Agenda item

The Panel was invited to consider the draft Annual Report 2019/20 of the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and determine whether it would

wish to make any recommendations to the PCC for consideration prior to the Report being finalised.   The Report provided a high level overview of the PCC’s work over the last financial year and the progress made against the Police and Crime Plan.

The PCC was asked to introduce the Report and in doing so expressed his gratitude to the Chief Executive, his Team, the Chief Constable and the Police Force for the way in which they had adapted and responded to challenges resulting from COVID-19, this was echoed by the Panel.

During the discussion the man points noted were:

·       There was a typo on page 4 (The Year in Numbers) of the Draft Annual Report - the number of rape and other sexual offences was 3383 (not 3594).

·       Due to COVID-19, the election of PCC was postponed and therefore the PCC’s term of office was extended until May 2021.

·       Congratulations were noted for the ‘We Don’t Buy Crime’ Scheme, which had won the national Tilley Award for its partnership approach.

·       The PCC agreed to consider the suggestion that statistics from the previous year were copied on a like for like basis within the current year, thereby showing performance changes as well as providing the ability to identify trends. 

·       The PCC was asked about what progress had been made since Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & (HMICFRS) Inspection of Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) in 2018 inadequate rating.  The PCC was pleased to report that since that time, SOC had seen a greater focus and was a regularly recurring theme of the PCC’s holding to account sessions with the Chief Constable, which had led to major improvements and the Force being rated as good by HMMICFRS in 2019

·       Improvements had also been seen around the victim journey.  The PCC’s Victims’ Board led a review of how the Criminal Justice System improved compliance with the Victims’ Code of Practice. This work led to significant improvements in compliance .

·       The impact of the development of the Athena project on the ability of the Police to share information.

·       Smart Water was commended as an excellent partnership scheme assisting with reduction in burglaries.

·       In response to a question about which other areas were priority for the PCC, the Panel was advised that Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology was an area of investment.

·       In response to a question about how many of the 1,561 hate crimes reported (page 4 the Year in numbers) had resulted in Police action, the PCC referred the Panel to the Performance Summary (Appendix 3).

·       With regard to the power for Police to stop and search, the PCC reassured the Panel that there was external challenge about how the power was used.  It was agreed that the PCC would provide the Panel with the detail about how many stop and search procedures had been conducted in order for 36.4% to result in Police action.

·       A Member highlighted that 66% of 101 calls answered within 30 seconds was low and questioned how this would be improved?

·       It was noted that community engagement could be challenging particularly during COVID-19, but the PCC was mindful of representing everyone in the community and whilst there was a lack of pace around face to face contact, he was using social media to share messages.

·       A Member raised a concern about the number of motorcycle accidents in and around Bridgnorth and asked the PCC how he was tackling this. The PCC advised that there were a number of initiatives in his Police and Crime Plan. Additional funding had been allocated for education and was a theme of his holding to account sessions with the Chief Constable.  The Chief Constable added that there was a national and local campaign targeting road users, especially as roads were being used differently at the moment and that there would also be some focused targeting of problem areas.

·       Concern was expressed about domestic abuse of the elderly which had increased during COVID-19; the PCC responded that this was addressed in the Domestic Violence Strategy.

·       The location of Herefordshire Police Station was raised and the PCC confirmed that that the Project had been reviewed and a new shared site was being sought,

·       A new performance framework was being developed which would be more clearly linked to the Police Force priorities and the Police and Crime Plan.

The Panel were supportive of the PCC’s Annual Report subject to:

·       The PCC considering the Panel’s recommendation that statistics from the previous year were copied on a like for like basis within the current year, thereby showing performance changes as well as providing the ability to identify trends. 

In summing up, the Chairman

·         Noted the importance of public engagement and using a variety of methods to reach all communities.

·         Requested the number of Hate Crimes resulting in police action of the 1561 reported.

·         Requested the detail about how many recorded stop and search procedures had been conducted in order for 36.4% to result in Police action.

·         Noted the impact of the development of the Athena project on the ability of the Police to share information, although the ‘We Don’t Buy Crime’ initiative was highlighted as a positive use of technology.