Wrthi'n llwytho
Y penderfyniadau fel y mae cofnodion y cyngor yn eu cofnodi. Bydd crynodeb mewn iaith glir yn dilyn pan fydd wedi'i ysgrifennu.
RESOLVED that the report be received.
RESOLVED that the report be received.
RESOLVED that the report be received.
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Wyn Thomas (Ceredigion County Council), Councillor David Simpson (Pembrokeshire County Council), Mrs Helen Thomas (Independent Co-opted Member) and Councillor Michael Thomas (Carmarthenshire County Council). Prior to the main agenda, the Chair paid tribute to Councillor Brian Hall in recognition of his contribution to the Panel following his recent passing. Councillor Simon Wright also paid tribute to three former Dyfed-Powys Police Officer colleagues also following their recent passing.
Member Agenda Item No. Interest Cllr. S. Wright All Items. Family member is currently serving as a Police Officer with Dyfed-Powys Police. Member is also a retired Police Officer and part of the National Association of Retired Police Officers.
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Panel held on the 20th May 2026 be signed as a correct record.
No matters arising from the minutes of the meeting were raised.
Please can the Commissioner provide an update on the proposed reform of police governance, particularly in relation to the intended abolition of both Police and Crime Commissioners and Police and Crime Panels. Response from the Police and Crime Commissioner • Given its significance and the further developments expected following the conclusion of the UK Parliament's Summer recess, updates on the proposed reform of Police Governance should be considered a regular agenda item for future Panel meetings. • Despite recent changes in both the UK and Welsh Government leadership, Home Office officials have confirmed that the proposed reforms are expected to continue regardless. • A member of OPCC staff who is currently seconded to the Association of Police Commissioners (APCC) continues to work in that capacity, working with counterparts from other Welsh force areas and Home Office officials on the legislative details. • Early consultation has been received via the seconded member of staff regarding aspects of the proposed changes contained in the legislation. • Through the South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, Welsh representation has been present at the Police Reform Ministerial Board to ensure the interests of the four force areas in Wales are reflected in discussions. • Representations from across all four force areas in Wales have been submitted to the Home Office on the Police Reform Bill, in addition to Lord Hogan-Howe's review of police force structures and potential force mergers. • While discussions on police reform and force mergers are separate, they are interrelated as future governance arrangements will need to reflect any changes to force structures. • Draft proposals relating to force structures and mergers have not yet been shared beyond the Home Secretary. However, developments in relation to this are not expected until the conclusion of Parliament's Summer recess. • Following receipt of correspondence by the Force on behalf of Lord Hogan-Howe, an invitation has been extended for Community Representatives from each Welsh force area to attend a consultation in Cardiff on the 4th August 2026; whereby the Panel are encouraged to consider nominating a representative to attend. • Recently attended the Welsh Affairs Select Committee evidence session alongside other Welsh Police and Crime Commissioners to provide representations on aspects relevant to the proposed changes. • Similar to the evidence presented to the Welsh Affairs Select Committee, the proposed reforms offer an opportunity to advance the recommendations of the Thomas Commission (and its previous sub-commission) on the wider devolution of justice and policing. • Despite these various attendances and initial representations received, no further substantive details on the proposed reform of Police Governance have been noted since the publication of the white paper in February 2026. • Due to uncertainty about the details of the proposed changes, under the current proposals, if the four-force structure in Wales remains, a Panel of Unitary Authority Leaders would appoint a Force Lead. However, the statutory powers, governance arrangements, and responsibilities of the position likewise remain unclear. • Efforts are being made to ensure that, under the Welsh Force Leads proposal, they have equivalent status and powers to the proposed Deputy Mayoral arrangements in England, and to ensure that the Welsh Government has a role in future governance arrangements. • Greater clarity in relation to the proposed changes, including draft clauses of the new bill, is expected by September/October 2026. Further to the response provided, the Panel and the Commissioner held a discussion regarding the proposed reform actions, including the feasibility of establishing the prospective National Police Service (NPS).
