The Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Panel met to conduct a confirmation hearing for the proposed appointment of Ifan Charles as the new Chief Constable for Dyfed-Powys Police, and to review a number of reports and plans. The panel confirmed the appointment of Ifan Charles as the new Chief Constable. They also received a number of reports, including the Annual Report of the Police and Crime Commissioner, a progress report on Police and Crime Plan Priority 1, and reports on decisions made by the Police and Crime Commissioner, the Policing Protocol, and the OPCC Business Plan.

Appointment of Chief Constable

The main item of business was the confirmation hearing for the appointment of Ifan Charles as the new Chief Constable for Dyfed-Powys Police. The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 places a statutory duty upon the Panel to review the proposed appointment and report to the Commissioner whether the candidate should be appointed.

The Panel were asked to consider whether Ifan Charles has the required level of professional competence and personal independence to carry out the role. They were advised that they should not ask questions relating to his personal political views, decisions made by the previous Chief Constable, any operational matters he may have to deal with if appointed, or matters of local controversy.

The Police and Crime Commissioner presented a report to the panel, outlining the appointment process and the reasons for selecting Ifan Charles as the preferred candidate. The report noted that the opportunity was advertised on a number of websites, including the National Police Chief's Council and the College of Policing.

The Commissioner was supported throughout the process by an Appointments Panel, namely:

• Mike Connelly, Deputy Director Community Safety Division, Welsh Government
• Iwan Thomas, Chief Executive, Planed
• Wendy Walters, Chief Executive, Carmarthenshire County Council
• Sir Andy Marsh, Chief Executive of the College of Policing (Policing Adviser)
• Naomi Alleyne, Deputy Chief Executive, Welsh Local Government Association (Independent Member)

The panel considered a report from Naomi Alleyne, the Independent Member of the Appointments Panel, on the process undertaken, along with the Police and Crime Commissioner's report in relation to his appointment decision.

The report noted that Ifan Charles has 20 years of policing experience, having joined Dyfed-Powys Police in 2004. He has served in every rank and has been the Basic Command Unit Commander in both Carmarthenshire and Powys.

The report stated:

Ifan's performance throughout the selection process was authentic, credible and confident. Strategic awareness, focus and innovation was demonstrated during the presentation to the Appointments Panel, where he addressed the question In your opinion, what are the priorities for policing in the next 5-10 years and consider the potential impact for Dyfed-Powys as a rural force? What will you put in place to prepare and future proof the organisation? . His response was well considered, structured and thorough.

The Panel unanimously supported the appointment and resolved to confirm Ifan Charles as the Chief Constable of Dyfed-Powys Police.

Reports Received

The Panel received a number of reports for review and consideration.

Annual Report of the Police and Crime Commissioner

The Panel received the Annual Report of the Police and Crime Commissioner for 2024-2025. The Commissioner noted that the report was in draft format and that the style had been revised to provide greater clarity on aspects such as strategic activities, key projects, and pilot schemes that have been funded across various areas.

A question was raised about whether a report was available containing the findings of the 'Night Time Economy Analysis' conducted as part of the 'Serious Violence Duty'. The Commissioner agreed to circulate the analysis findings with the Panel.

In relation to the Commissioner's attendance at the Wales Anti-Slavery conference, a question was raised on how much of an issue modern slavery and human trafficking are within the force area. The Commissioner advised that these are considered hidden, low-volume crimes, which have a high degree of harm, and that the Force has strategies in place and works closely with partners to manage these issues, citing the recent arrests undertaken as part of Operation Scotney as a successful example of this in practice.

The Panel resolved to receive the report.

Progress Report on Police and Crime Plan Priority 1

The Panel received a progress report related to Priority 1 of the Police and Crime Plan. Following the review, a range of focus areas for scrutinising force performance was identified. The Commissioner assured the Panel that the force's overall performance is improving, and that the force's leadership had oversight of potential disparities in performance delivery and how those can be addressed.

