South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Alun Michael will host a virtual 'Community Conversations' meeting next Tuesday.

The hour-long meeting will take place via Zoom, at 6pm on 24 November.

Community Conversations aim to provide residents across South Wales with the opportunity to speak directly to the Commissioner about his role, their views and experiences of local policing and their community safety concerns.

Anyone wishing to get involved can email [email protected].

What is a Police and Crime Commissioner?

The Police and Crime Commissioner is elected by the public, and holds the police force accountable. Alun Michael works as a 'voice of the public' and aims to ensure that policing and safety concerns across communities in South Wales and addressed.

Some of the Commissioner's duties include:

• Setting the local policing priorities, published in a Police and Crime Plan.

• Consulting with and involving the public about matters relating to policing.

• Setting the annual police budget and police council tax precept.

• Scrutinising, supporting and challenging the performance of the force.

• Collaborating with other forces and criminal justice agencies.

• Administering an Independent Custody Visiting Scheme (to check on the welfare of people held in police custody).

• Appointing and, if necessary, dismissing the Chief Constable.

• Investigating complaints against the Chief Constable and monitoring complaints against other officers and staff.

• The Commissioner and his team work in partnership with a range of agencies at a local and national level to create a unified approach to preventing and reducing crime across South Wales.