Agenda item

The Panel considered a report of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Joy Allen (PCC) which set out her Draft Police, Crime and Justice Plan (PCJP) (for copy see file of minutes).

The PCC noted that the Draft PCJP was one of several key areas of business for the meeting.  She explained that it had been a very busy few weeks, in preparing the Draft Plan, Precept as well as activity in relation to a number of national roles she held, all of which helped to make a difference in the Force area.

As background, she reminded the Panel that the budget and financial landscape was very challenging and emphasised she had never stopped lobbying in terms of funding from Government to enable more Police on our streets.  She reminded the Panel she represented the National Association of PCCs as Lead for Environment, Deputy Lead for Emergency Collaboration and Joint National Lead for Addictions and Substance Misuse, and Roads Policing and Transport.  She explained that this meant she worked regularly with the Home Office and other national bodies and cited examples of good work, including increased support for neighbourhood policing and the success of national campaigns against nitrous oxide misuse.  She highlighted ongoing work in relation to a review into the reclassification of ketamine from a Class B to Class A substance, reflecting the health dangers associated, including damage cause to the bladder.  The PCC noted the need for value for money in relation to policing, highlighting her work as Chair of the BlueLight Commercial Board, which works with blue light organisations to deliver value through commercial expertise and innovation and to promote the responsible and sustainable use of public resources.

The PCC reiterated that the PCJP was in draft and represented a five-year plan from 2024 to 2029.  She referred the Panel to page ten of the draft plan, which set out a ‘plan on a page’ noting the Vision being ‘to make our communities safer, stronger and more resilient to crime, drugs and anti-social behaviour’.

She highlighted the areas of focus and set out what success would look like, namely: being the best at preventing crime; providing a first-class service to victims; reducing offending and reoffending; and brining offenders to justice.  The PCC noted page eleven onwards set out what actions needed to be taken in order to deliver those outcomes, broken down by areas: prevent, protect, deter, detect and pursue, intelligence led, data driven, problem solving and partnership approach.  She noted that prevention of crime and protecting the public were core Police functions and that neighbourhood policing was important in being able to understand and work with our local communities. 

In respect of the victims of crime, the PCC emphasised they were front and centre of the PCJP, noting the importance of understanding and addressing why some victims do not engage or withdraw from the criminal justice system (CJS) and the use of technology to help provide robust services to support victims.  She added that improved information sharing and working with CJS partners could help in terms of the impacts upon victims.  The PCC added that it was also important to listen to the voice of victims when looking at the provision of services.

On the issue of safer neighbourhoods, the PCC noted that work that had been undertaken, such as anti-social behaviour (ASB) hotspots and Operation Endurance, tackling off-road bikes, and highlighted the work to be undertaken in providing crime advice, to better equip residents and improve resilience.  In terms of the main town centres, the PCC noted important areas to be addresses included violence associated with the nighttime economy, as well as work regarding safer business to protect our shop workers.  The issues of serious and organised crime were also highlighted, as was the work caried out with local, regional and national partners to tackle serious and organised crime.

The PCC noted in relation to safer people, priorities included work with young people to help divert them away from crime, helping vulnerable young people, tackling violence against women and girls, reducing knife crime and reducing domestic abuse and sexual violence.  She added there would be support for victims of crime, including those victims of stalking, abuse, fraud and hate crimes.  She explained as regards strengthening the counter terrorism effort and work within rural community with key partners such as the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and Countryside Alliance.

On the topic of road safety, the PCC explained that the topic was a large area of work, with a main area being tackling drink and drug drivers causing death or serious injury or harm.  She added such behaviour was unacceptable and therefore there was a call for tougher penalties, tougher sentences, calls for repeat offenders to lose their licence quicker, as well as mandatory training courses. 

She noted that the issue was not just for the Police, it was also an issue for employers and they could help in terms of compulsory drink/drug testing for their drivers and highlighted the work with companies including local logistics companies.

The PCC noted there was ongoing work in the justice space, including in terms of reducing offending, reducing reoffending, and tackling long remand periods.  She added that many of the issues in this area were national issues, and work reflected associated national recommendations.  She added there was a focus on drug and alcohol harm, as well as looking at issues identified by the public as priorities such as ASB associated with off-road bikes and violence against women and girls.

The Chair thanked the PCC for her comprehensive and ambitious plan and asked the Panel for their comments and questions.

Councillor K Robson noted the plan was very similar to the previous plan, and he noted no reference to a Police Station for Newton Aycliffe.  In respect of ASB, he explained he had a recent reassurance meeting with Neighbourhood Wardens, with ASB associated with off-road bikes having ‘quieted down’.  He added Local Members in the area were very proactive, citing the purchase of CCTV cameras and drones to help tackle crime and ASB issues.