Concerns were raised by the Panel regarding:

• The high percentage (over 40%) of victims declining/withdrawing support each month for domestic abuse, stalking, harassment and sexual offences. The Commissioner stated that efforts are underway to reduce this figure through initiatives, including the Domestic Abuse Video Response Unit (DAVRU).
• The reduced presence of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) at community meetings. The Commissioner advised this is likely related to the need for them to be active in other areas given the reduction in overall numbers of PCSOs, and the Force's new strategy, which posits PCSOs undertaking more visible policing and problem-solving work within communities.
• The extent to which Dyfed-Powys Police has focused on Restorative Justice, given its relation to victim experience. The Commissioner asserted that this is an area that generally requires further exploration and investment, and that it hadn't been a key priority within the Force across recent years.
• Whether Dyfed-Powys records all crimes, and the force's progress towards achieving the target range of 95% in terms of 'Crime volumes, outcomes and data integrity'. The Commissioner informed the Panel that the force is making progress towards the 95% target but was unable to provide complete assurance that every crime is recorded.
• Variation in the 40% figure for domestic abuse, stalking, harassment, and sexual offences, and whether victim-blaming was evident within those. The Commissioner confirmed both the variance and the presence of victim-blaming, and noted that officers now receive training to identify victim-blaming throughout investigations and victim response processes as a result of Operation Soteria.
• The force's current position on recruitment and staff turnover. The Commissioner noted that staff turnover remains a challenge, with the vacancy factor in the revenue budget increased this year to accommodate this.

The Panel resolved to receive the report.

Decisions Made by the Police and Crime Commissioner

The Panel considered a report on decisions the Commissioner made between 1 April and 30 June 2025. Section 28 (6) of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 requires all decisions and actions undertaken by the Commissioner to be reviewed in alignment with the discharge of his functions.

The Commissioner drew particular attention to the decision relating to the 'Select Committee', with the first activity on this taking place on 16 July 2025, which included representation from the Police and Crime panel. The Commissioner also noted that they had no involvement in any aspect of the 'Calon Tysul Funding' decision, given their personal geographical proximity to the beneficiaries.

The Panel resolved to receive the report.

Policing Protocol - Performance Report

The Panel received a performance report in relation to the Policing Protocol Order for Quarter 1 of the 2025-26 financial year. It was reported that over the last quarter, the performance of many actions resulted in more Ambers than Greens, which was predominantly attributed to the requirement of appointing a new Chief Constable and the subsequent elements associated with that process.

A question was raised about the 'Explore and maximise external funding opportunities' action, specifically the £1m Hotspot Action Fund and the opportunity to apply for Hywel Dda Funds. The Commissioner noted that the Hotspot Action Fund was allocated but must be drawn from the Home Office per the grant's terms and conditions.

In response to a query about collaboration sites with Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority, amid concerns over police station closures, the Commissioner noted that these opportunities to collaborate at specific police station locations had been outlined in previous meetings, and reiterated that the arrangements are not related to a withdrawal of services, but rather serve to safeguard emergency services presence in communities and ensure a more prudent use of finances towards future capital investment.

The Panel resolved to note the report.

OPCC Business Plan - Progress Report

The Panel received the progress report of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner's (OPCC) Business Plan for Quarter 1 of the 2025-26 financial year. The report outlined the progress made in delivering the business plan's requirements in alignment with the priorities of the Commissioner's Police and Crime Plan. It was noted that many areas were still in the initial phases of progress achieved, although some significant developments had been realised, including with the Select Committee Approach.

The Panel resolved to note the report.

Review of the OPCC Business Plan for 2025-2026

The Panel received the OPCC's Business Plan for 2025-2026 for review, and were reminded that changes had been implemented to the OPCC's business planning process to reflect a greater focus on assessing progress on a longer-term basis, to ensure greater alignment with the Commissioner's Police and Crime Plan.

The Panel resolved to note the report.