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South Wales Argus

PCC Jane Mudd on police and LGBTQ during Pride month

I want our communities to be places where everyone can live their lives as themselves, free from fear and harm. Where everyone treats each other with the values of acceptance, tolerance, and respect. Coming together and celebrating our cultural differences helps us to build more cohesive communities and this month has been one of celebration. June is Pride month, and as well as joining colleagues and partners from across Wales to celebrate Pride Cymru in Cardiff, my team and I have supported smaller events across Gwent. We attended Torfaen Pride, which is now in its second year and is going from strength to strength, and the very first Bedwas Pride event in Caerphilly. Members of LGBTQ+ communities have often had a difficult relationship with policing, and our presence at these events is important to build trust and confidence. At the start of the month we celebrated national Volunteers Week and I met with members of my animal welfare visitor scheme who are responsible for welfare checks on Gwent's police dogs. They ensure the animals are happy, healthy, and well looked after. I would like to thank them, and all of Gwent's many volunteers, for the hard work they do to support their communities. I was honoured to be invited to the Senedd twice this month to celebrate occasions that are important to many of our residents. I attended a fantastic event to mark the end of Eid and it was lovely to join with our Muslim community to mark this important occasion. My team and I also took part in a special celebration to mark Windrush Day and recognise the contribution that the Windrush Generation have made here in Wales. The Windrush Generation refers to the African-Caribbean men, women and children who arrived in the UK on HMT Empire Windrush in 1948. They came at a time of great labour shortages in the UK and were welcomed as part of the country's efforts to rebuild after WWII. It was a joy to join with so many partners and pay tribute to those who have contributed so much to our communities. I campaigned for election with a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and I will never waver on this. I promised to invest in our communities and have created a new fund which aims to bring people across Gwent together, and build our mutual trust, confidence and respect. I look forward to launching this in the coming months. Jane Mudd is the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent.