Commissioner marks one year since election

It has been 12 months since my election as the first female Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent. I can honestly say that is has been one of the most challenging, but also most rewarding, times of my career. In the last year alone, I have had make three of the biggest decisions that a Police and Crime Commissioner is responsible for. I have appointed a new Chief Constable, published my Police and Crime Plan, and set Gwent Police’s budget.

I appointed Mark Hobrough as Chief Constable of Gwent Police in December 2024. The appointment followed months of public engagement and a series of interviews with panels made up of partner organisations, community members, and young people. Mark’s knowledge, and dedication to the people of Gwent came through strongly during these interviews. Six months on, I remain convinced of his passion and commitment for making Gwent a safer place for our residents.

Together we formally opened the new Gwent Police facility in Abergavenny. Chief Constable Hobrough and I are united in our commitment to increase visible policing in our communities. The facility enables Gwent Police to increase its visibility in Abergavenny and the surrounding area and provide local teams with a base that is fit for the future.

We also worked together to host a powerful exhibition of artworks at Gwent Police headquarters to mark White Ribbon Day. ‘Words Matter’ includes more than 20 works from artists across the UK and explores themes of violence, misogyny and victim blaming. As part of my support for White Ribbon Day I also brought key partners together for a roundtable event to discuss how we can work together better to support women and girls in our communities.

It is my job to hold the Chief Constable to account for the service they deliver to our residents. I think it is important that this process is made more transparent and accessible, and I will be shortly launching a new forum to scrutinise policies and performance. I will also create regular opportunities for the public to put forward their questions for me to ask the Chief Constable. These meetings will be available to view on our social media channels and I will publish more details on this shortly.

At the start of this year, I formally set Gwent Police’s budget for 2025 – 2026. A significant part of this is now made up directly by money received through council tax and it is my job to set the level of the council tax precept which is paid by residents. This was not an easy decision. However, I believe the final budget is a fair balance between affordability and the money needed to create a safer Gwent and deliver on the commitments I have made in my Police, Crime and Justice Plan.

The plan was launched in March and has five priorities which are: preventing crime and antisocial behaviour; making our communities safer; protecting the vulnerable; putting victims first; and reducing reoffending. I decided to focus on these areas following months of public engagement, discussions with partner agencies, and focus groups with residents. They also reflect the commitments I made when campaigning for election and I am confident that they will deliver a safer Gwent for us all. Underpinning these priorities is my unwavering commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion.

While it has been a challenging year, I can honestly say that it has been a joy getting to know the different communities that make up Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport and Torfaen. I have attended community groups, local events, spoken to residents and visited many of our schools to talk to children and young people. Just as I have committed to ensuring that Gwent Police is a visible presence in our communities, I believe this responsibility also extends to me as Commissioner. I would like to thank everyone for making me so welcome.

Although I am no stranger to public service there has been a huge amount to learn about policing and the winder criminal justice system over the last year. I am lucky to be supported by a professional team which works behind the scenes to ensure that the statutory duties of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s office is carried out effectively. I would like to thank them, as well as our wider criminal justice partners, for their support.

I remain incredibly proud of the trust and confidence residents placed in me when they voted for their commissioner. I promise to continue to work hard to make a difference for our communities and make Gwent a safer place for us all.