| This Report considers the Police service in Wales, and in particular, its role and effectiveness in tackling anti-social behaviour.
The Report welcomes initiatives, introduced by the National Assembly for Wales, to place the delivery of Police services in Wales within the broader agenda of social justice and regeneration. It also welcomes the maturing relationship between the Chief Constables in Wales and Welsh Assembly Government Ministers. However, it expresses our concerns about the quality of the relationships between the Home Office and the National Assembly for Wales, and recommends that those relationships be developed in a more structured and systematic way.
The Report concludes that the Welsh forces are currently performing well and welcomes the Policing Performance Assessment Framework, which measures the quality of police services as well as operational delivery. The Committee also welcomes the development of the National Crime Recording Standard as a means of ensuring the quality of data across forces. However, the Report expresses serious concerns about the onerous burden that a multi-faceted performance regime places on the police. Therefore, the Report recommends that the Government consider a more streamlined approach to data collection and performance measurement.
Tackling anti-social behaviour in Wales is a central theme in the Report. It welcomes the legislation introduced by the Government to tackle anti-social behaviour, but recommends that time is now given for that legislation to bed in to the working practices of the police. It further recommends, that the Government establishes a clearer definition of what constitutes anti-social behaviour so that strategies can be better designed to combat that behaviour.
The Report sets out some initial concerns about the low number of ASBOs issued in Wales compared to England. However, it concludes that the low use of ASBOs is a result of a considered and appropriate response to tackling anti-social behaviour in Wales. The Report welcomes the 'Welsh approach' which is based on a strategy for staged intervention which uses ASBOs as a measure of last resort. The Report recommends that the Government establishes a measurement for success which better reflect the Welsh approach. It also recommends that clear guidelines be given to magistrates so that ASBOs can be issued quickly, when considered necessary.
The Report welcomes the successes and achievements of Community Safety Partnerships in Wales, particularly in the areas of crime prevention and reassurance. It recommends that the Government develops a sensitive and flexible performance framework to measure and evaluate those successes rather than just quantitative measurements for crime reduction.
The complex nature of funding for Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) presents a significant hindrance to their success. The Report urges the Government to provide a simple and sustainable funding stream for CSPs. It further recommends that the Government promote awareness of the provision for data sharing in the prevention and tackling of crime under the Data Protection Act , and encourage effective data sharing protocols between statutory agencies in the Partnerships.
The Report makes a number of recommendations for the dissemination of best practice in Wales. It concludes that the All Wales Crime and Disorder Forum is the most appropriate forum for that role and recommends that it be reinstated with appropriate resources.
The Report also welcomes the citizen-focused, neighbourhood approach to policing being developed in Wales. However, it expresses our concerns about the long-term funding of Police Community Support Officers and the current confusion that surrounds their role.
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