It truly was a surprise farewell event for the outgoing South Wales Police Crime Commissioner Alun Michael. The enjoyable event at Y Pont Police Headquarters, Bridgend was a pleasure to attend.
Public figures are so often in the lime-light and it seems we know everything about them. Alun Michael has done so much in his working life that people either do not know or have forgotten about. I fall into both categories.
While many bemoan the rise of the ‘career politician.’ Commissioner Michael most certainly is not one of those.
Starting his working life as a journalist, for sixteen years Alun Michael worked as a Youth and Community worker. A JP for many years, Mr. Michael then entered politics in 1987, eventually finding himself as the Police and Crime Commissioner for Glamorgan, patrolled by the South Wales Constabulary.
With two cities; seaside, rural and industrial valley towns and villages, Glamorgan is as socio-economically diverse an area as it is geographic. The policing strategies needed for such a region are numerous.
In his dozen years three terms tenure, Commissioner Michael propelled crime legislation. These wide ranging initiatives re- invigorated and restored Community Safety partnerships, tackled domestic violence, drug dependency and secured an enviable amount of funding from various sources, that our communities would otherwise not have benefited from.
Mr. Michael’s advocacy of Public, citizen and victims of crime was also consistently highlighted. It is certainly an Impressive record, almost as impressive as his apparent irrepressible energy.
Nevertheless, it was nice to be present at the leaving celebration of someone who has served the community for decades.
It is a pleasure as High Sheriff, to wish Mr. Michael a long and happy retirement.