5. Debate on the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee report: 'Life on the streets: preventing and tackling rough sleeping in Wales'

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:59 pm on 13 June 2018.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Jenny Rathbone Jenny Rathbone Labour 3:59, 13 June 2018

I think it's very heart-warming that a lot of Members who weren't on the committee and involved in the inquiry have shown an interest in it, because, obviously, I hope that you've found it useful. It was certainly a very interesting inquiry to be involved in.

I just wanted briefly to pay tribute to a couple of local organisations that I deal with on a regular basis. One is Cardiff Council's homelessness service and the way in which they have trained up at least five people to go out, three nights a week, up until midnight, to talk to people who are living on the streets to ensure that they get an assessment of their needs, because these are people who may not make their way to the homeless service on Dumballs Road. I think that that shows that they really are at the forefront of working with people on this difficult issue.

Secondly, I'm very pleased that the Government has accepted recommendation 24 to encourage all police services to use the video cameras they wear on their uniforms for these difficult conversations with people on the street, because it gives a proper record of the conversation, which can be a very difficult one if somebody's in the middle of a mental health episode or is inebriated, but it's also a fantastic training opportunity for those who are having to deal with what can be very difficult and challenging people who have a multiplicity of needs. So, I think that it's very good that we endeavour to see this good practice extended to all our police forces who are involved in these difficult conversations.

Thirdly, I'm very pleased that the Government has accepted recommendation 4, agreeing to re-establish the prisoner accommodation and resettlement group, because we received very clear evidence that the revolving door is alive and well and that some prisoners are falling through the cracks. The homeless and housing services don't know about people when they're being released in a timely fashion and some of these people are ending up back on the streets and inevitably then end up back in prison, at huge cost to the public purse. So, I think it's great that we endeavour to ensure that that is not happening.