If there is further devolution of policing to Senedd, will you ensure that issues specifically affecting women, including data collection, addressing violence against women and girls, and homophobic hate crime are priorities? 

Women in Wales have good reasons to mistrust the police and be concerned about call for devolution.

Women are particularly affected by 3 linked areas around policing. See link on data and link for some issues around violence. Homophobic hate crime also goes underreported, although it seems to be increasing.

Policing of violence against women and girls, has been described across the UK as a “national emergency”.

In Wales, many women still do not report abuse because they expect not to be believed or that the justice system is stacked against victims.

We know that victims’ outcomes are often poor, because few reports result in charges, investigations take much too long, and case sare closed without action.

Differences in how forces handle these crimes also raise concerns about consistency and fairness.

Trust is further undermined by well-publicised misconduct and cultural issues within policing, including cases involving misogynistic attitudes or abuse of power by officers. 

Some parties advocate devolving policing and criminal justice to the Senedd.

What will they do to address these issues?

How will they challenge the misogyny and homophobia that can characterise policing in Wales?

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Key references

Welsh Government – VAWDASV Annual Reports

HMICFRS – Police response to violence against women and girls

Office for National Statistics – Crime Survey for England and Wales

Nation.Cymru – Welsh policing investigations

ITV Cymru Wales – Hate crime reporting in Wales

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