Agenda item

(i)   Police Recruitment and Vetting Processes - Report of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

(ii)  Acceptable Policing Behaviours and Standards - Report of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

i.        Police Recruitment and Vetting Processes

The Chief Finance Officer presented a report on the current police recruitment and vetting processes (for copy see file of minutes).

Councillor Potts commended Durham’s performance in relation to vetting adding that he was pleased to see the vetting of transferees.

Resolved:

a)    That the report be noted.

b)    That the accountability structures with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner are a continually maturing process in line with the Association of Police and Crime Chief Executives (APACE) and Association of Police and Crime Commissioners) (APCC) best practice.

c)    That a vetting process update be listed for annual consideration on the Police and Crime Panel Work Programme.

ii.       Accountable Policing Behaviours and Standards

The Chief Finance Officer presented a report on the current governance structures and oversight activity in relation to acceptable policing behaviours and standards (for copy see file of minutes).

Councillor Potts voiced his concerns regarding the independence of the process of the Constabulary investigating complaints against the Constabulary and pointed out that other forces have independent investigation processes in place.  The Finance Officer clarified that the PCC has a role to investigate complaints made against the Chief Constable and that complaints made within the force may be investigated by another force.

Resolved:

a)    That the report be noted.

b)    That the accountability structures with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner are a continually maturing process in line with the Association of Police and Crime Chief Executives (APACE) and Association of Police and Crime Commissioners) (APCC) best practice.

c)    That an acceptable policing behaviours and standards update be listed for annual consideration on the Police and Crime Panel Work Programme.