Agenda item

The Panel considered a report of the Police and Crime Commissioner which outlined the findings of the recent inspections conducted by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) that have required a Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) comment as follows:

•              Police response to violence against women and girls - final inspection report;

•              PEEL 2021/22 – An inspection of Durham Constabulary;

•              A joint thematic inspection of the criminal justice journey for individuals with mental health needs and disorders.

Councillor D Boyes noted that previously the rating for Durham Constabulary had been ‘outstanding’, with the PEEL rating for 2021/22 being ‘good’, and asked what moves were being taken towards getting back to ‘outstanding’.  The PCC noted a new grading regime was in place, with 12 areas being considered.  She added that, for Durham Constabulary, 11 out of 12 areas were graded as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’.  She reiterated the inspection regime had changed, with Durham being one of the first force areas to undergo the new PEEL Inspection.

Councillor D Nicholls asked what was meant by ‘standardise the approach in terms of tackling violence against women and girls’, noting each situation would be different, requiring different levels of support.  The PCC noted that it had been identified there was a need to have a plan in terms of tackling violence and girls, with a national plan having been launched just before Christmas.  She added that work relating to Police and Crime Plan and new Champions in place would look to support victims, looking nationally and operationally in order to be the best when developing, alongside partners, a strategy to address violence against women and girls.

Councillor R Potts referred to the PEEL 2021/22 Inspection Report, noting a graph that set out that one would be four times more likely to be a repeat victim of domestic abuse in Durham compared to the national figure and asked what was being done and who was being held accountable in terms of the rise in domestic abuse numbers.  The PCC reiterated that the Police and Crime Plan was in implementation and prior to Christmas 2021, with the help of Public Health and other partner agencies, a Domestic Abuse and Survivors’ Champion had been appointed to work alongside the Victims’ Champion.  She noted domestic abuse continued to be a concern and explained she would be working with partners and agencies to address those trends.  She noted the Inspection had found that the Constabulary had policies in place that enabled Police to alert victims of domestic abuse of their rights, as provided for in the domestic violence disclosure scheme.  The PCC noted Durham Constabulary was above average, across England and Wales, in responding to victims’ requests as regards potential abusers and added that as a new PCC it was timely to have the PEEL Inspection Report to highlight areas where work would need to be done, with further updates to be provided to the Panel at future meetings. 

Councillor R Potts noted the appointment of the new Domestic Abuse and Survivors’ Champion and the speedy response to victims in terms of intelligence, however, he noted the report had stated that the Constabulary needed to improve in some areas to provide a consistently good service.  He noted that his concerns related to the figures of four times the number of people becoming victims of domestic violence, with no one seeming to be accountable for that.  The Chief Executive of the Office of the PCC (OPCC), Steve White explained that the standard of the recording of crime statistics by Durham Constabulary was considered to be very good.  He added that a downside to that high standard was that there was an impression that crime in Durham was worse than in other parts of the country when in fact some of the reality, though not all, was that Durham Constabulary records those incidents better than other forces around the country, giving in some instances a ‘false positive’.  He added that, in the role of the PCC in holding the force to account, if the force was better informed as regards domestic violence than other forces, then there was the opportunity to tackle the issue.  He reiterated that Durham Constabulary’s crime statistics recording had been recognised nationally.

Councillor D Boyes acknowledged Durham Constabulary’s good crime recording and noted that an issue for the Panel was in comparing performance if other forces were recording differently.  He added that there was a need for uniformity in terms of recording across all forces, an issue he had raised back in 2013.  The PCC noted that the Chief Constable was keen to speak to the Panel as regards the new reporting regime and statistics, how that would be used, and what other forces were doing.  She noted an upcoming development session with Panel Members would be insightful and noted that the Domestic Violence and Survivors’ Champion would be in attendance at a future meeting of the Panel.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.