Cllr. Anthony Taylor has already commented on the annual visit of the South Wales Police top brass. Ms Wilding’s announcement that she would retire shortly made a mockery of my prediction in another place that she could be in line for the top job at the Met. However, she is clearly still vigorous – 58 is no age these days – so, surely, she is not lost to public life.

There are one or two points from her presentation which I should like belatedly to add to Cllr Taylor’s report and the Evening Post article he links to.

She had taken a very rigorous approach to sick leave and other absences. South Wales Police’s monitoring system was better than that of the NHS or of any local authority in Wales. With respect to senior officers, it exceeded the Home Office standard. It was not quite there yet in respect of junior ranks, but improving.

 

Ms Wilding also reported that all her PCs were on the front-line, having moved 180 officers from back-office duties. South Wales Police was now up to strength.

 

However, she warned that the recession would see an increase in crime. The signs were already there. She was particularly worried about the predicted rise in domestic violence.

The points that Ms Wilding made about the improvements in technology were reinforced at the Cadoxton/Aberdulais PACT meeting on 14th January. The ourbobby web site had been improved

There was also publicity for the Skewen Neighbourhood Policing Team. Officers dedicated to Cadoxton, Cilfrew and Aberdulais are stationed at Skewen police station, and can be contacted on 01792 456999, extn. 68315.

The mobile phone numbers for our PCSOs are: Sally Thomas, 07805 301 534; and Darren Thomas, 07805 301 576.

Most of the complaints raised at the meeting related to Cilfrew and Aberdulais, but the failure of the council to respond to a request for an extension of the no-waiting zone in Bryn Catwg was mentioned. I shall be taking this up with The Quays.

The next PACT meeting will be on 24th March.

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