Office Retains National Award

23ain Ionawr 2017

There are 41 Police and Crime Commissioner offices throughout England and Wales and the Gwent OPCC is among 13 offices to receive the 2016/17 Quality Mark for Transparency from CoPaCC - an independent national body which monitors police governance. CoPaCC recognises excellent performance by Police and Crime Commissioners and their Offices by making regular awards. This is the second year running that the Gwent OPCC has received the quality mark for transparency.

During an event hosted in London by leading police auditors, Grant Thornton, Sian Curley, the Chief of Staff for Gwent OPCC and Joanne Regan, Information Officer, were presented with the Transparency Quality Mark by CoPaCC Chief Executive, Bernard Rix and Richard Thomas, a Member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

The CoPaCC award was presented for how the PCC's office provides the public with key information in accessible format on their website including information about who they are and what they do, what they spend and how they spend it, what their priorities are, how they make their decisions and information around complaints, policies and procedures.

On receiving the award, Sian Curley, the Chief of staff for the Gwent Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "We are delighted that we have been recognised for our efforts for the second year running. Being open and transparent with the community is essential as we are held to account at a local level by the public. It is therefore imperative that we provide them with readily accessible information which is clear and understandable. I would like to congratulate all of the team on their efforts in delivering a positive service."

Congratulating the team on their award, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, Jeff Cuthbert, said: "The team are responsible for publishing and sharing a vast amount of information which is required in order to be fully open and auditable. This information enables the public to hold me to account."

CoPaCC Chief Executive, Bernard Rix, said: "These OPCCs have all demonstrated that they are transparent in what they do, meeting relevant legal requirements. They present key information in an accessible format on their websites and I congratulate them all on their good work. I look forward to what I trust will be continued excellent work by each and every one of them in this area."

Paul Grady, Head of Policy for Grant Thornton, who hosted the event, said: "Transparency is an essential part of the democratic process. For the public to be able gauge how successful their PCC is in delivering their electoral mandate, they need access to information that is accessible, easy to understand and fit for purpose. We congratulate all those who have been successful in meeting the standards required."