Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn responds to the Annual Assessment of Policing in England and Wales 2022 following its publication

Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn has today published his statutory response to His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS)’s Annual State of Policing Report that was published earlier this year.

In his first annual assessment of policing in England and Wales, Andy Cooke, who is His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary, said the police service is at a historic turning point and called for major reform, including new powers for the inspectors of constabulary.

The report acknowledges that police forces in England and Wales are complex and operate within an even more complex criminal justice system (CJS), and there are widespread systemic failings in both. The report states that:

the police aren’t always focusing on the issues that matter most to the public, and charge rates are far too low;
the police and the wider CJS aren’t getting the basics right, as shown through the withdrawal from neighbourhood policing; and
some critical elements of the police’s leadership and workforce arrangements need substantial reform.
The report’s recommendations to the Government and chief constables, include:

reviewing legislation to make HMICFRS’s remit of inspection clearer and clarifying its power to inspect policing functions delivered by police and crime commissioners;
re-establishing the role of the inspectors of constabulary in selecting and appointing police chief officers; and
new research into the deterrent value of stop and search and the causes of disproportionality in its use.
When he published the annual report earlier this year, Andy Cooke said;

“I was a police officer for 36 years before I took this job. I am in no doubt of the dedication, bravery and commitment of the vast majority of police officers and staff. But there are clear and systemic failings throughout the police service in England and Wales and, thanks to a series of dreadful scandals, public trust in the police is hanging by a thread.

“I am calling for substantial reform to give the inspectors of constabulary more power to ensure we are able to do everything necessary to help police forces improve. Over the years, we have repeatedly called for change. There are only so many times we can say the same thing in different words – it is now time for the Government to bring in new legislation to strengthen our recommendations.

“Change needs to start at the top. Chief constables and police and crime commissioners need to do more to make sure their forces are efficient and to get a grip on their priorities. The police are not there to be the first port of call for people in mental health crisis or to uphold social justice. They are there to uphold the law.

“Forces need to show professionalism, get the basics right when it comes to investigating crime, and respond properly when someone dials 999. This is what matters most to the communities they serve and this is the way forward for the police to regain the public’s trust. The fundamental principle of policing by consent, upon which our police service is built, is at risk – and it is past time to act.”

Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner has welcomed Andy Cooke’s report and recommendations, citing the positive work of Dyfed-Powys’s Professional Standards Department in relation to their vetting processes and decision making that has been highlighted by HMICFRS.

In his statutory response to the report, which has today been published in full, PCC Llywelyn said:

“Whilst there have been falling rates of satisfaction across England and Wales, I am encouraged by the data from the September 2022 Crime Survey of England and Wales, which identifies that Dyfed-Powys Police compares favourably with other forces in terms of understanding local concerns, addressing local priorities and provision of overall service.

“Dyfed-Powys Police continues to work towards the recommendations and areas for improvement identified within the inspection of vetting, misconduct and misogyny in the police service.

“There is also merit in highlighting that our Professional Standards Department, like all others in England and Wales, was recently subject to the ‘rapid review’ that was commissioned by the Home Office in respect of the complaints and misconduct, anti-corruption and vetting business areas.

“The rapid review included a dip sample of anti-corruption intelligence cases, complaints and misconduct files. The HMICFRS Inspector was complimentary of the investigative approach taken in every case that was sampled, as well as the manner in which decisions were documented.

“I am pleased that HMICFRS has highlighted Dyfed-Powys Police vetting department as effectively dealing with disproportionality and mitigating risk in the decision process for vetting. Positive commentary was received in respect of the quality of the vetting decision making and the associated rationale documents, which referenced the Vetting Authorised Professional Practice, Code of Practice, Code of Ethics, Standards of Professional Behaviour and the National Decision Model. I have been advised that two other forces have been in contact with Dyfed-Powys to learn from their approach.

“In relation to the historic data wash, all relevant checks have been conducted on every staff member working within Dyfed-Powys Police. This includes police officers, police staff, volunteers and all staff within my office.

“I am grateful to Andy Cook for his annual report. My team and I continue to work closely with Dyfed-Powys Police representatives to ensure all relevant learning from insights generated through HMICFRS’ activity is acted upon to improve the policing service for the residents of Dyfed and Powys.”

