We are pleased to present the Gwent Police Authority and Gwent Police Local Policing Plan for 2012-2015.

It sets out our priorities and targets and also provides details our performance during 2011 – 2012. The plan reflects our commitment to local issues and to the government’s main priority for the police service, which is to cut crime. The plan is reviewed each year with an emphasis on the following 12 months, with each year’s plan informing the next.

Public authorities are facing an unprecedented challenge to deliver first-class services over the next few years.  With policing facing radical change and substantial cuts to budgets this plan outlines how we are rising to this challenge.  Gwent Police is however well placed to meet these challenges and the Police Authority is working with the Force to continue to identify all possible areas for efficiency savings whilst improving performance. Through our ‘Staying Ahead’ review programme the saving for the period 2008-12 has been achieved and equates to over £17 million.  We have also had great success in reducing crime and bringing people to justice and importantly, public confidence also continues to improve. This is down to the hard work and commitment of our Police Authority members, police officers and staff, the active support of our partners and communities and our Neighbourhood Policing Teams who are listening to their communities and reflecting their concerns in their local priorities.

In 2012 police authorities will be replaced by elected Police and Crime Commissioners. The Police Authority and Chief Constable have been keen to ensure that the financial and operating plans that have been developed will provide a robust basis to carry through this change in governance whilst remaining committed to providing an effective and efficient police service.

Policing is complex, from dealing with anti-social behaviour and road safety to organised criminal groups. We cannot outline the hundreds of different activities undertaken every day however we have set out in this document the key priorities for the Authority and the Force over the coming three years through which we will be held to account.  This plan explains how we will continue to improve and develop the police service provided to you and the diverse communities of Gwent and in formulating our plan we have balanced the views of the public with national priorities and policing intelligence. 

We see our core role as Protecting and Reassuring Local Communities 

We will do this by focussing on:

• Those who cause most harm
• Protecting the vulnerable
• Effectively deploying resources to mitigate threat, harm and risk
• Working with partners to solve the problems identified by communities
• Ensuring the effective and efficient use of resources at all time. 

By implementing this plan we are confident that we can continue to protect and reassure the people of Gwent, making it a safer place.