This year, for the first time, we have assessed leadership across the force. The assessment has led to a narrative rather than graded judgment, which is summarised below.
Read more about my assessment of Dyfed-Powys Police’s performance this year, including where I would like to see improvements next year.
Os hoffech chi ddarllen hwn trwy’r Gymraeg (PDF document)
In its PEEL inspections this year, HMIC found some areas of serious concern in the performance of Dyfed-Powys Police in keeping people safe and reducing crime. In view of these findings, I have been in regular contact with the chief constable and I am reassured by the way that the force has acknowledged and responded to the issues we have raised. However, I do not underestimate how much improvement is needed.
The force is good at preventing crime and anti-social behaviour and has good arrangements in place to tackle serious and organised crime. However, I am concerned that suitably trained investigators are not always available, and in particular at the lack of professional expertise in the investigation of some high-risk domestic abuse cases.
The force has more to do to improve its response to vulnerable people. I am not satisfied that the risks faced by emergency and non-emergency callers are consistently understood by call-handlers. This is hindering progress that the force is making in effective safeguarding of the most vulnerable through strong alliances with Barnardo’s and other organisations.
As has been the case in recent years, the force has under-spent against its budget. However, its plans for how savings will be made beyond 2015/16 are not well-developed and need to be improved. The force’s plan to continue to provide effective policing over the very large geographical area with fewer staff needs to be developed as a matter of urgency. I would have liked to have seen more evidence that the force has incorporated the Code of Ethics into its policy and practice as part of developing a more ethical culture. I am pleased that we found evidence that the force is developing systems to provide clear direction and co-ordinate activities that will improve its engagement with the communities that it serves.
Description of force area
Dyfed-Powys Police provides policing services to the areas of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys. Although there are some more affluent areas, Dyfed-Powys has a high level of poverty. Around 0.5 million people live in a predominantly rural setting. The area has distinct, small urban areas including the towns of Carmarthen, Llanelli, Milford Haven, and Aberystwyth. The resident population is increased by university students and the very large numbers who visit or travel through the area each year. The transport infrastructure includes a major sea port.
The proportion of areas in Dyfed-Powys that are predicted to present a very high challenge to the police is lower than the national average. These are characterised by social deprivation or a concentration of commercial premises (including licensed premises), and in some cases both. Providing services across the entirety of the force area is hindered by the size of the police force area and its road network.
Working arrangements
The force works collaboratively with South Wales Police and Gwent Police and is part of the all-Wales counter terrorism unit. It also has co-located services with the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, Mid and West Wales’ Fire and Rescue Service, Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service and constituent local authorities in Llandrindod Wells.
Effectiveness
In our effectiveness inspection, we judged Dyfed-Powys Police to require improvement in the way in which it keeps people safe and reduces crime. The force is good at preventing crime and anti-social behaviour. However, suitably trained investigators are not always available. The force strives to protect the vulnerable but the risks faced by emergency and non-emergency callers are not always understood by call-handlers. There are good arrangements in place to tackle serious and organised crime. This is the first year that HMIC has graded forces on their overall effectiveness so comparison of their year-on-year effectiveness is not possible.
Efficiency
Dyfed-Powys Police is partly prepared to face its future financial challenges. It is improving its understanding of the demands on its services and is currently able to respond to all crimes. It is investing in technology to increase efficiency. However, HMIC is concerned that, as resources reduce in the future, the force has not made enough progress in planning how it will be able to continue providing effective policing with fewer staff, nor how it will deal with some of the financial uncertainties it faces. In last year’s value for money inspection, which considered how forces had met the challenge of the previous spending review period, Dyfed-Powys Police was judged to be good.
Legitimacy
Dyfed-Powys Police has more to do to develop an ethical culture, to incorporate the Code of Ethics into policy or practice and to ensure that complaints and misconduct cases are free of bias.
We found evidence that the force is developing systems to provide clear direction and co-ordinate engagement activity. However, we are concerned that officers and staff do not understand the National Decision Model and how it should be used in day-to-day activity.
HMIC is content that Dyfed-Powys Police complies with the Best Use of Stop and Search scheme, and that its Taser use is fair and appropriate.
This is the first time HMIC has graded forces on their legitimacy, so no year-on-year comparison is possible.
Leadership
Dyfed-Powys Police has yet to articulate an updated vision of its future strategy and policing model to achieve its required savings up to 2020, while ensuring that it meets public needs.
The force has not assessed formally its leadership capability and capacity, and therefore has only a limited understanding of the leadership skills that its workforce will require in the future. However, the force is taking positive steps to address this issue. Its leadership training for those of the rank of inspector and above is effective, as is its identification of talented individuals through the ‘Llwyio’ programme.
Insights from other inspections
HMIC undertakes other inspections in addition to the PEEL programme. Since the last PEEL assessment there have been nine reports published on inspections that included Dyfed-Powys Police. More detail on some of these inspections can be found under the Other inspections section.
Looking ahead to PEEL 2016
In the year ahead, I will be interested to see how the force responds to this assessment and the areas for improvement that HMIC has identified in the last year.
I will be particularly interested to see:
- improvements in how the force deals with vulnerable victims, paying particular attention to how public calls are handled and the conduct of domestic abuse investigations;
- the publication of clear and realistic plans for achieving savings beyond 2016;
- the work to improve the overall quality of investigations across the force, showing clear evidence of appropriate supervision and progression; and
- further work in developing a more ethical culture across the force.
In May 2016, like the majority of forces in England and Wales, the force will see the second elections for its police and crime commissioner.
Darllenwch y Trawsgrifiad fideo yn Gymraeg (PDF document)
