|
The Community Safety Partnership in Gwynedd is being held back by a lack of measures within mainstream services, according to the Auditor General for Wales, Jeremy Colman. An inspection report, published today, also concludes that different organisational cultures between the groups involved are proving a barrier to success - with Gwynedd Council and North Wales Police working separately to a common agenda rather than working together in partnership.
Levels of crime in Gwynedd are low compared with the rest of Wales and the UK. Nevertheless, people are still very concerned about crime and disorder in the area. Crime and the fear of crime was identified as one of the main concerns of local people in responses to consultation on the community strategy, ‘Gwynedd Together’ which commits partner organisations to reducing crime, fear and anti-social behaviour in Gwynedd’s communities.
Today’s report shows that, while positive steps are being taken to reduce crime and disorder in the county, there are a number of factors limiting the Partnership’s effectiveness. For example, a lack of consensus at leadership level and difficulties in staying focused on key priorities.
Another area of concern is the lack of active involvement of Gwynedd councillors and Police Authority members in evaluating what has been achieved. Gaps in knowledge and awareness were limiting the Partnership’s ability to make progress even though the training budget was under spent.
A lack of participation by Magistrates or North Wales Magistrates Court in the Partnership is also a cause for concern.
The report does highlight several positive features. For example, community safety is represented at council board level by a senior politician. ‘Gwynedd Together’ sets out a long term vision that includes community safety as a key theme. Also, the Local Health Board has been actively involved in the development of a community strategy.
There are good examples of cooperation between partners at operational level, for example between the Fire and Rescue Service and Community Wardens. The Community Warden scheme is proving popular among residents and agencies are cooperating more to tackle truancy in the county.
Recommendations to the Partnership include calls to:
- Encourage councillors and police authority members to take part in the leadership group
- Provide an induction and training programme
- Strengthen focus on strategic priorities
- Integrate community safety into mainstream services
- Work more effectively with the community
The Auditor General, Jeremy Colman, said today:
"Effective partnerships are built on firm strategies, a clear focus and strong leadership. While the Gwynedd community safety partnership is working hard to reduce crime and disorder in the county, it needs to increase the number of initiatives in mainstream services, strengthen training provision for members and work more closely with community groups."
Notes to Editors:
- This report is the result of an inspection by the Wales Audit Office, which seeks to identify the key areas that need to be addressed by the Partnership to deliver improvement.
- Community Safety Partnerships are in their sixth year of operation. Local authorities and police forces have a joint responsibility to form partnerships with other key agencies such as probation, health services, and the voluntary sector, based on unitary local authority areas.
- Community safety was identified as a risk for Gwynedd Council, during its self-assessment for part of the Wales Programme for Improvement. As a result, it agreed to carry out a best value review, with WAO input, in the form of a staged inspection. This inspection report forms part of this process and follows on from a 2003 report.
- As part of the Wales Programme for Improvement, councils undertake self assessments of their corporate functions and service areas to identify areas of risk.
- The Wales Audit Office (WAO) is independent of government and is responsible for the annual audit of some £19 billion of annual public expenditure.
- The WAO was created on 1st April 2005 following the passing of the Public Audit (Wales) Act, which expanded the functions of the Auditor General for Wales and enabled the transfer of staffs from the Audit Commission in Wales and National Audit Office in Wales to his employment.
Ends
For more information please contact Rachel Harries (Communications and Media Officer) on 029-2026-2675. Or you can visit our website www.wao.gov.uk
|
