Janet Finch-Saunders
Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the use of public spaces protection orders to ensure community safety?
A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddatganiad am ddefnyddio gorchmynion gwarchod mannau cyhoeddus er mwyn sicrhau diogelwch cymunedol?
Carl Sargeant
I thank the Member for her question. The use of PSP orders is a matter for local authorities, who must consult with their local police force and community representatives.
Diolch i’r Aelod am ei chwestiwn. Mae’r defnydd o orchmynion gwarchod mannau cyhoeddus yn fater i awdurdodau lleol, sy’n gorfod ymgynghori â’u heddlu a’u cynrychiolwyr cymunedol lleol.
Janet Finch-Saunders
That’s a bit brave. Okay. With the introduction of public spaces protection orders going forward, you’ll be aware of the media outcry, actually, in Conway, with the previous cabinet, I might add, where it has been proven that enforcement officers—external ones—have been very overzealous in terms of targeting my constituents and visitors. Now, with the public spaces protection orders going forward, we’re being told that this is a remedy. How are you going to be working, Cabinet Secretary, with the UK Government and our chief constables across Wales to perhaps look at making PCSOs in uniform more involved in these kinds of environmental crimes, going forward. I have raised it before with you and with your predecessor—about how we can perhaps have a more uniform approach in terms of enforcement across Wales, and, certainly, I do believe that Conwy County Borough Council isn’t the only one where there are issues regarding the enforcement of FPNs and those kinds of environmental crimes.
Mae hynny braidd yn ddewr. Iawn. Gyda chyflwyno gorchmynion gwarchod mannau cyhoeddus yn y dyfodol, fe fyddwch yn gwybod am y brotest ar y cyfryngau, yng Nghonwy mewn gwirionedd, gyda’r cabinet blaenorol, gallwn ychwanegu, lle y profwyd bod swyddogion gorfodi—rhai allanol—wedi bod yn orfrwdfrydig iawn o ran targedu fy etholwyr ac ymwelwyr. Nawr, gyda’r gorchmynion gwarchod mannau cyhoeddus yn y dyfodol, dywedir wrthym fod hyn yn ateb. Sut y byddwch chi’n gweithio, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, gyda Llywodraeth y DU a’n prif gwnstabliaid ledled Cymru i ystyried sicrhau, o bosibl, fod swyddogion cymorth cymunedol yr heddlu mewn lifrai yn chwarae mwy o ran yn y mathau hyn o droseddau amgylcheddol yn y dyfodol? Rwyf wedi dwyn hyn i’ch sylw chi a’ch rhagflaenydd o’r blaen—ynglŷn â sut y gallwn gael dull mwy unffurf o orfodi, o bosibl, ledled Cymru, ac yn sicr, nid wyf yn credu mai Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy yw’r unig un lle y ceir materion yn ymwneud â gorfodi hysbysiadau cosb benodedig a’r mathau hynny o droseddau amgylcheddol.
Carl Sargeant
I think the Member is right to raise the issue. Public spaces protection orders were established under sections 59 to 65 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. They are a matter for local authorities and the police. I would also encourage support from the Member in regard to the devolution of policing. Therefore, we would be able to manage all of these issues from the Welsh Government, as opposed to asking her colleagues to try and help us with trying to change for the better our communities, with the support of the police and PCSOs.
Rwy’n credu bod yr Aelod yn iawn i godi’r mater. Cafodd gorchmynion gwarchod mannau cyhoeddus eu sefydlu o dan adrannau 59 i 65 o Ddeddf Ymddygiad Gwrthgymdeithasol, Troseddu a Phlismona 2014. Mater i awdurdodau lleol a’r heddlu ydynt. Buaswn hefyd yn annog cefnogaeth gan yr Aelod mewn perthynas â datganoli plismona. Felly, gallem reoli pob un o’r materion hyn o Lywodraeth Cymru, yn hytrach na gofyn i’w chydweithwyr geisio ein helpu i newid ein cymunedau er gwell, gyda chefnogaeth yr heddlu a swyddogion cymorth cymunedol yr heddlu.