The PCC noted that the Plan looked at the strategic level, not at the neighbourhood level, however, she was committed to a new station for Newton Aycliffe, when a suitable premises was found.  She added that the current arrangements would continue.  She explained as regards working ongoing in the area to tackle high crime areas, working with the public, with surveys showing around half of the people were interested in Neighbourhood Watch.  She explained that the use of Crimestoppers was encouraged, among other messaging and work, such as target hardening.

The Chief Constable, Rachel Bacon noted the positive work with Police and Local Councillors working effectively together.  She reminded the Panel of her commitment to increasing neighbourhood policing, and the associated importance of increasing both Police and PSCO numbers.

Councillor L Hovvels thanked the PCC for her Plan and the Chief Constable for her work.  She noted that crime and the types of crime change over time, and highlighted that major issues included criminal damage, ASB and organised crime, as well as a shift with an increase in knife crime among young people.  She asked as regards CCTV provision, noting there was such within large towns and shopping centre, however, there was number of the smaller villages that felt forgotten.  She noted the impact of CCTV was evident, referring to the excellent CCTV provision at Darlington. 

Councillor L Hovvels noted another issue was that of children’s homes, and while understanding the need for such, she highlighted the amount of work both for the Police and Local Authority as a consequence.  She noted she was very pleased to hear as regards work with the Police and employers in tackling drink/drug driving and asked as regards work with other partners, such as Public Health, in those areas.

The PCC noted she was an advocate of the use of CCTV and commended the work of Darlington Borough Council in developing and improving their CCTV provision and control room.  She highlighted work through Safer Streets in terms of helping with static and mobile CCTV, adding she has spoken with the Corporate Director of Regeneration, Economy and Growth as regards CCTV provision in Durham City.  She noted replacement CCTV in Chilton and the work at Darlington in terms of facial recognition.  She noted the use of mobile cameras for issues such as community speed watch, with the PCC and Local Councillors contributing to such provision.  She added that in some areas where there were barriers to CCTV installation, the use of drones had proven to be useful and she was working with the Chief Constable to look at how drone use was prioritised.

In respect of children’s homes, she noted that her Head of Business Services was working on responses to planning applications and noted the demand associated with some children’s homes and that it was an issue she had spoken to the Chief Constable about.  In terms of drug/drink driving testing, she felt it was very good that employers were taking the issue seriously, adding that it was also that many employees also wanted to feel safe when travelling in work vehicles.  She noted as regards the types of testing and enforcement, adding that another important element was education.  She noted national work in the area, and explained as regards work with Public Health, and in terms of legislation such to be able to recoup the cost in terms of positive tests.

Councillor D Boyes noted he was very pleased to hear as regards the emphasis on neighbourhood policing and reiterated the importance of having consistency of local Officers and PCSOs in order to establish relationships in an area, vital in terms of information gathering within communities.  He noted the use of dashcam footage in terms of evidence for driving offences, help secure convictions and welcomed drug/drink testing.  He noted in the past, Local Councillors had reassurance in terms of numbers of sexual predators within their area.  He noted there was no explicit reference within the ‘safer people’ element of the Plan in terms of empty properties and the issues associated.

The PCC noted the work in terms of drug/drink testing, and Operation Snap, and the ability for members of the public to upload their dashcam footage to the Police, and area that could be publicised better.  She highlighted improvements in technology that could help improve the process. 

She highlighted the ongoing challenges with road policing, including in terms of looking to try and retain some of the money to help fund the ongoing work. 

The Chief Constable noted that offenders were managed, with dedicated managers for sex offenders and with set areas within their licence conditions.  She added that there were options and structures in place when managing offenders.  Councillor D Boyes appreciated there were processes, however, asked how it was ensured that such offenders were not in contact with each other.  The Chief Constable reiterated that such offenders were monitored and that there were often a number of licence conditions that were enforceable.

Councillor D Nicholls noted that the PCC had championed a number of issues, such as tackling driving offences and noted the value for money and partnership working demonstrated was very good.  He noted the work in terms of Clare’s Law, tackling domestic abuse, and delivering behavioural change programmes and tackling misogyny as a hate crime.  He added that being able to educate on those issues at an early age was important in having a positive impact.  In respect of exploitation and vulnerable people, he asked for details in terms of working with those with hidden disabilities, and training undertaken, noting protocols such as the Herbert Protocol in relation to dementia, as well as others dealing within issues associated with neurodiverse individuals.  Councillor D Nicholls noted an issue that needed to be addressed was ASB on public transport and at bus stations and stops and referred to recent work by Northumbria Police in that regard.  He noted that rural and environmental crime were also issues for the area, citing issues such as heating oil theft.