What is the Commissioner’s understanding of the current position on officer recruitment in Dyfed Powys and is there a cost of living effect on officers seeking to continue their service in the Force area. Response from the Police and Crime Commissioner • The Force is currently slightly over establishment for Police Officers. Although it entails that the Force has more Police Officers than the revenue budget is structured for, this indicates a healthy recruitment position as supported by scrutiny of Force performance and information provided by Chief Officers. • There continues to be a strong interest in police recruitment overall; some areas do experience challenges with the recruitment process, particularly in certain geographies, including Ceredigion and North Powys. • Assurances have been sought from the Chief Constable through the Policing Board regarding whether activity is being undertaken in areas experiencing recruitment difficulties, particularly as policing should, where possible, be delivered by Officers recruited from local communities. • By virtue of the recruitment process, areas with higher populations generate more applicants, resulting in a greater proportion of successful recruits coming from larger urban areas, including outside the Dyfed-Powys force area. • Officer attrition is currently not considered a significant issue for Dyfed-Powys Police, as the Force has the fifth-lowest attrition rate among the 43 police forces in England and Wales. • Cost of living is not considered a prominent factor in the Force's Officer Attrition, with the main reasons for attrition including lifestyle choices, pressures associated with response officer functions, and the risk of burnout. Ongoing investment in occupational health and staff wellbeing to support Officer retention is a prominent example of efforts to address these attrition factors. Supplementary questions related to the response provided were raised by the Panel, to which the Commissioner responded accordingly.
Concerns continue to be raised about the level of resource in NPPTs. Whilst communities are being advised that new staff are being trained and vacancies filled, is the Commissioner satisfied that the Chief Constable is acting with sufficient urgency on this matter and that there is capacity to deliver an effective service which is preventative and responsive? Is the Commissioner able to confirm how many vacancies exist in NPPTs, what the sickness levels are, and when these teams will reach full capacity? Whilst this has been a force wide issue for some time, specific concerns have been raised in respect of the South Powys NPPT model where posts are waiting to be filled, officers are shared between Ystradgynlais and Brecon, and there is the usual potential for an increase in anti-social behaviour in summer months. Response from the Police and Crime Commissioner • Demand for policing services, particularly regarding issues such as anti-social behaviour, evidently increase during the Summer months. • Recent demand for policing services has been high; however, the Chief Constable has assured that it is being effectively managed. • Prevention continues to remain a key focus for the Force, with investment being made to broaden the use of a preventative approach to policing. • The prevention portfolio is expansive and includes functions such as the Rural Crime Team, Schools Programme, and Prevention and Early Intervention Team, as well as closer partnerships with colleges and local authority youth services. • Through the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, additional funding has enabled the allocation of 4 Sergeants and 29 Police Officers to Neighbourhood Policing and Prevention Teams (NPPTs), with 12 additional Officers recruited and 11 currently undertaking training. • There is an unavoidable lead time between recruitment, training and Officers becoming fully operational, which can affect visible policing in communities. • In terms of the current establishment for Brecon and Ystradgynlais, Brecon has 5 Police Constables as part of NPPT and 7 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), with one vacancy and two Officers currently being tutored. For Ystradgynlais, there is 1 Police Constable and two PCSOs, in addition to another PCSO currently on secondment. • Staffing levels within the Force are naturally also affected by normal fluctuations in sickness absence and other factors. The Commissioner advised that a written response detailing staffing figures for the relevant policing areas and other nuances of the question would be provided to the Member following the meeting. The Panel raised several points arising from the Commissioner's response to Item 5.3, noting that investment through the Neighbourhood Policing Pledge is beginning to yield positive outcomes, including an enhanced community focus and the local management of incidents and offences such as shoplifting.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED that the report be received.
[NOTE: Cllr. S. Wright having earlier declared an interest in this matter, remained in the meeting during its consideration and voted]. The Panel received the Annual Report of the Police and Crime Commissioner for 2025/2026 for consideration. In presenting the report, the Commissioner noted that it had been officially published and comprehensively sets out the progress and achievements made in delivering effective, accountable policing and crime services to communities across the Dyfed-Powys area. The following matters were raised relating to the report: • In response to the low number of respondents engaging with surveys, the Commissioner acknowledged that this is an area for improvement they have identified and that the OPCC have made increased effort to improve response rates and overall engagement. • A question was raised as to whether the provision of 'Emergency Bags to Support Victims of Domestic Abuse' was widely available across communities or a specific initiative introduced by the Commissioner. The Commissioner confirmed that this was a specific initiative, developed with private funding and independent work on domestic abuse. The Commissioner further advised that a local charity had recently expressed an interest in supporting similar initiatives, particularly for children and young people. The Chair, on behalf of the Panel, thanked the Commissioner for sharing a draft copy of the report with Members for comment prior to publication and congratulated the OPCC on the high-quality report and its achievements during the period under consideration. RESOLVED that the report be received.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED that the report be received.
