03/28/2024

Wales News Online

Local & National News for Wales

Police and Crime Commissioner gives victims a voice in influencing and informing local policing services

Through the work of the Dyfed-Powys Victim Engagement Forum, Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner, Dafydd Llywelyn, has given victims a voice in police training, by working closely with some of its members to produce a video which will be incorporated into Dyfed-Powys Police’s training.

One of the priorities within Mr Llywelyn’s 2021-2025 Police and Crime Plan is that ‘victims are supported’. The Commissioner wants to ensure that victims are recognised and supported, through involving them in future policing practices and through learning from their experiences.

Members of the Victim Engagement Forum were interviewed about their experiences with Dyfed-Powys Police. Each provided feedback on what went well and what did not go well, as well as the advice they would give to officers dealing with a similar case to theirs, and how their experience has affected their future interactions with the Force.

The interviews have been brought together in to one training video which will be incorporated into Dyfed-Powys Police’s training package.Police and Crime Commissioner, Dafydd Llywelyn said, “I am proud to present the victims’ video to Dyfed-Powys Police’s Learning and Development Department, and I am truly grateful to the individuals who have given up their time to share their experiences with us.”

“This video will help to ensure that police officers and staff are provided with a real-life perspective of victims’ views of the policing service.”

Superintendent Craig Templeton, Head of Learning and Development said, “The training video created through the Victim Engagement Forum is such a vital and impactive resource for us to have. It is important that our new and existing police officers and police staff hear about victims’ experiences from the victims themselves.”“We will be using this video alongside the video depicting young people’s experiences of police contact, developed by the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Youth Ambassadors. Thank you to all involved.”

A member of the Victim Engagement Forum who took part in this project, spoke of their experience: “I am very pleased that I have done it, if it can help others in any way. I realise that there are things that only someone who has been through this type of crime can reveal to help others identify it.”

“I struggle sometimes with voicing my thoughts and feelings especially in front of others, but this whole process is helping. I can see that I have improved no end, after taking part in this project, and just how far I have come.”

“The support I have received from the Goleudy Team has also been invaluable and so important.”

Goleudy provides support for victims and witnesses across Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, and Powys. It is a vital service funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner, which can be accessed by victims and witnesses whether they have reported the crime to the police or not.

Here’s how to contact Goleudy: 0300 1232996 / goleudy@dyfed-powys.pnn.police.uk

Mr Llywelyn adds, “It is so important that victims’ and survivors get the support they need, and that their personal experiences are heard in order to influence, inform, and help to improve the local police services.”

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