Agenda item

The Panel is required in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 to “review and make a report or recommendations on the PCC’s Annual Report to the Commissioner”.

The Panel considered a report of the Police and Crime Commissioner concerning his Annual Report covering the period 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016. A copy of the report, marked “Agenda Item 7”, is filed with these minutes.

In introducing the report, it was noted that the Annual Report reflected the former Commissioner’s time in office and therefore it was not appropriate for the new Commissioner to present the report. The Chief Executive of the OPCC therefore introduced the report and offered to reflect some of the comments the former Commissioner had left with him to take members through the report.

The following points were noted:

·                The former Commissioner felt that he had overseen a substantial drop in re-offending of over 50%;

·                The Commissioning Framework had been developed into a detailed document, focused around producing outcomes;

·                Despite overseeing the strategic side of the Force during a period of budget reductions, significant investment had been made in high profile but hard to reach crimes such as child sexual exploitation, cyber-crime and sexual offences;

·                The new PCC wished continue his predecessor’s work to engage young people and intended to continue operation of the Youth Commission.

Arising from a discussion, the following points were noted:

·                The new PCC had retained his membership in the House of Lords as a means of remaining informed of legislation coming through the system and to enable comments to be made from his new perspective as a PCC. He had resigned from the front bench;

·                The PCC had not made a decision on whether he intended to appoint a Deputy PCC though he felt this was likely to be the case. No decision on this would be made until the Autumn. He was intending to make some personal appointments in an advisory capacity on short contracts. Whilst these would be his personal appointments, he would ensure that the Panel was kept informed of who was appointed and their role;

·                The PCC intended to continue his predecessor’s “outcome-based” approach to commissioning though he felt that his approach would be based around “results”. If there was any intended change to this approach, the PCC indicated that he would inform the Panel first;

·                The PCC indicated that it was his wish to have “no less than 1764 police officers and 251 PCSOs" by the end of his term. He added this this wish would inevitably be affected by any change in government funding, but that retaining police officer/PCSO numbers was a very high priority. The reference on page 12 to “35” police officers was incorrect, the figure should read “38”;

·                The Blueprint 2020 project had been based around a predicted significant cut in government funding for the police. Because police funding had been retained at the same level via the Government’s most recent Corporate Spending Review, the project was not as relevant as it was once felt to be and a review of this was planned. The Panel stressed the need to be innovative in looking at any further cuts to the Police should there be any future reductions in government funding;

·                The PCC wished to bolster the Police’s approach to consultation and engagement. It was his view that there remained a lack of understanding for the role of PCCs;

·                The PCC encouraged increased reporting of “hidden crimes” such as domestic abuse and hate crime. It was felt that more needed to be done to tackle these crimes and the result of a recent evaluation of Project 360 (to tackle domestic violence) would be circulated to Panel members. Regarding hate crime, the PCC and the Chief Constable had recently issued a joint statement on this issue in light of the EU Referendum result (see also Minute 12). Whilst there had yet to be any notable increase in these crimes in light of the result, it was maintained that hate crimes of any nature were unacceptable and would not be tolerated by the Police in any form;

·                The Force was felt to be leading work on East Midlands regional and national collaboration. The work covered two principal areas: strategic policing and uniformed functions. The work on strategic policing included areas such as counter terrorism and major and organised crime. Regionally, an East Midlands Special Ops unit was in place to tackle these crimes and was thought to be well established. In regard to uniformed functions, this area related to firearms, public order and more specialist functions like dog handling. A unit called EMOPS was in place and involved four of the east midlands forces including Leicestershire;

·                Whilst the performance of Leicestershire Police was felt to be better than most other regional forces, the joint working with the other forces to produce effective collaborative practices was viewed as a very positive development;

·                The PCC hoped that through partnership working any increases in crime could be tackled. He had already met with the leaders of all local councils and it was hoped that the good relationships that existed with the Force could be built upon to improve the situation;

·                The Commissioning Framework was being reviewed and it was hoped that joint and co-commissioning arrangements could be built upon, particularly around areas such as drug and alcohol misuse and domestic violence. Increased focus would also be placed on tackling psycho-active substances. As part of the review an emphasis would be placed on sustainable commissioning;

·                The PCC would be briefed on preventative work such as the Supporting Leicestershire Families programme and hoped to be able to support this work. The need to work more closely on this work was acknowledged;

·                Panel members Helen Carter and Cllr. Page had both attended visits to Victim First, the Force’s new service for victims and witnesses. The offer remained open for other members of the Panel to visit the new service should they wish to do so;

·                Mental health remained a high priority issue for the Police. This would continue under the new PCC.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That, subject to the comments made by the Panel, the PCC’s Annual Report 2015/16 be approved and that the former Commissioner be thanked for a full and detailed report;

(b)       That the comments made by the Panel (as set out above) form a report to be submitted to the PCC for his information;

(c)       That the PCC’s willingness to encourage improved partnership working be welcomed;

(d)       That an update on incidents of hate crime be submitted to the Panel’s meetings in July and September;

(e)       That members of the Youth Commission be invited to the Panel’s meeting in December to report on progress with this work.