Agenda item

The Panel considered a report of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) which outlined how he was fulfilling his duty by contributing to national and international policing capabilities set out by the Home Secretary, bringing together community safety and criminal justice partners to ensure local priorities and joined up and holding the Chief Constable to account for the policing of large-scale public disorder. A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 8’, is filed with these minutes.

In introducing the report, the PCC stated that although some elements of public disorder strategy remained confidential, he discussed the issue with the Temporary Chief Constable on a regular basis and had received assurances that the Force was prepared with the capability, capacity and equipment to be able to deal with policing of large-scale public disorder efficiently and effectively.

Arising from discussion, the following points were noted:

(i)        The Chairman stated that reports which made reference to the Chief Constable should make it clear that there was currently a Temporary Chief Constable. In April 2025, David Sandall commenced the role of Temporary Chief Constable, following the retirement of Rob Nixon.

(ii)       Concern was raised regarding the potential for occurrences of public disorder within neighbouring population areas to extend into Leicestershire. The PCC assured the Panel that regional mobilisation arrangements were in place through the East Midlands Regional Information Coordination Centre (EMRICC) and national mobilisation arrangements were in place through the National Police Coordination Centre (NPoCC). Assistant Chief Constable Adam Streets acted as Regional Mobilisation Lead (RML) and represented the East Midlands on all such national mobilisations as well as managing the EMRICC on behalf of the region. It was noted that some officers from the Force had supported Essex Police with public disturbances which had taken place within Epping in July.

(iii)      The PCC stated that not all police officers were trained to respond to public disorder. In order to ensure there was adequate resource available to respond to public disorder, the PCC assured the Panel that shift patterns were well managed by the Force to ensure that a sufficient response to instances of public disorder could be put into place at any given time. In addition to this, regional and national mobilisation arrangements were utilised across police force areas to assist with any shortfalls in resource. The PCC had discussed long-term effects of long periods of low-level public disorder which could disrupt shift patterns and cause officers involved to become tired over extended periods of time. The Chief Constable had provided assurances that work was being undertaken in order to identify a solution to this risk.

(iv)      In response to a question relating to early decision making regarding public disorder, the PCC stated that police officers on the scene were responsible for calming instances of unrest and gathering intelligence. Intelligence would be passed to senior officers in order for a decision to be made regarding whether additional resources or interventions were required. The PCC stated that the force had taken significant learning from previous operational debriefs and evaluated the value of assigning investigative oversight during the early planning phases.

(v)       With regards to investigating social media in order to identify risk of unrest, the PCC stated that the Force did not routinely monitor social media but provided assurance that the Force did investigate large scale concerns which could lead to public unrest and would put measures in place as necessary.

(vi)      A concern was raised by a member of the Panel relating to an instance whereby a community group had attempted to make urgent contact with the Temporary Chief Constable regarding a community event but had not received a prompt response. The PCC agreed to speak with Temporary Chief Constable regarding response times for communications from community groups.

(vii)    A member of the panel had been contacted by a resident who was concerned around the risk of potential unrest in their area. The panel member asked what messaging the PCC had published in order to provide the public with reassures regarding potential unrest. The PCC stated that nothing had been published by him or by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC). He assured the Panel member that he would discuss the matter with his communications team within the OPCC and respond to the panel member accordingly.

RESOLVED:

(a)      That the contents of the report on public disorder, be noted.

(b)      That the PCC be requested to speak with the Temporary Chief Constable regarding response times for communications from community groups.

(c)       That the PCC be requested to discuss public messaging regarding potential public unrest with his communications team within the OPCC.

Mr. D. Harrison left the meeting at 15:25 and did not return.