The Commissioner supports the Chief Constable in making South Wales Police the best at understanding and responding to our communities needs, and plays a leading role in community safety and crime reduction.

Her duties include:

  • Setting the local policing priorities, published in a Police and Crime Reduction Plan;
  • Scrutinise, support and challenge the performance of the force;
  • Set the annual police budget and council tax precept*;
  • Appoint* and, if necessary, dismiss the Chief Constable;
  • Publish an Annual Report and Statement of Accounts;
  • Attend meetings of the Police and Crime Panel;
  • Investigate complaints against the Chief Constable, and monitor all complaints against officers and staff;
  • Administer an Independent Custody Visiting Scheme;
  • Consult with and involve the public;
  • Collaborate with other forces and criminal justice agencies.
  • The Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales is the relevant review body for the following complaints:
    • Where the appropriate authority is South Wales Police
    • Where the complaint is not about the conduct of a senior officer
    • Where South Wales Police is able to satisfy itself, from the complaint alone, that the conduct complained of (if it were proved) would not justify the bringing of criminal or disciplinary proceedings
    • Where the complaint hasn’t been referred to the IOPC

* subject to veto of the Police and Crime Panel

The Police and Crime Commissioner is responsible for the local police funding. She receives all government grants and council tax precept payments, and allocates the budget, in consultation with the Chief Constable. The Chief Constable continues to be in charge of the operational policing in South Wales. The Police and Crime Commissioner is responsible for making sure the Chief Constable does this effectively, and is accountable to the public.

The Policing Protocol Order 2011, which has been issued by the Home Secretary, sets out the framework within which the Commissioner will be expected to work with the Chief Constable and Police and Crime Panel. The purpose of the Order is to enhance policing for local communities and clarify the functions of the respective parties. Additionally, it provides an explanation of the role of Home Secretary, information surrounding the operational independence of the Chief Constable and stipulates the respective financial responsibilities of the Commissioner and the Chief Constable.

Operational Independence

In fulfilling her role, an expectation will be placed upon the Commissioner to work closely with the Chief Constable, who will retain responsibility for operational activities and the daily management of the Force.

The Chief Constable is responsible for managing the Force’s budget, appointing and dismissing his staff and ensuring the effective delivery of the policing service to meet the needs of our communities.

It is of paramount importance to recognise that whilst the Home Secretary has overall responsibility for policing, and the Chief Constable is accountable to the Commissioner, the Chief Constable has operational independence in the direction and control of the Force. This is recognised by the law in order that he may operate without political interference.

Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables are required to have regard to the national Strategic Policing Requirement in exercising their respective roles.

This requirement focuses on those areas where government has a responsibility for ensuring that sufficient capabilities are in place to respond to serious and cross-boundary criminality threats such as terrorism, civil emergencies, public disorder and organised crime, and in support of the work of national agencies such as the National Crime Agency.

It does not cover areas where Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners are able to make effective local risk assessments.