The Gwynedd Community Safety Partnership has been praised by the Welsh Audit Office for improving standards and greater engagement between partners.
The Audit Office review, conducted in January 2009, showed that not only had the partnership acted on the recommendations of the last review, conducted in 2006, but had gone beyond what had been asked of them.
The partnership’s main achievement, according to the Audit Office, was greater engagement between partners.
The partnership was also praised for:
- induction information
- clearer targets
- improved monitoring of partnership progress
- increased awareness and knowledge of community safety
- improved mutual trust, respect and ownership
- better integration
Gwynedd Community Safety Partnership is aimed at tackling crime and disorder and improving the lives for the people of Gwynedd. It is made up of statutory and non-statutory members including Gwynedd Council, North Wales Police, Fire and Rescue Service the Police Authority and the Local Health Board as well as voluntary and community organisations and the business sector.
The joint chairmen of the partnership, Dafydd Lewis, Gwynedd Council Strategic Director and Geraint Anwyl of North Wales Police said that they were delighted with this achievement.
Divisional Police Commander, Geraint Anwyl, said: “During the period under review by the Wales Audit Office, the Partnership in Gwynedd achieved a reduction in offending of 18.5%, which was in excess of the target reduction of 15.7% set by the Home Office.
“This is an excellent example of how agencies working together for the benefit of the Community can achieve outstanding results. We aim to build on these achievements and work towards identifying the changing needs of our communities, and work together to respond to them.”
The aims of the Gwynedd Community Safety Partnership for the next two years will be set out in two strategic documents, which will be available to the public online. There will also be a public consultation to find public opinion on which issues affect communities the most.
Councillor John Wyn Williams, Gwynedd Council’s Senior Care Portfolio Leader, which includes community safety, added:
“During these difficult times, when financial pressures are an obstacle for most organisations, it is essential that the public sector works closely with partner organisations to tackle the issues that matter most to the public.
“The Gwynedd Community Safety Partnership is committed to this principle and the views of the public are essential in guiding the partnership on the way forward.
“We would extend a warm welcome to any member of the public to attend our forthcoming consultation event in Porthmadog Leisure Centre on 1 October. During the open day, a number of key partnerships and organisations will hold information sessions and discussing with the public what matters to them.”
The organisations taking part include the North Wales Police, Gwynedd Council, the Local Health Board, Fire and Rescue Service, the Probation Service, Older People’s Partnership, Criminal Justice Board, Police Authority.
For more information about the Gwynedd Community Safety Partnership go to www.nwcsp.org.uk
