Responsibilities

The Commissioner is responsible for representing the people of Gwent and making sure the service provided by the police is efficient and effective. This is done by:

  • holding the Chief Constable to account for the delivery of local policing
  • setting and updating a police and crime plan
  • setting the force budget and precept
  • regularly engaging with the public and communities
  • appointing, and where necessary dismissing, the Chief Constable

The Commissioner has a number of specific duties and responsibilities:

Setting the strategic direction and accountability for policing:

  • being accountable to the people of Gwent
  • setting strategic policing priorities
  • holding the force to account through the Chief Constable
  • engaging and involving the public

Working with partners to prevent and tackle crime and re-offending:

  • ensuring that the police respond effectively to public concerns and threats to public safety
  • promoting and enabling joined up working on criminal justice and community safety
  • increasing public confidence in how crime is cut and policing delivered

Invoking the voice of the public, the vulnerable and victims:

  • ensuring that public priorities are acted upon, victims are consulted and that the most vulnerable individuals are not overlooked
  • complying with the General Equality Duty under the Equality Act

Contributing to resourcing of policing response to regional and national threats:

  • ensuring an effective policing contribution, with other partners, to national public protection arrangements from other cross-boundary threats in line with the Strategic Policing Requirement

Ensuring value for money:

  • responsible for setting the budget, including the police precept component of council tax, and the distribution of policing grants from central government

The Chief Constable retains responsibility for operational policing and Gwent Police’s officers and staff