The secondment of a police officer to act as a staff officer to the Commissioner fulfils 3 purposes:

1. Provides immediate support of a police officer who understands the workings of the force at the front end and is often able to assist in explaining the way that issues are dealt with immediately in the course of meetings rather than through later correspondence.
2. The operational knowledge of an officer often enables us to direct people to the right place within South Wales Police for matters to be dealt with and to obtain quick replies to straightforward enquiries which do not require a conversation between the Commissioner and Chief Officers.
3. It provides a development opportunity for the seconded officer who will normally be an experienced Sergeant who is seeking promotion to Inspector and therefore benefits from the strategic nature of the meetings he attends with the Commissioner, and develops an awareness of partners with whom the Commissioner works with in Local Government, the NHS, Welsh Government and a variety of statutory and voluntary bodies.