Gwent OPCC Recognised for Excellence

For the third year in a row, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Gwent has been presented with a national award for transparency.

There are 41 Police and Crime Commissioner Offices throughout England and Wales and the Gwent OPCC is among 25 presented with a Quality Mark for Transparency this week.

The Quality Mark has been awarded by Comparing Police and Crime Commissioners (CoPaCC), an independent national body that monitors police governance. CoPaCC recognises excellent performance by Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and their Offices (OPCCs) by making regular CoPaCC Awards.

During an event hosted in London by the leading police assurance provider, Grant Thornton, Gwent OPCC Chief Executive, Siân Curley, and Information Officer, Joanne Regan, were presented with the Transparency Quality Mark by CoPaCC Chief Executive, Bernard Rix along with Paul Grady, Head of Police for Grant Thornton.

The CoPaCC award was presented for how the PCC and his office provide 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.

Congratulating the team on their award, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, Jeff Cuthbert, said: “I am delighted that my office has been recognised for the third year in a row for our efforts in meeting the statutory transparency requirements. I am held to account at a local level by the public and it is important that my office provides up to date and clear information that is understandable. This award demonstrates that the public can have confidence that the information we provide is accessible and transparent.”

On receiving the award, Siân Curley, the Chief Executive for the Gwent Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "Being open and transparent with the community is essential and it is imperative that we provide readily accessible information. I would like to congratulate the team on their efforts in consistently meeting the standards required."

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."

For further information, please visit www.gwent.pcc.police.uk