OVERVIEW AND PURPOSE
The South Wales Criminal Justice Board (SWCJB) acts as the principal board in South Wales, providing governance and strategic direction for criminal and social justice partners, ensuring the effective delivery of outcomes to reduce crime, reoffending and creating safer communities, as well as ensuring resources are used efficiently. The board seeks to identify opportunities to align activity with other partnership arrangements across South Wales in order to provide a joint approach to efficient use of resources and effective delivery of priorities.
SWCJB DELIVERY PLAN 2026
The SWCJB Delivery Plan is focused on the following key priority areas for 2026:
- Build Trust, Confidence and Transparency.
- Reduce Reoffending
- Support Victims and Witnesses
- Address Disproportionality
CORE MEMBERSHIP
Board membership comprises of local decision makers from the following organisations:
- South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC)
- South Wales Police
- Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)
- HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS)
- HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), representing the Probation Service and the Prison Service
- Youth Justice Service
- Legal Aid Agency
- Victim Support
- Citizens Advice Witness Service
- Criminal Justice Board for Wales
- Community Justice Cymru
- Volunteer Sector Organisations
GOVERNANCE
The SWCJB holds quarterly meetings (as a minimum). It reports directly into the Criminal Justice Board for Wales (CJBfW) which brings together criminal justice partners including: HMPPS, HMCTS, the Youth Justice Board, Police services in Wales, Chief Constables in Wales, PCCs in Wales, CPS, Public Health Wales, Welsh Government, the Welsh Local Government Association, Voluntary Sector bodies and the Victims Commissioner. This Board is currently chaired by the South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner.
The Board is unique to Wales and enables members to come together as leaders across all aspects of the justice system with key stakeholders in Wales to focus on the big issues that the public care about and want to address. The year 2024 – 2025 included a focus on domestic abuse, rape response, victims’ rights, reducing offending and delivery of the Criminal Justice Anti Racism Action plan. For further information about the CJBfW, please consider the below linked annual reports.
The National Criminal Justice Board (CJB) maintains oversight of the criminal justice system (CJS) at a national level and promotes a collaborative approach to addressing its challenges. The CJB is chaired by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Ministry of Justice. It meets twice a year and is attended by senior leaders from across the CJS.
REPORTS
Criminal Justice Board for Wales Annual Reports
