7. 5. Statement: Working Together for Safer Communities

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:09 pm on 7 February 2017.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Siân Gwenllian Siân Gwenllian Plaid Cymru 4:09, 7 February 2017

(Translated)

Thank you very much for the statement, and it does include a number of matters. You’ll be very pleased to hear that I’m going to talk about four of those. I note that you are working with the police and crime commissioners on tackling extremism. I’d like to know whether this includes extremism by right-wing white groups, one of the main threats facing us in modern Wales, and whether you have a working programme to work with vulnerable young people who are at the margins of the far right and being drawn to them, unfortunately, at present.

Thank you for the update on the work that has been done since passing the violence against women Act, but as far as I can see, there’s nothing in the statement about developing healthy relationships in our schools. As you know, it was a discussion point when the Bill was going through. So, when will see quality healthy relationships education in our schools? This is an important part of this major societal change that is needed, and the respect that we need to engender towards each other, male or female.

I welcome the update about the wider role of the fire and rescue service following the reduction in fires, and I note that you are considering a new legal duty for response to flooding—something that we have been calling for for a long time. The success with the reduction in fires offers an opportunity to look at wider duties for the fire service. I’d like to know whether you are ready to consider that—that is, to expand out the role of the fire service.

The statement talks a great deal about the collaboration between devolved organisations and those that haven’t been devolved. But, clearly, there is an end point to that and I’m sure that there is conflict that will arise at times. Is that a fact that is becoming more and more frustrating to you, and would devolving the police, for example, help you to reach some of your objectives in this area? Would you be able to make more progress if some of these powers lay in Wales in order to move these issues forward?