[NOTE: Cllr. S. Wright having earlier declared an interest in this matter, remained in the meeting during its consideration and voted]. Following the Panel's request to the Commissioner for reports outlining the progress made in delivering the priorities set out in the Police and Crime Plan, members received a progress report related to Priority 1 for review. In presenting the report on progress made against the priority objective of 'Supporting Victims and Preventing Victimisation', the Commissioner wished to acknowledge the significant and sufficient level of detail the OPCC receives from the Force, which helps to evidence progress in this area. The following questions or concerns were raised by the Panel: • In relation to a query raised on the information in the 'Safeguarding' section of the report, the Commissioner wished to congratulate the Force on their significant operational achievement in consistently ensuring over 90% of referrals were dealt with within 24 hours. • A question was raised regarding the 'Shoplifting' section of the report, specifically whether the Force experiences any adverse outcomes from publishing images of suspects and what support is available to victims. The Commissioner advised that no concerns have been raised regarding the publication of suspect images and confirmed that a range of commissioned victim support services is available through the OPCC. • In response to a question as to whether serious organised crime would be addressed under the priority's focus, the Commissioner advised that this is not the case. However, the Commissioner confirmed that regular briefings are received from the Force and other relevant bodies and provided assurance that significant efforts are being made to tackle serious organised crime effectively. RESOLVED that the report be received.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED that the report be received.
[NOTE: Cllr. S. Wright having earlier declared an interest in this matter, remained in the meeting during its consideration and voted]. The Panel considered a report on decisions made by the Commissioner between the 1st of May and the 30th of June 2026. Section 28 (6) of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 requires all decisions and actions undertaken by the Commissioner to be reviewed in alignment with the discharge of his functions, with reports and recommendations related to those decisions and actions to be made as considered appropriate by the Panel to the Commissioner. Among the various Estates decisions undertaken for the period, the Commissioner specifically drew the Panel's attention to the significant investments made in relation to the 'HQ Solar PV Array and Battery Storage Project' decision. The proposed installation is expected to be completed by the end of the calendar year, and despite a significant financial outlay, the project would yield considerable long-term benefits in resilience, contingency, and cost savings. The following questions or concerns were raised by the Panel: • In response to a question as to whether the Commissioner and the OPCC had decided if they would attend Eisteddfod y Garreg Las in Llantwd, Pembrokeshire. The Commissioner confirmed they would be in attendance via a joint stand between the OPCC and the Force, as part of a regular series of Summer events they attend, such as the Royal Welsh Show. • In response to a question regarding the decision relating to the catering contract, the Commissioner confirmed that Celtic Catering Partnership Ltd is a company based within the Force area. The Commissioner further explained that all tenders submitted as part of the procurement process were evaluated against a range of social value criteria, including factors such as food miles and the ability to support local businesses. RESOLVED that the report be received.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
[NOTE: Cllr. S. Wright having earlier declared an interest in this matter, remained in the meeting during its consideration and voted]. The Panel received a newly formatted combined performance report for review, setting out how the Commissioner and the OPCC are performing against the requirements of the Policing Protocol Order and the OPCC's Business Plan for Quarter 1 of the 2026/2027 financial year. In presenting the report, the OPCC's Chief Executive highlighted several key areas of progress in delivering the Business Plan, including the ‘Office's Use of Technology and Artificial Intelligence’, and its contribution to a range of consultations on Police Governance Reform in preparation for the implementation of the OPCC's transition project. Several elements of the Business Plan's progress have been downgraded to reflect process issues and identified areas for improvement, including sustainability within the Office and the internal communications strategy, particularly regarding commissioned services. In relation to the Policing Protocol, it was noted that performance remains consistent across 17 of the Commissioner's applicable statutory duties, with 65% of actions rated Green and the remaining 35% rated Amber, reflecting ongoing efforts to improve in these areas. Several matters and questions were raised by the Panel regarding the report, including the 'Substance Misuse Prevention and Treatment' objective. All of which were responded to verbally in detail or noted for action and response following the conclusion of the meeting. RESOLVED that the report be noted.
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