Conversations

Community Conversations aim to provide residents across South with the opportunity to talk to the Police & Crime Commissioner about their local policing, issues impacting their community and the role of the Commissioner.

On Tuesday 29th September, 2020, the Commissioner held a virtual conversation with residents of .

Here’s a round up of what was discussed……

There's a lot of visible Residents aren’t Can PCSOs have I'm concerned about a drug & alcohol use in getting follow-up more powers, number of arson the town centre and attempts on the contact from the similar to other people are afraid Theatre Soar in town police police forces? for their safety. centre

A couple of residents flagged Examples were shared where Some residents explained that A resident informed us of 4 concerns in relation to perceived victims who reported to South the visibility of police officers recent attempts of arson on the increases in homelessness and Wales Police hadn't received was very low and they were Theatre Soar. These incidents drug abuse in Merthyr town any follow up contact from often only seen in their vehicles. had been reported to the police centre since lockdown officers since their initial report. and officers had been helpful in measures came into place. Some of these victims were There was also a query about their response. The resident Whilst residents were concerned vulnerable and were whether considerations had remained concerned about about the impact this had on experiencing re-occurring been made to give PCSOs extra future arson attempts and the people living in Merthyr, they issues. powers, due to the roles being damage this would have on the also asked what could be done more visible in communities. community. to support these individuals.

The Commissioner The Commissioner was The Commissioner explained The Commissioner was acknowledged the concerned about the lack of that PCSOs are the dedicated alarmed by the number of complexities and challenges follow up provided to victims visible link to policing arson attempts and agreed to in resolving these issues and and agreed to progress these within communities and extra speak to the operational advised that he had raised issues with the local policing powers can lead to them policing team to see what similar concerns with team to ensure contact was being abstracted for other further measures could be put Ministers. The Commissioner made with each of the purposes. South Wales Police in place from a prevention and advised that it remained a individuals. is focused on ensuring that safety perspective. priority for him to work with PCSOs remain in their partners to tackle these The issue of 'follow up' will community as long as issues in a joined up also be discussed at an possible to build trust, approach. organisational level, to establish relationships and understand where increase confidence. The Commissioner referred to improvements need to be the 'Drink less, enjoy more' made. The role of the PCSO had campaign, which appeared to recently been redefined, have had a positive effect on placing greater emphasis on reduced alcohol consumption communications and problem in the night time economy, solving, listening to the particularly in Swansea and community and finding Cardiff. solutions.

The Commissioner agreed to The Commissioner also noted speak to the local policing that officers were more likely team about the issues in to be seen in their cars as Merthyr Tydfil town centre they were required to cover a and would ask them to work larger geographical distance. alongside other partner Whilst PCSOs were generally agencies to address the expected to stay in the issues raised. locality and as a result, were seen more on patrol. Community Conversations

The number of PCSOs How are PCSOs have built Some people are not have been reduced in young people responding up a good rapport . What to the lockdown in reporting via 101 as with residents in message does this Merthyr from a policing they perceive it to not send out?! perspective? Treharris be a reliable service

A resident was concerned that Residents were interested in A resident praised the PCSOs Some residents mentioned that the number of PCSOs in understanding how the force in Treharris who were people had stopped reporting Dowlais had been cut by half. were engaging with young recognisable in their crimes via 101, because they people during the Covid-19 community. They had received couldn’t get through in the past. Whilst residents acknowledged period. a lot of positive feedback from resourcing and financial other people in their community A resident also advised that constraints, they were Some residents also highlighted about the rapport PCSOs had there appeared to be a lack of concerned about what message feedback received from young built with them. awareness of the online minimal police visibility sends people about how unsafe they reporting option. out to residents and criminals. felt walking through the town The Commissioner centre because of the amount appreciated the positive of homeless people living on the feedback and re-iterated the The Commissioner streets and increases in drug importance of the PCSO role acknowledged that it was The Commissioner noted that and alcohol consumption. within the community. difficult to get through to 101 the force had invested in when there were spikes in keeping police officer and The Commissioner also demand to the Public Service PCSO numbers up. Whilst the The Commissioner advised that he would share Centre, however, South Wales funding of additional police acknowledged that the last 6 this positive feedback with the Police remained one of the officers from Central months had been a very local neighbourhood policing best forces in England & Government was welcomed, it difficult period, particularly for team. Wales for their response times. still meant officer numbers young people. The force's remained fewer than what the approach in responding to Demand had increased in the force had in 2010. Covid-19 restrictions remained to be 'Engage, Explain, last 3 years and this increase in demand had led to the The Commissioner agreed to Encourage, Enforce'. development of online speak to force colleagues reporting mechanisms. The about PCSO deployment in The Commissioner agreed that Commissioner agreed that Dowlais, to further understand he would speak to the local online reporting should be the decision making process. neighbourhood team and ask them to speak to the young promoted more and welcomed people and their working with local councillors representatives, to further and communities to promote understand their concerns. this online service.

The Commissioner referred to The Commissioner agreed to South Wales Police's Youth speak to force colleagues Volunteers scheme and noted about people's reluctance to the group of Youth Volunteers report via 101 and how online in Merthyr were particularly reporting could be better active in the local area. promoted to communities.

The Commissioner also informed residents about the recent developments of his To keep up to date with our work and future events '#Young Voices Conversation' follow us via: forum and welcomed individual conversations with residents about how young people to get involved in this @commissionersw forum. www.southwalescommissioner.org.uk