Performance and Measurement

Summary

South Wales Police is home to around 42% of the population of Wales. In 2007/8, the force dealt with 505,000 incidents and 124,000 crimes. The force has become internationally recognised for its success in policing major events. In 2007/08, it policed 147 large scale events, including 54 Football matches, 13 international rugby matches, Music Concerts and other events. Its 2008/09 priorities are making every contact count, reducing crime and detecting crime, providing an emergency service, protecting the communities and ensuring the force is efficient and effective.

The Force was inspected by HMIC on Major Crime, reporting on the effective management of major crime and was complimentary of the collaborative approach to protective services in Wales, especially via the Wales Extremism and Counter-Terrorism Unit. The Inspection also identified the need to review policies and procedures. These recommendations are being implemented.

The Force has been recognised for its success in reducing deaths and serious injury on its roads from 492 casualties in 2006 to 454 in 2007. The force recognises that more needs to be done to improve customer satisfaction, in particular victims of crime, reflected in the annual plan and tested in the compliance and inspection regimes.

A number of local priorities were set, aimed at ensuring local issues are captured and responded to, including reducing anti social behaviour incidents and increasing sanction detection rates for auto crime, domestic burglary and gun crime. In 2007, HMIC inspected the force on Protecting Vulnerable Adults and Neighbourhood Policing. The force was commended on the investment of time and resources used to set up a Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Merthyr Tydfil and future plans to open two others. The significant work in progress in the area of protecting the most vulnerable was also recognised. Additionally, the force is actively involved in the ‘All Wales’ collaboration on Public Protection to form a consistent and corporate approach to tackling key areas across Wales. The prolific priority offender approach has been improved, resulting in the Force winning the Wales Region Tilley Award.

In the last 5 years, the Force has embarked on an ambitious change programme under the banner of ‘Seren’ (Welsh for star), providing a clear direction for the Force, from the planning process and priority setting, to service delivery. The plan is easy to read and each basic command unit and department has their own plan with appropriate targets. Clarity and ownership of the vision and the five key priorities has been established, reinforcing the message ‘One Force, One Vision’, ‘Keeping South Wales Safe’. The partnership between the force and Cardiff and Glamorgan Universities provides police officer recruits with a unique opportunity to undertake their training at a university campus. The Workforce transformation project is improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the force, improving front line policing.

The current financial climate is challenging. There has been significant progress in cross border collaboration and cooperation amongst the Welsh Forces. The National Policing priorities for Wales have been agreed and adopted by all four police authorities. Looking ahead, the force is actively considering the opportunities to share services with other public service providers.