Police chief delivering reforms, says commissioner after report

THE woman responsible for overseeing the police service in Gwent says she is confident it is improving after its latest inspection report.

- ABBIE WIGHTWICK

Police and Crime Commissioner Jane Mudd, who was elected to the post last year, said the report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Service, has recognised improvements since the force’s last inspection in 2021-22.

The inspector's latest report, covering 2023-25, found Gwent Police needs to improve how it investigates crime and protects vulnerable people.

It has highlighted pressures on the service, with sergeants having high case loads of ongoing investigations, leads in inquiries being missed and PCSOs being sent to deal with incidents they aren’t trained to deal with.

Ms Mudd also has confidence in Chief Constable Mark Hobrough’s reforms, implemented after he took over last December, to move away from a local area approach to a leadership model based on the police's functions.

The inspectors said it is too early to judge the outcomes of the reform, but said the force leadership needs to improve how it communicates those changes to officers.

Ms Mudd said: “As the report points out, Gwent Police’s senior leadership team has changed substantially over the last year.

“Chief Constable Hobrough has implemented a new operating model for Gwent Police which I am confident is driving improvements across the force. I am seeing positive progress made against the priorities in my Police, Crime and Justice Plan, and a greater emphasis on putting victims first.

“To ensure continued improvement I have strengthened the scrutiny work that my office and I undertake. This is driving greater accountability and provides me with continued assurance and confidence that Gwent Police is improving its response to the issues that matter most.”