Ever Wondered How Some Of Gwent’s Most Sensitive Cases Are Solved…
ake a closer look inside our Public Protection Unit.
Here at Gwent Police we believe in transparency.
We want you the public to understand how different types of crimes are solved and handled.
Our Public Protection Unit (PPU) is dedicated to some of the most sensitive cases, which sometimes don’t reach the public eye.
A lot of hard work, determination and justice are profound in PPU cases and we want YOU to know about it.
What is PPU and what do they do?
Gwent Police has a specialised Public Protection Unit which is a dedicated resource to investigate the following reports that occur within the Gwent area:
· Child protection, neglect, abuse and child sexual exploitation
· Domestic abuse
· Forced marriage
· Honour based violence
· Stalking
· Female genital mutilation
· Human trafficking and modern day slavery
Who runs the Public Protection Unit?
Our makeup within PPU includes a detective inspector who leads the department and three detective sergeants, who each have a portfolio of expertise and a team of detectives to supervise.
In PPU the work flow is not only generated from reports directly to the police but also referrals from partner agencies.
Despite the originating caller, police and agencies are governed by a legislative framework to ensure the welfare of the vulnerable person is considered throughout every case.
How do they work?
Having received a report of abuse to a vulnerable person a strategy discussion is held between the police and the local authority. Depending on the risk, this could be deemed as urgent at the initial stages.
The discussion then leads to a decision on an appropriate way forward and both sides will agree on the actions taken. Both agencies are responsible for allocating the referral and implementing the safeguards.
The police and the local authority work in unison to investigate the abuse. Police will compile evidence for the criminal court and if thresholds are met the local authority gather evidence for the family court.
A growing area of concern for PPU is Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE).
CSE is a form of sexual abuse that involves the manipulation and/or coercion of young people under the age of 18 into sexual activity.
In order to reduce the risk posed to children of sexual exploitation PPU have dedicated officers to safeguard some of the most vulnerable members of our community. The officers are trained to gather evidence and they spend considerable time with the victims to build a rapport that will give them the confidence to disclose any offences and the risk that is upon them.
Our dedicated officers work closely with partner agencies such as social services, health, education and the missing person’s team to ensure that all available information is shared and that the necessary actions are taken to reduce risk.
The information from this approach has been used to make several arrests recently, some of which have led to convictions.
One male was sentenced to 9 years for rape and two assaults another male has been sentenced to 10 years for having sexual activity with two children. Following this a male was convicted of child abduction and sexual activity with a child and received 2 years sentence.
Stay tuned for our next PPU blog.
Spotted something? Got a story? Email News@News.Wales
