3. Will the Deputy Minister make a statement on improving community safety in Swansea? OAQ54828

Our Safer Communities programme is taking forward recommendations arising from the 'Community safety in Wales' report produced by the Wales Audit Office. It does so via a multi-agency approach with key partners.

Thank you very much for that wonderful response, Minister.

You will be aware that Swansea's high street has struggled over recent times with regard to crime in the area, in terms of drug use, prostitution, theft, and violence. The problem has been there for months—years, really—and 75 crimes were recorded in the months of September and October alone. Now, given that you as Welsh Government have a key role to play both in terms of community safety and regeneration, and supporting initiatives like treating drug and alcohol misuse, homelessness, rough-sleeping and victim protection, what more are you planning to do, in conjunction with South Wales Police and Swansea Council, to tackle this problem on one of Swansea's key gateways?

Well, the Welsh Government is committed to making our communities safer, and it has to be joint action that is taken to reduce anti-social behaviour and crime—not directly devolved matters, but we have responsibilities to make sure that we can do everything in our power to make the people of Wales safer and feel safer. We are, of course, embedding a public health approach at the heart of our programme. I chaired the latest meeting of the Policing Partnership Board for Wales. For example, we focused last week on substance misuse, which, of course, is an issue, as you have raised. And I think Operation Sceptre, during the period of 1 July to 30 September this year, including a Swansea taskforce, in terms of dealing with substance misuse—. But this is—. Clearly, Swansea Bay critical incident group, which is also looking at these issues, is crucially important. But we are taking forward the recommendations arising from the Wales Audit Office report on community safety, as I said, via this multi-agency approach.

I wonder, Deputy Minister, if I can just push you a little bit further on that. Because, as you know, fairly recently, South Wales Police, in order to try and combat street prostitution in particular on Swansea's High Street, have introduced, with some controversy, the public protection orders. The result of this, perhaps predictably, is that both the women and those who exploit them have simply moved elsewhere. I wonder if you can give us further information about what the taskforce has recommended, because I think it should be of concern to us all that the police have told us that the best way or the only way to get the greatest intervention to support these women against exploitation is actually to arrest them, which I think is probably a hammer to crack a nut there. What can you tell us about the devolved services you have access to that can help the women and, of course, some men as well, out of this trap without the prerequisite of an arrest? 

Well, I'm also very grateful, Suzy Davies, that you've raised that issue about vulnerabilities as well, particularly of women in this situation, and clearly there is a balance to be struck here about addressing issues, such as substance misuse and the impact of that, that I've outlined in Operation Sceptre. But it is clearly the responsibility not just of the local authority and health board, but also—. I have to say this takes me to the female offending blueprint in terms of how we can intervene and seek to support women in this situation, and look at the Safer Wales approach to ensuring that safety on the streets is for those who are most vulnerable and that the Swansea bay issues are being dealt with on a multi-agency basis.