Mae’r Comisiynydd Heddlu a Throseddu Dafydd Llywelyn heddiw wedi cyhoeddi ei ymateb statudol i Adroddiad Blynyddol ar Gyflwr Plismona gan Arolygiaeth Ei Mawrhydi a’r Gwasanaethau Tân ac Achub (HMICFRS) a gyhoeddwyd yn gynharach eleni.

Yn ei asesiad blynyddol cyntaf o blismona yng Nghymru a Lloegr, dywedodd Andy Cooke, sy’n Brif Arolygydd Cwnstabliaeth Ei Fawrhydi, fod y gwasanaeth heddlu ar drobwynt hanesyddol a galwodd am ddiwygiadau mawr, gan gynnwys pwerau newydd i’r arolygwyr cwnstabliaeth.

Mae’r adroddiad yn cydnabod bod heddluoedd yng Nghymru a Lloegr yn gymhleth ac yn gweithredu o fewn system cyfiawnder troseddol (CJS) hyd yn oed yn fwy cymhleth, ac mae methiannau systemig eang yn y ddau. Mae’r adroddiad yn datgan:

nid yw’r heddlu bob amser yn canolbwyntio ar y materion sydd bwysicaf i’r cyhoedd, ac mae cyfraddau cyhuddo yn llawer rhy isel;
nid yw’r heddlu a’r CJS ehangach yn cael y pethau sylfaenol yn gywir, fel y dangosir drwy dynnu’n ôl o blismona cymdogaeth; a
mae angen diwygio rhai elfennau hollbwysig o drefniadau arweinyddiaeth a gweithlu’r heddlu yn sylweddol.
Mae argymhellion yr adroddiad i’r Llywodraeth a phrif gwnstabliaid yn cynnwys:

adolygu deddfwriaeth i wneud cylch gorchwyl arolygu HMICFRS yn gliriach ac egluro ei bŵer i arolygu swyddogaethau plismona a ddarperir gan gomisiynwyr heddlu a throseddu;
ailsefydlu rôl arolygwyr cwnstabliaeth wrth ddewis a phenodi prif swyddogion yr heddlu; a
ymchwil newydd i werth ataliol stopio a chwilio ac achosion anghymesuredd yn ei ddefnydd.
Pan gyhoeddodd yr adroddiad blynyddol yn gynharach eleni, dywedodd Andy Cooke;

“Roeddwn i’n heddwas am 36 mlynedd cyn i mi gymryd y swydd hon. Nid oes gennyf unrhyw amheuaeth o ymroddiad, dewrder ac ymrwymiad y mwyafrif helaeth o swyddogion a staff yr heddlu. Ond mae yna fethiannau clir a systemig ar draws y gwasanaeth heddlu yng Nghymru a Lloegr a, diolch i gyfres o sgandalau ofnadwy, mae ffydd y cyhoedd yn yr heddlu yn yfantol.

“Rwy’n galw am ddiwygio sylweddol er mwyn rhoi mwy o bŵer i arolygwyr cwnstabliaeth er mwyn sicrhau ein bod yn gallu gwneud popeth sy’n angenrheidiol i helpu heddluoedd i wella. Dros y blynyddoedd, rydym wedi galw dro ar ôl tro am newid. Dim ond hyn a hyn o weithiau y gallwn ddweud yr un peth mewn geiriau gwahanol – mae bellach yn bryd i’r Llywodraeth gyflwyno deddfwriaeth newydd i gryfhau ein hargymhellion.

“Mae angen i newid ddechrau ar y brig. Mae angen i brif gwnstabliaid a chomisiynwyr heddlu a throseddu wneud mwy i sicrhau bod eu heddluoedd yn effeithlon ac i gael gafael ar eu blaenoriaethau. Nid yw’r heddlu yno i fod yn fan galw cyntaf i bobl mewn argyfwng iechyd meddwl nac i gynnal cyfiawnder cymdeithasol. Maent yno i gynnal y gyfraith.

