a £35m fund to establish a specialist Violence Reduction Unit to tackle violent crime in their area. A total of 7. To establish an effective communications £880,888 was awarded to South Wales, of which £419,793 strategy that supports violence prevention and was subsequently awarded to 11 organisations to help fund communicates the Unit’s approach to its national and projects aimed at reducing violence. international partners. The core team comprises members from police forces, the 8. To conduct and share research which contributes Police and Crime Commissioner, Public Health Wales, Her to the global evidence base on violence prevention Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), Home which assesses the costs and consequences of Office Immigration and the voluntary sector. violence and the benefits of investing in violence The Unit is committed to taking a public health approach to prevention activities.