Agenda item

The Panel considered a report of the Police and Crime Commissioner which updated on performance against the Police and Crime Plan 2021-2024 (for copy see file of Minutes). 

Councillor D Boyes asked questions relating to the 101 number, noting people had lost confidence in the service, and less Police visibility during the pandemic period, and also asked whether there would be any change in emphasis in respect of community policing.  He noted within the OPCC there were the two Champions and Deputy PCC and asked as regards information so that the Panel could have an understanding of relationships and responsibilities.  The Chair noted that it would be timely for the Panel to received an updated ‘family tree’ setting out structure and areas of responsibility.  The PCC noted the new Police and Crime Plan and explained that the Chief Executive, OPCC and the Champions had been working to assign names to the actions that had been set out.  She added that there was a lot of work around anti-social behaviour, victims, and domestic violence, with around a third of the objectives being linked to the Champions.  She noted there was a need within partner agencies, Durham Constabulary and the OPCC to set out who would be key in delivering the remainder of the objectives.  The Chief Executive, OPCC noted the changes and recent appointment of the Champions and explained that the Panel and public would be informed of the people and their responsibilities.  He noted the work in respect of the precept consultation and Plan, with structures for the office stemming from the Plan and suggested that an element of the upcoming development session may look at those areas.

In response to a question from Councillor R Potts in relation to staffing and current job adverts, the Chief Executive, OPCC noted that the position of Policy and Communications Officer was a replacement for an Officer who had left the organisation.  The Chief Executive, OPCC added that the other three roles advertised had been existing roles that had been carried out under different organisations, now being brought into the OPCC.  The PCC noted as additional services that had been commissioned, following Government grants during COVID-19. 

The Chief Finance Officer, OPCC added that there was around £2 million per year from Government to commission services with those being put out for tender for periods of two to three years.  He noted the challenge, in practice, was to ensure that monies given to organisations had a clear link back to the objectives within the Police and Crime Plan and added that the role of commissioning was becoming a full time job.  He added the Government had recognised the changes needed and supported those with funding, such as in the support of victims, and also recognised that those funds were best spent locally, based on local decision making.

Councillor D Boyes noted the update and noted the short period of time to embed changes and make a difference.  He noted the impact of the pandemic asked how change would lead to a return to the ‘outstanding’ policing of three or four years ago, where community policing was the bedrock.  The PCC reiterated that the recruitment of additional police officers had gone live today and noted that notwithstanding the time it took to recruit and train new police officers, the commitment to increasing the number of police officers was there.  She added that information would be coming forward to the Panel in relation to the Fair Funding Formula noting, as explained in the Police and Crime Plan, that between 2010 and 2020, Durham had lost 27 percent of police officer strength.  She explained that while 226 police officers would be replaced by 2023, that would not make up the 408 police officers lost, adding that other PCC areas had noted they had the highest number of police officers ever in their areas.  She reiterated that a future report as regards the Fair Funding Formula would provide information on how it would impact Durham and noted she would need the support of the Panel, local Councillors and the local Members of Parliament in relation to funding.  The Chief Finance Officer, OPCC noted last year was year one of the uplift and Durham Constabulary had recruited 68 additional police officers and a new shift pattern would go live in two weeks’ time with an increase in night-time working.  He added there were current 31 police officers in training, a further 32 police officers starting in March and that there was ongoing work in terms of detective roles, noting the national and local shortage of detectives.  The Chief Finance Officer, OPCC explained that next year a further 90 police officers would be recruited, with the next intake after that being March 2023. 

Councillor J Miller noted the work involved in investigating crimes and noted the work of Northumbria Police, signing up to the ‘Police Now’ national detectives scheme, and asked why Durham Constabulary had not.  The Chief Finance Officer, OPCC explained that the police officer would carry out the initial ‘primary investigation’ and that would then be passed to ‘secondary investigation’ involving detectives, but also involving custody and crime scene investigation.  He noted he felt ‘Police Now’ was not right for Durham and that Durham was asking new police officers within their first year if they wished to become a detective. 

He added an issue with ‘Police Now’ was that organisations that signed up to ‘Police Now’ took a degree of responsibility for their recruitment and training.  The Chief Finance Officer, OPCC explained he would prefer to retain a higher degree of control in terms of who was recruited and how they were trained, to maintain the low attrition rate Durham had when compared to other Force Areas, that low rate suggesting that Durham was doing it right in terms of recruitment and management.

Resolved:

(i)   That the report be noted.

(ii)  That the Panel await the new iteration of the Quarterly Performance Report.