Press Release on the Future of Policing and the Police Precept in North Wales
North Wales Police Authority met today (11 February) to discuss the outcome of a four month consultation exercise with the public on the “Future of policing in North Wales.”
The aim of the exercise was to gauge public opinion over proposed changes to the way the police will continue to deliver a top quality, effective service in the face of a £24.5 million cut in government grant over the next four years.
The public and other stakeholders, including local councils, expressed a wide range of opinions, concerns and support for the proposals through a series of public meetings and correspondence.
Although the formal consultation period is now closed, the Police Authority is keen to stress that any outstanding concerns can be addressed through continuing dialogue and an ongoing review with communities over policing.
The Chairman of the North Wales Police Authority Alun Lewis said; “The consultation exercise has been extremely useful and we are grateful to everyone who has contributed to this important process.”
“We have examined all the feedback and have taken it into consideration. The response from the public has been clear that they do not want to see a reduction in the services they receive at present, but given the difficult financial situation no change is not an option.”
“We have been obliged to make these changes as a result of the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review announced last October. The Government said at the time that they felt the blow of a 20% cut in government support could be softened by increasing council tax and it is clear from the consultation that most respondents felt that protecting the front line services should be the priority. That is why we have agreed to an increase in our council tax precept of 4% next year and to plan on the basis of similar increases in future years.”
The Police Authority vote to increase the precept was unanimous.
The key proposals to be implemented are:
· Replacing the current East, West and Central Divisional structure with one local policing services function, headed by one Chief Superintendent commanding Superintendents responsible for Neighbourhood Policing, Response Policing and Volume Crime Investigation.
· A Chief Inspector for each council area to ensure continued effective partnership engagement.
· Ten new districts each headed by an Inspector.
· No change to the PCSO provision. They will continue contributing to neighbourhood policing at least until March 2013. The Government has said it intends to leave decisions on what happens after that to an elected Police & Crime Commissioner.
- Response Hubs. These are designed to service emergency and other calls requiring an immediate or prompt response. Response officers will not stay at fixed points, but will be deployed to meet anticipated demands and to ensure that best use is made of their time and skills. This means they are out patrolling, thereby reassuring the public as well as being ready to respond to calls.
· A review of the police estate. This does not mean that stations which are not designated as hubs will automatically close. There are no plans to close any police stations at this stage and the focus of the review will be working with other agencies to share accommodation. Neighbourhood officers will continue to operate out of local stations and any changes which are put forward in the future will involve dialogue with the communities affected.
· The new management structure to overlay frontline service delivery will be up and running from 4th May. Many of the concerns raised in different parts of North Wales need to be addressed through dialogue and the most effective way of enabling this is to put the officers in place who will have the dialogue and manage the services.
Deputy Chief Constable Ian Shannon said: “The changes we are making are the result of detailed reviews of our business which will reduce cost while minimising the impact on frontline services.”
“We understand public expectations and we are implementing these changes to enable us to continue to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, protect the public and maintain confidence in the service we deliver to the people of North Wales.”
You can view an analysis of the Consultation Responses here