South Wales Police launches new Welsh language ambition
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South Wales Police has today unveiled a new ambition to help ensure that the organisation plays its part in the Welsh Government's target of a million Welsh speakers by 2050.
The 2021 Census recorded that 17.8% of the national population is Welsh speaking and our ambition is to be representative of the communities we serve.
We have therefore set ourselves a target of having 18% of our organisation being at Level 3 Welsh or above by 2028. This would be 1143 speakers, an increase of 298 of our current establishment.
We also have a longer-term ambition by 2050 of increasing our Welsh-speaking working population of Level 3 and above to 30% (1845) through a combination of our internal language training offer and through recruitment to designated Welsh essential posts (in this respect we are also aware of the increasing number of Welsh speaking students coming from our Welsh-medium schools).
Outlining the ambition from the Maes of the National Eisteddfod in Pontypridd, South Wales Police Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan said:
“I’m passionate about our vision of becoming a truly bilingual police service.
“Our Welsh language standards have been embedded within the organisation for some time and have become part of daily business.
“We have made really positive progress, and I’m passionate about the next steps we take on this journey.
“As well as providing a Welsh and English language policing service to the communities we serve, I want to see an increased use of the Welsh language within the force and for it to become part of our organisational culture as a key Welsh public service.
“Through our Welsh language training and support we have seen an increase in the numbers of colleagues who are now confident Welsh speakers and passionate about learning the language.
“When we launched our Welsh Language policy in 2017 there was some concern that there would be a backlash against the added requirements on joining South Wales Police or on promotion. However, I have seen quite the opposite with our Welsh language learning and training provision oversubscribed much of the time.
“We are also seeing an increase in the number of new recruits who are Welsh speakers.
“People have really embraced the change, however, opportunities to use Welsh in everyday business remain the exception rather than the rule. We want this to change.”
Due to the proactive work and policies adopted in South Wales Police we have seen the number of people in our organisation with a recorded Welsh Language skill grow from 3191 in 2018 to 6149 by 2024 (with 4592 having the Welsh Language skill level of 2 and above).
Chief Constable Vaughan continued:
“I also want to ensure that colleagues who wish use their Welsh language skills are able to do so with ease and for the use of Welsh to be normalised within our organisation.
“This will be challenging, not least because our service relies heavily on ever evolving policing jargon which is inevitably developed in English.
“However, for us to make progress we need to keep pushing and work with other Welsh police forces and partner organisations within the Welsh criminal justice system and the College of Policing to break new ground.”
Chief Constable Vaughan is clear that the support of the public is required to help achieve this ambition, adding:
“I would urge members of the public who want a Welsh language service to exercise their right to receive this service.
“We are always keen to learn where we are doing well and where we can improve our Welsh language services.
“In addition, I’m keen for Welsh speakers or those learning Welsh who are interested in a career in policing to apply for roles and help us develop our organisation.
“We are looking for Welsh speakers to not only fill operational policing roles, we also have opportunities as call handlers, lawyers, in human resources, finance and many others."
Mr Vaughan concluded:
“I’m delighted to be able to launch this new ambition at the Eisteddfod in our force area. The amount of support and interest this event has generated in South Wales reflects the passion and good will towards the Welsh language which exists in our communities.
“I believe it’s important to look confidently to the future and push ourselves to play our role for the benefit of the Welsh language and do all we can to embed and normalise its use within South Wales Police."