Request for information on qualitative and quantative research undertaken including surveys, focus groups focussing on public or victim perceptions of policing and crime in 2020/21 and 2021/22

Reference: 22006

Date Added: Wednesday, June 8, 2022

Category: Finance

Disclosure Details

Thank you for your recent request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000.

Two duties are placed on public authorities under Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). Notwithstanding applicable exemptions, the first duty at, Section 1(1) (a), is to confirm or deny whether the information specified in a request is held. The second duty at, Section1 (1) (b), is to disclose information that has been confirmed as being held. Under the provisions of those sections of the FOIA, we can confirm that the information you seek is partly held by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent.

You have requested the following information:

  1. The qualitative and quantitative research you have undertaken (surveys, focus groups, depth interviews) that have focused on public or victim perceptions of policing and crime in 2020/21 and 2021/22

Our website publishes the reports into research undertaken. During these time periods, there were:

Two budget surveys:

Joint strategic equality plan:

New Police and Crime Plan:

In addition to the above, we also piloted Safe Spaces workshops with children in March 2022. These workshops identify places in the community where pupils feel safe and unsafe. This process is being refined through this year. Information at:

During this time period we also organised two Youth Question Time events:

The OPCC undertook a survey during 2020/21 which sought the views of victims and staff in relation to the criminal justice response to rape in Gwent. The attached survey results document has been redacted under section 40(2) of the FOIA. In this case, our view is that disclosure would breach the first data protection principle. This states that personal data should be processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner in relation to individuals. We have therefore removed any information that could identify anyone participating in the survey.

A joint review was commissioned into the Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) services across Gwent, South Wales and Dyfed-Powys police force areas in 2021. As part of this review, victim views were sought on their experiences of accessing these services. The resulting information will be used to develop a service specification for tendering for ISVA services in the future. Therefore, we are exempting the findings under Section 43(2) Commercial Interests. Whilst there is public interest in the work the OPCC undertakes, releasing the information as part of this request also releases it to the world and as such the information it contains may provide those organisations who see it with an unfair advantage when the tender for the service is released in the future, therefore in light of the future procurement plans, the results from this survey will not be released at this time.

       2.  What the outputs of any qualitative and quantitative research was in 2020/21 and 2021/22 and a copy of these

Reports on budget setting available at:

The OPCC and Gwent Police second Joint Strategic Equality Plan available at:

The Police and Crime Plan is available at:

Youth Question Time infographics for participants:

There is no specific budget for surveys, however, the following costs were incurred:

  • Question Pro software for surveys (for 2021/22) – $1,020
  • Youth Question Time 2021 – gift vouchers for young people who helped organise £150
  • Youth Question Time 2022 – Room hire/buffet: £227.17, graphic recording and translation, £610, gift vouchers for young people who helped organise £60
  • ISVA survey 2021 - total cost of £22,916.67 of which Gwent OPCC paid one third of the cost (£7,638.89).
  • 4.  If production of this is outsourced or if any part is provided by an external supplier and who that supplier is

The ISVA survey was outsourced and was awarded through an open procurement process to Rhian Bowen-Davies Consultancy.

         5.  Details of any other spend on polling or surveys relating to police and crime

  No information held

The Freedom of Information Act is a public disclosure regime, not a private regime. Any information disclosed under the Act is thereafter deemed to be in the public domain, and therefore freely available to the general public and will be published on the OPCC website.

You have the right to appeal our decision if you think it is incorrect. Should you feel dissatisfied with this response or the way in which your request was handled, information on the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent FOI Appeals Procedure can be found on our website: Appeals Process | Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner (pcc.police.uk)

If you remain dissatisfied after an internal review decision, you have the right to apply to the Information Commissioner’s Office. The Commissioner is an independent regulator whose details can be found using the following link: Home | ICO

You can also write to the Information Commissioner’s Office at the following address:

Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF

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