Extracts from Questions to the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip
Dai Lloyd AM: You will be aware that Swansea's high street has
struggled over recent times with regard to crime in the area, in
terms of drug use, prostitution, thef, and violence. The problem
has been there for months—years, really—and 75 crimes were recorded
in the months of September and October alone. Now, given that you
as Welsh Government have a key role to play both in terms of
community safety and regeneration,...Request free trial
Extracts
from Questions to the Deputy Minister and Chief
Whip
: You will be aware that
Swansea's high street has struggled over recent times with regard
to crime in the area, in terms of drug use, prostitution, thef, and
violence. The problem has been there for months—years, really—and
75 crimes were recorded in the months of September and October
alone. Now, given that you as Welsh Government have a key role to
play both in terms of community safety and regeneration, and
supporting initiatives like treating drug and alcohol misuse,
homelessness, rough-sleeping and victim protection, what more are
you planning to do, in conjunction with South Wales Police and
Swansea Council, to tackle this problem on one of Swansea's key
gateways?
(Deputy Minister and
Chief Whip): Well, the Welsh Government is committed
to making our communities safer, and it has to be joint action
that is taken to reduce anti-social behaviour and crime—not
directly devolved matters, but we have responsibilities to make
sure that we can do everything in our power to make the people of
Wales safer and feel safer. We are, of course, embedding a public
health approach at the heart of our programme. I chaired the
latest meeting of the Policing Partnership Board for Wales. For
example, we focused last week on substance misuse, which, of
course, is an issue, as you have raised. And I think Operation
Sceptre, during the period of 1 July to 30 September this year,
including a Swansea taskforce, in terms of dealing with substance
misuse—. But this is—. Clearly, Swansea Bay critical incident
group, which is also looking at these issues, is crucially
important. But we are taking forward the recommendations arising
from the Wales Audit Office report on community safety, as I
said, via this multi-agency approach.
: I
wonder, Deputy Minister, if I can just push you a little
bit further on that. Because, as you know, fairly
recently, South Wales Police, in order to try
and combat street prostitution in particular on Swansea's
High Street, have introduced, with some controversy, the
public protection orders. The result of this, perhaps
predictably, is that both the women and those who exploit
them have simply moved elsewhere. I wonder if you can
give us further information about what the taskforce has
recommended, because I think it should be of concern to
us all that the police have told us that the best way or
the only way to get the greatest intervention to support
these women against exploitation is actually to arrest
them, which I think is probably a hammer to crack a nut
there. What can you tell us about the devolved services
you have access to that can help the women and, of
course, some men as well, out of this trap without the
prerequisite of an arrest?
: Well, I'm
also very grateful, Suzy Davies, that you've raised that
issue about vulnerabilities as well, particularly of
women in this situation, and clearly there is a balance
to be struck here about addressing issues, such as
substance misuse and the impact of that, that I've
outlined in Operation Sceptre. But it is clearly the
responsibility not just of the local authority and health
board, but also—. I have to say this takes me to the
female offending blueprint in terms of how we can
intervene and seek to support women in this situation,
and look at the Safer Wales approach to ensuring that
safety on the streets is for those who are most
vulnerable and that the Swansea bay issues are being
dealt with on a multi-agency basis.
Extract from
debate on the Children's Commissioner for Wales's
annual report
: I'm
really concerned as well that when children in care
allege that they're being abused, they're simply not
being listened to. I said this last time; I'll say it
again now because we're a few weeks further on: there's
a case that disturbs me greatly that cannot be dealt
with by the children's Commissioner for Wales because
it's an individual case. I have extreme concern at the
way the police have dealt with this matter. We are now
in December. I have been trying to get a meeting with
the most senior officer in South Wales Police, in public
protection, since July, and I have been unable to
organise or have this meeting. That really tells me
that South Wales Police do not take
child abuse or alleged child abuse seriously. That's a
point that I want to put on the record, and it's a
point that we should all be talking about as we go
towards the police and crime commissioner elections in
may next year...
To read the whole debate, CLICK HERE
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