Christopher Salmon was elected the first Police and Crime Commissioner of Dyfed-Powys in November. He and England and Wales’ other 42 PCCs replaced the former Police Authorities.
Mr Salmon is tasked by the Government to cut crime and make the police more efficient across Powys, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion. He is the public’s voice on policing matters and has appointed Chief Constable Simon Prince to manage the police force’s day-to-day operations.
Aged 35, Mr Salmon was raised in Presteigne, Radnorshire, and is around seven months into his new role. On June 13 he hosts a public launch of his strategic police and crime plan in Newtown’s Oriel Davies Gallery.
Here he answers some key questions posed by MyNewtown and MyWelshpool.
What are your priorities for policing in North Powys?
Nothing is more important than the safety of our homes and families. I have a five-year plan which reflects that, with six priorities for Powys and our police force’s other three counties. They are:
• Preventing and tackling crime
• Protecting vulnerable people
• Bringing people to justice
• Enhancing access to police services
• Ensuring high standards of professionalism
• Spending wisely
These priorities come from the people of Caersws, Llanidloes, Machynlleth, Montgomery, Newtown, Welshpool and other communities across North Powys and the whole force area. These are their priorities. My 2013-18 Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Plan is their plan.
What has had the most impact upon you in your first months in the job?
I always knew that geography was the biggest challenge facing this force; the area’s population of around 515,000 is spread across 4,188 square miles – or 52% of Wales. And that remains my feeling more than seven months into the job. Policing far-flung locations brings its own challenges – and that’s the main reason why I’m determined that Dyfed-Powys Police will always have access to a helicopter.
On a more grassroots level, the biggest impression made on me is the strength of our communities across North Powys and the rest of the force area. With regular visits to my parents’ home in Presteigne and to other parts of Powys, I witness spirit and togetherness on a day-to-day basis. Meeting people in towns such as Welshpool and Newtown – and in the local villages – I get the impression that there’s a deep rooted willingness to help the police keep our communities safe.
How do you plan to cope with the financial challenges facing the police?
Like all public sector services, the police must now spend a lot more effectively than in recent years. I prefer to talk of what we can do to give people the service they need rather than what we can’t do due to cost restraints. For instance, there will be great opportunities with the use of new technology and significant benefits to be gained from looking afresh at how Dyfed-Powys Police work in partnership with other criminal justice and community agencies. For that reason I’ve asked the Chief Constable to review the accessibility of policing services and we’re also conducting a partnerships review. Close to home, I’ve restructured the old Police Authority Office which I inherited, cutting costs by around 15% whilst building a small team of talented advisors with a broad base of professional skills and knowledge.
Powys has had relatively low crime rates for many years – how can we keep up this momentum?
Well, the police will be professional, trustworthy, efficient and well managed. But the force is only one factor in how people can be made to feel safer across Powys and our other three counties. Dyfed-Powys Police and our communities can together bring criminals to justice.
Together, we can do more by working with our partners, thinking innovatively and adapting. The years ahead present exciting opportunities. Most exciting of all is the chance for us all to make our communities better places to live.
It may only seem like a small thing, but I’ve launched The Commissioner’s Fund which allows police staff and officers the chance to nominate positive community initiatives for grants of up to £5,000. Little things can mean a lot.
Do you have plans for more or fewer bobbies on the beat?
I’d like to see police officers and PCSO’s spending more time in their community. To be effective, the police need trust and that isn’t something officers can put on with a uniform – it must be earned over many years of public-focused service. Our force’s Neighbourhood Policing Teams already work hard in their own communities, highlighting, refreshing and tackling local priorities as they occur.
Of course, I can’t promise hundreds of new police officers suddenly walking our streets – that’s not economically viable. But I do promise that we’ll look carefully and creatively at how officers and PCSO’s can be increasingly accessible to the people they serve in our towns and villages.
Do you have any initiatives planned for more engagement with the public?
Yes! As the voice of the public on all things criminal justice, I need their thoughts on how our policing services can evolve in the modern era. That means I will keep listening to people on an efficient ongoing basis. My 2013-18 Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Plan was launched with a series of public events across the region, I plan more public surgeries for one-to-one chats, I have speaking engagements with local groups booked several months ahead and I’ll be busy this summer with country shows. As I grew up on a farm in Powys I’m more that happy with that part of my new role!
Find out more about the Commissioner on his website
www.dyfed-powys.pcc.police.uk