Agenda item

The Panel considered a report of the Police and Crime Commissioner which provided an update on the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Decision Register for 2022 and addressed the forward plan (for copy see file of Minutes). 

The Chief Finance Officer noted a typographical error in the report stating the extension to the Chief Constable’s contract for two years, adding it should have read for three years.  Councillor R Potts asked as regards the package cost for the Chief Constable.  The Chief Finance Officer noted a package of approximately £550,000 in terms of salary and National Insurance costs, adding that Chief Constable salaries were set nationally.

Councillor R Potts noted that a number of recent reports including those relating to: PEEL Inspections; the likelihood of being a repeat victim of domestic violence being four times greater in Durham than the national average; £21,000 spend on custody suites; a high percentage of abandoned calls to the 101 number; HMICFRS Inspection into CSE noting those at risk; and the IICSA report.  He noted those involved and added that no one was being held to account on those issues and also referred to the investigations into lockdown parties.  He noted that the £550,000 extension to the Chief Constable’s contract may not be perceived by the public as being very good. 

The PCC noted she had covered the HMICFRS Inspection and had referred to league tables as regards performance, with Durham for 2021/22 being ‘good’, adding that was under the new inspection regime.  She added that Durham was the only Force with seven ‘good’ ratings and also had the fewest number of ratings below good. 

The PCC noted the focus on those areas, including victims, and emphasised that she looked at all reports, national work and work in other regions to learn from other Forces.  She added that she was holding the Chief Constable to account within the Force Management Statement and noted that she and her Team were working to reduce anti-social behaviour and domestic violence and that Durham was performing well, punching above it’s weight.    

The PCC noted that in terms of appointments, the Chief Constable’s salary was standard, adding that in some areas Assistant Chief Constables were paid more than Durham’s Chief Constable.  She added that Durham was held in high regard and many areas looked to Durham for best practice. 

The PCC explained that the Chief Constable, since 2019, had been an inspirational leader especially during the challenges of COVID-19 and was respected locally, regionally and nationally noting a number of national roles that she held.  She reiterated the quality of the Chief Constable and added it was very important for stability in her role, referring to the extension to her contract, and concluded by noting Durham was in a very good position moving forward.

The Chair agreed that there could be an item onIICSA could be an issue on the agenda for the September meeting.  The Monitoring Officer and Clerk to the Police and Crime Panel clarified that the item would need to cover the PCC’s oversight of the implementation of actions/recommendations arising out of IICSA so as not to stray beyond the Panel’s remit.

Councillor D Boyes noted he had been willing to give the Chief Constable the benefit of the doubt during the pandemic, however, he felt there could have been Police attendance at Parish Council meetings since May 2021 as communities wanted face-to-face meetings to be able to hold them to account.  He added that he understood the Chief Constable had discouraged Officers attending Parish Council meetings and there were still issues in terms of people getting through on calls to the 101 number.  He emphasised that Members wanted results and referred to Graham Morris MP speaking at a Parliamentary Select Committee, noting reference to figures relating to confidence in the Police having dropped from 70 percent to 40 percent.  He explained that people needed help in terms of issues such as off-road bikes, citing an example where bikes had performed wheelies past a Police car at Peterlee.

The PCC noted she would feed back issues to the Chief Constable and noted she felt the figures relating to confidence as stated were not correct and she would look to find the accurate figures.  She explained that a number of calls that came through to the control room did not relate to Police, rather related to mental health issues and other matters.  She added that Durham operated a ‘buddy’ system with Northumbria Police whereby of they failed to respond to a 999 call, Durham would respond. 

The PCC noted the Chief Constable had spoken as regards the demands on her call centre and the demand on Durham when comparing nationally.  Councillor L Hovvels noted that the role of the Police had widened, akin to a social worker, through the pandemic and moving into the financial crisis.  She added those issues had impacted upon the Police and DCC, adding as a Councillor for 30 years she had seen a change in her role too.  She added that she agreed with the Chair to invite the Chief Constable to the next meeting if appropriate.  The Monitoring Officer and Clerk to the Police and Crime Panel noted that on occasion the Chief Constable had attended the Panel and noted she felt the Chief Constable would be happy to attend if invited. However, the Panel needed to be mindful that it is not their role to hold the Chief Constable to account.

Councillor D Boyes referred to his previous statement relating to figures quoted at a Select Committee with a reduction in the percentage of the public confident in the Police nationally from 47 percent to 43 percent.  The PCC noted she would obtain the figures for Durham, explaining she recalled them being within a few percent of national figures.  She added she would also obtain response times and satisfaction data relating to the 101 number for the Panel.

Councillor D Nicholls noted issues of anti-social behaviour across the many impoverished communities across the county.  He noted the increase in the use of food banks adding he had heard of some attending refusing root vegetables as they would not be able to afford the gas to cook them.  He added that was a failure of national Government.  He noted the Panel would do what it could in terms of supporting the PCC, however, he added that with high inflation people were struggling and issues were only likely to get worse.  Councillor D Nicholls noted he found it staggering that the PCC had not been consulted on Levelling Up Fund bids, and that the total Levelling Up pot was less than half that of the cost of PPE that had not been usable during the pandemic. 

The PCC noted Government expectations and added she was looking at those ‘left behind’ areas. 

She noted she would ask questions of Paul Howell MP, Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for ‘left behind’ neighbourhoods and added that she was meeting with the DCC Chief Executive and DCC Officers working on the Levelling Up bids to look at opportunities to allocated any underspends quickly.  She added she would also help provide any information that could help support bids and look at opportunities in terms of consultation with communities.

The PCC noted she had information on the percentages in relation to satisfaction, as previously referred to by Councillor D Boyes, and noted 76 percent satisfaction for Durham, down from 78 percent.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.