Decisions

Under the Welsh language standards imposed on the Police and Crime Commissioner, from the 30th March 2017 the Commissioner is required to produce an Annual Monitoring Report for each financial year, related to a number of specific standards.

This is the last report for the Strategic Equality Plan 2016-2020 and highlights

progress during the reporting period.

Decision Log PCCG-2020-020 records the Commissioner's decision to award £39,354 of Covid-19 Extraordinary Funding, secured by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) from the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), to New Pathways to meet additional costs incurred as a result of the pandemic. The additional £30,534 secured from the MOJ for the period 1st July 2020-31st March 2021 to New Pathways will be for a Community ISVA.

Decision log PCCG-2019-082 outlined the Commissioners decision to extend 2019/20 grants by 3 months to the 30th June 2020. South Wales Fire and Rescue was awarded £21,000 from the community safety and youth offending fund for a further 9 month period from 1st July 2020 – 31st March 2021 to continue the work of the Anti-Social Behaviour and Fire Crime Practitioner.

The Independent Custody Visiting Scheme is a statutory Scheme under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act Part 3 Section 299 whose responsibility and oversight lies with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, in consultation with the Chief Constable.

The Treasury Management Annual Report was scrutinised by the Joint Audit Committee on 11th June 2020.

As Coronavirus still posed a significant risk to the volunteers and everyone else they may have come into with when conducting visits in person, an alternative monitoring process was implemented in conjunction with Gwent Police. The process offers detainees the opportunity to speak privately with volunteers on the telephone in order that the volunteers can check on their welfare and ensure they have received their rights and entitlements.

Due to the disruption caused by the Coronavirus outbreak, the tenure was extended by one year for the volunteers whose tenure was due to end in 2021. The extension will allow the Commissioner's Office the time to recruit and train new volunteers as the risk of the virus subsides.

The purpose of the funding is to assist organisations to meet additional costs incurred between the 24st March and 31st October 2020, through adapting services during the pandemic to cope with increasing demand as a result of it. Following an open and competitive proposal process, a total of £201,553 has been awarded for organisations in Gwent as follows: BAWSO £34,946 Cyfannol Women’s Aid £79,442 Llamau £15,054 New Pathways £39,354 Phoenix Domestic Abuse £22,277 Victim Support £10,480