The PCC noted that her Plan was evidence-led, and that a lot of data was used in looking at the issues facing County Durham and Darlington.  She noted national issues that recent estimates were a cost of £14.58 billion to the criminal justice system, police, and in terms of wider crime and disorder.  She noted around 44 percent of incidents had alcohol or drugs as a factor, and 17 percent of road deaths involved a drink/drug driver, with that rising to 60 percent when looking at all those killed or seriously injured (KSI).  In relation to the support of victims, she noted she had established the Victims’ Champion role following national calls for such champions in 2019.  In terms of rural crime and fuel theft, the PCC noted while not explicitly referenced within the Plan it was an issue that was known.  She noted the importance of communication in terms of highlighting issues, working with Members in terms of key messages.  She noted there was a separate agenda item in relation to the Victims’ Champions.  The PCC noted as regards ASB on public transport, noting her response to the NECA transport plan and noted representation on appropriate regional groups.

The PCC highlighted that joint commissioning of services was also important, to help prevent reoffending.  The Chief Constable noted that protecting vulnerable members of our communities was a key priority, and there was training in terms of neurodiversity as well as operating protocols such as the Herbert protocol.  She reiterated her support of neighbourhood policing, being key to tailoring support for communities, such as our rural communities.  She explained she was National Lead for Local Policing and emphasised that working in partnership was key in helping improve the resilience of our local communities.

Councillor J Garner noted the quality of the CCTV provision at Darlington, however, noted it was not a panacea.  He asked as regards any implications following changes in the law relating to shoplifting and if there had been any changes to the structure of community response units, and if so why.

The PCC noted that CCTV was not a panacea, however, it was very effective in terms of flow of information.  The Chief Constable noted that changes in relation to shoplifting related to lower value amounts being eligible for prosecution.  Councillor J Garner as asked as regards violence against shopworkers.  The Chief Constable noted there was a change in relation to a specific offence of violence against a shopworker, similar to existing offences relating to violence against emergency workers.

R Rodiss noted in relation to safer people, only 14 percent of rape cases led to prosecution.  He added that in the majority of such cases the attackers would be known to the victim.  The Chief Constable noted that the Force was an early adopted in increasing the number of Detectives in this area, noting resources and focus on the matter.  She added that the Force was second nationally in terms of conviction rate, however, one could never say performance was good enough.  She highlighted that changes in definitions and recording had changed and one would not expect rates to decrease.  The Chief Constable noted some cases were taking up to two and a half years to get to trial and therefore there need to be work with the criminal justice system in terms of improving those times.  She added there were a number of campaigns, including advertisements on buses in terms of rape convictions, to try and help victims come forward.

R Rodiss asked as regards CCTV, approved by the 3 Towns Area Action Partnership (AAP), for Glenholme Park at Crook.  He noted that the park was a no-go area after 3.00pm and now there appeared to be no prospect of CCTV now.  He noted ASB in the area, with people riding electric cycles through the local Lidl, less than 20 yards from the nearest Police Station.  The Chief Constable noted the issues and reiterated the approach of working with neighbourhood teams in areas, such Crook, in delivering results.  She noted issues in terms of CCTV, funding and local authorities, adding the PCC was a big supporter of the use of CCTV. 

The PCC noted that there were always challenges in terms of funding, including in relation to CCTV provision.  She noted some reluctance in terms of Durham County Council, adding she had spoke to Town and Parish Councils as regards any funding or capacity they may be able to provide.  She noted that the issue was one within the plan and she would look to work with Town Centre Management companies where possible, adding that there were data protection implications to consider. 

Councillor K Robson asked if the PCC would put pressure on the County Council in terms of ‘rapid deployment’ of CCTV.  The Chief Constable noted that she was aware of issues and had discussed the matter with the PCC.  The PCC noted there was a difference in approach between Durham and Darlington.  Councillor L Hovvels noted the difference in terms of the larger geographical area for the County Council.

The Chair thanked the PCC and noted the issues raised by members of the Panel, and hoped the PCC could help in relation to those issues, helping reduce crime for the residents in our communities.  He asked as regards the issue raised relating to Glenholme Park and recent statistics relating to road deaths, and with reduced fatalities where 20mph limits were introduced.  The PCC noted the “Vision Zero” partnership approach to road safety and referred to positive results in Wales as a result of the introduction of 20mph limits.  She noted packages to help identify hotspot KSI areas, and looking at best practice locally, nationally and internationally, noting the reduced alcohol limit for drivers in Scotland.  The PCC noted that an important element in terms of resources going forward was the better use of data.  She highlighted the use of Power BI in terms of analysing data.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.