“Mae angen i heddluoedd ddangos proffesiynoldeb, cael y pethau sylfaenol yn gywir pan ddaw’n fater o ymchwilio i drosedd, ac ymateb yn iawn pan fydd rhywun yn deialu 999. Dyma sydd bwysicaf i’r cymunedau y maent yn eu gwasanaethu a dyma’r ffordd ymlaen i’r heddlu adennill ymddiriedaeth y cyhoedd. Mae’r egwyddor sylfaenol o blismona trwy ganiatâd, y mae ein gwasanaeth heddlu wedi’i adeiladu arni, mewn perygl – ac mae’n hen bryd gweithredu.”

Mae Comisiynydd Heddlu a Throseddu Dyfed-Powys wedi croesawu adroddiad ac argymhellion Andy Cooke, gan ddyfynnu gwaith cadarnhaol Adran Safonau Proffesiynol Dyfed-Powys mewn perthynas â’u prosesau fetio a gwneud penderfyniadau sydd wedi’i amlygu gan HMICFRS.

Yn ei ymateb statudol i’r adroddiad, sydd wedi’i gyhoeddi’n llawn heddiw, dywedodd CHTh Llywelyn:

“Er bod cyfraddau bodlonrwydd wedi gostwng ar draws Cymru a Lloegr, rwyf wedi fy nghalonogi gan y data o Arolwg Troseddu Cymru a Lloegr ym mis Medi 2022, sy’n nodi bod Heddlu Dyfed-Powys yn cymharu’n ffafriol â heddluoedd eraill o ran deall pryderon lleol, mynd i’r afael â blaenoriaethau lleol a darparu gwasanaeth cyffredinol.

“Mae Heddlu Dyfed-Powys yn parhau i weithio tuag at yr argymhellion a’r meysydd i’w gwella a nodwyd yn yr arolygiad o fetio, camymddwyn a chamymddwyn yn y gwasanaeth heddlu.

“Mae rhinwedd hefyd mewn tynnu sylw at y ffaith bod ein Hadran Safonau Proffesiynol, fel pob un arall yng Nghymru a Lloegr, wedi bod yn destun ‘adolygiad cyflym’ yn ddiweddar a gomisiynwyd gan y Swyddfa Gartref mewn perthynas â chwynion a chamymddwyn, gwrth-lygredd a fetio. meysydd busnes.

“Roedd yr adolygiad cyflym yn cynnwys sampl ar hap o achosion cudd-wybodaeth gwrth-lygredd, cwynion a ffeiliau camymddwyn. Roedd Arolygydd HMICFRS yn canmol y dull ymchwiliol a ddefnyddiwyd ym mhob achos a samplwyd, yn ogystal â’r modd yr oedd penderfyniadau’n cael eu dogfennu.

“Rwy’n falch bod HMICFRS wedi tynnu sylw at adran fetio Heddlu Dyfed-Powys fel un sy’n delio’n effeithiol ag anghymesuredd a lliniaru risg yn y broses benderfynu ar gyfer fetio. Cafwyd sylwadau cadarnhaol ynghylch ansawdd y penderfyniadau fetio a’r dogfennau rhesymeg cysylltiedig, a oedd yn cyfeirio at yr Arfer Proffesiynol Cymeradwy ar gyfer Fetio, y Cod Ymarfer, y Cod Moeseg, y Safonau Ymddygiad Proffesiynol a’r Model Penderfyniad Cenedlaethol. Fe’m hysbyswyd bod dau heddlu arall wedi bod mewn cysylltiad â Dyfed-Powys i ddysgu o’u dull gweithredu.

“Mewn perthynas â’r golchiad data hanesyddol, mae’r holl wiriadau perthnasol wedi’u cynnal ar bob aelod o staff sy’n gweithio o fewn Heddlu Dyfed-Powys. Mae hyn yn cynnwys swyddogion heddlu, staff yr heddlu, gwirfoddolwyr a’r holl staff yn fy swyddfa.

“Rwy’n ddiolchgar i Andy Cook am ei adroddiad blynyddol. Mae fy nhîm a minnau’n parhau i weithio’n agos gyda chynrychiolwyr Heddlu Dyfed-Powys i sicrhau y gweithredir ar yr holl ddysgu perthnasol o fewnwelediadau a gynhyrchir drwy weithgarwch HMICFRS i wella’r gwasanaeth plismona i drigolion Dyfed a Phowys.”