“Safe, Heard, Respected”: PCC Emma Wools launches South Wales’ first Children and Young People’s Police, Crime and Justice Plan

“Safe, Heard, Respected”: PCC Emma Wools launches South Wales’ first Children and Young People’s Police, Crime and Justice Plan

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for South Wales, Emma Wools, will today (Monday 13 October) launch a landmark Children and Young People’s Police, Crime and Justice Plan, shaped by the voices of over 5,000 young people across South Wales.

This is the first plan of its kind in South Wales, setting out six clear priorities to ensure that young people feel safe, heard, and respected in their communities and crucially, that their voices help drive policing and community safety decisions.

Alongside the launch, the Commissioner has underlined her commitment to children and young people by highlighting that, in this financial year alone, her office is investing more than £1.6 million in projects, services and programmes that support their safety, wellbeing, and future.

Speaking ahead of the launch, PCC Emma Wools said:

“Thousands of young people gave us their time and their trust. They spoke honestly about their fears and frustrations, but also about their hopes and ambitions for their communities.

This plan sets out how we will respond to those voices. And I want to be clear: our commitment is already real and tangible. This year alone, my office is investing more than £1.6 million in projects, services and programmes that support children and young people across South Wales.

 This plan will ensure that investment, and all of our efforts, are guided by what young people themselves have told us matters most. This plan is not just words on a page. It is a promise, a commitment to listen, to act, and to work together so that every child in South Wales feels safe, heard and respected.”

The Six Priorities

The plan sets out six priorities for the next four years:

1. Making our communities safer – tackling violence, online safety, antisocial behaviour, and exploitation, while supporting young people to shape safer neighbourhoods.
2. Promoting a positive police presence – ensuring police engage more with schools, youth groups, and communities to build trust and visibility in the right way.
3. Building trust and improving communication – training officers to listen and respect young people, improving transparency, and giving young people a stronger role in scrutiny and decision-making.
4. Improving crime reporting and ways to feedback – creating child-friendly reporting tools, ensuring young people are kept informed, and sharing outcomes more openly.
5. Education, early intervention and prevention – working with schools and youth services to prevent harm, counter harmful online content, and support vulnerable young people before problems escalate.
6. Providing support for children and young people in vulnerable situations – ensuring timely, trauma-informed support for those affected by violence, crime, or difficult circumstances at home.

 PCC Emma Wools added:

 “This plan has been built with young people, for young people. But it is also a call to action for all of us, the police, schools, councils, health services, families and communities, to work together and deliver. Real change only happens when we listen, act and support one another.”

Minister for Children and Social Services, Dawn Bowden MS, said:

 “This groundbreaking plan demonstrates the power of listening to young voices and taking action on their priorities. We strongly support initiatives that put children and young people at the heart of community safety decisions. South Wales is leading the way in creating safer, more supportive environments where every child can thrive and reach their full potential.”

 Welsh Youth Parliament Member, Charlotte Williams said:

 “I really value the Commissioner’s commitment to putting children and young people at the centre of this plan. By genuinely listening to the young people’s voices, we have a real chance to shape policing and justice in a way that feels safer, fairer, and truly meet people’s needs.”

The PCC’s Office will now work with South Wales Police, schools, youth services, and community partners to deliver on the plan’s promises and measure progress.