Elections 2024 The Wallich’s asks for Police and Crime Commissioner candidates
Elections 2024 The Wallich’s asks for Police and Crime Commissioner candidates
The Wallich is Wales’s largest homelessness charity, delivering more than 100 services across 20 Welsh local authorities.
We invite prospective Police and Crime Commissioner candidates to join us in advocating for people who experience homelessness, rough sleeping, substance use and poor mental health.
At The Wallich, we are asking PCC candidates to consider:
End over-policing of people experiencing homelessness, rough sleeping or anyone who has nowhere to go
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The UK Criminal Justice Bill
We ask that if the Bill is made law that you will work with homelessness charities on interpretations of vague language around rough sleeping.
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Focus on rehabilitation and community solutions over arrests
We believe over-policing of people we support leads to increased risk of putting people in unmanageable debt through fines, higher risk of re-offending and increased risk of release into homelessness.
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Discourage Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) focusing on rough sleeping or begging
We believe many of the aims of a PSPO can be better met through ASB laws. PSPOs are often left open to interpretation and end up driving people who need support away from the services to help them.
Embrace harm reduction approaches to substance use
We believe substance use is a health issue, not a criminal justice issue. We believe it’s time for a realistic discussion on how we tackle drugs in Wales.
- Commit to working with drug specialist agencies
- Every member of the police should be trained to carry Naloxone
- Encourage drug testing through WEDINOS or work with agencies to provide rapid access testing within communities
- Be open to piloting an Overdose Prevention Centre in Wales
Trauma informed responses mental health call outs
We see how much resource that police officers have to commit to responding to people in a mental health crisis.
- Embrace the Trauma Informed Framework for Wales – encourage your officers to see the person in front of them, not the crisis in front of them
- Align with local mental health and homelessness strategies in the region
- Help us influence Welsh health boards and local authorities with the asks in our Mental Health on Hold report.
Who you can vote for in the PPC elections – 2 May 2024
Gwent:
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Labour – Jane Mudd
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Conservatives – Hannah Jarvis
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Plaid Cymru – Donna Cushing
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Liberal Democrats – Mike Hamilton
South Wales:
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Labour – Emma Wools
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Conservatives – George Carroll
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Plaid Cymru – Dennis Clarke
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Liberal Democrats – Sam Bennett
North Wales:
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Labour – Andy Dunbobbin
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Conservatives – Brian Jones
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Plaid Cymru – Ann Griffith
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Liberal Democrats – Richard Marbow
Dyfed Powys:
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Labour – Philipa Ann Thompson
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Conservatives – Ian Harrison
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Plaid Cymru – Dafydd Llywelyn
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Liberal Democrats – Justin Griffiths
Open a conversation with The Wallich
We would welcome open discussions with you during your candidacy and beyond.
Please contact communications@thewallich.net to arrange a meeting with one of our experts.