Inspectors have again praised South Wales Police for its performance in responding to crime and protecting people – rating it among the top forces out of those most recently inspected.
The report, published today (Friday, September 27) by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, rates South Wales Police as being:
- good in effectively reducing crime and keeping people safe;
- good in operating efficiently and providing sustainable services to the public; and
- good in the way it treats the public and its workforce.
South Wales Police has been described by inspectors as “good at responding to crime and protecting people”. They add that the force “investigates crime well and has a clear focus on identifying and protecting vulnerable people”.
The force was also commended for understanding the complexity and scale of demand for its services, as well as for “sustaining its positive performance over the past year”.
The inspection studied the force’s effectiveness, efficiency, and legitimacy, combining into a single inspection all three strands. A total of 15 forces were inspected in the latest tranche.
Among its other findings, the report highlighted that, compared to the England and Wales average, South Wales Police:
- has a higher proportion of crimes where action is taken;
- charges or summonses in a higher proportion of domestic abuse cases; and
- spends more per head on frontline services.
The force’s ability to meet current demands, and its planning for the future, are also rated good.
Chief Constable Matt Jukes said: “I’m pleased with the findings of this report, which has found South Wales Police to be good across the board – something that is a reflection of the hard work, dedication and commitment demonstrated every day by our teams – and well-equipped for current and future demands.
“This assessment of our performance is not inevitable, but the result of the hard work of our people on behalf of the communities we live and work in.
“This does not mean that everything we do is perfect, and in any cases the challenges we face keep evolving. We are not complacent and realise there is plenty for us to continue to focus on in order to continue to provide the best possible service to our communities. As a reflection of the hard work of the officers, staff and volunteers who make up the force, I’m very pleased with today’s results.”
Alun Michael, South Wales’ Police and Crime Commissioner, added: “These findings are an endorsement of the work we have undertaken to ensure that our local police service is as good as it can be – despite having lost a third of our Police Grant from the Government over recent years – and I’m extremely grateful to all our officers and staff who work so hard on behalf of the public.
“I am pleased that the Inspectorate has recognised that prevention is at the heart of our approach to keeping South Wales safe. We are both protecting neighbourhood policing and working to enhance local work, while making the most of the Welsh Government’s financial support towards maintaining the PCSOs whose work is so crucial in our communities.
“Protecting vulnerable people is a priority for me and for Chief Constable Matt Jukes, and that now runs through the DNA of South Wales Police, so I am particularly pleased to see that our clear focus on identifying and protecting vulnerable people has been highlighted by inspectors.”
