Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed those present and led introductions.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Loydall, Councillor Cutkelvin, Councillor Singh Clair and the City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby.

Apologies for absence were also received from Councillor Master who it was noted was participating remotely at the discretion of the Chair. The Chair clarified the rules around attendance in person and restrictions on Members attending remotely in terms of voting.

Councillor Phillimore and Councillor Stephenson gave apologies that they may have to leave the meeting before its conclusion due to other commitments.

Members will be asked to declare any pecuniary or other interests they have in the business on the agenda.

Members were asked to declare any pecuniary or other interest they may have in the business on the agenda.

There were no declarations.

Members to receive a report presenting the draft Police and Crime Plan for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland covering the period 2021 to 2025 in accordance with sections 5 & 7 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011.

Members will be asked to consider the draft Police and Crime Plan for 2021 – 25 for approval and make any comments or recommendations on the proposed plan to the Police and Crime Commissioner.

The Police and Crime Commissioner submitted a report setting out details of the proposed Police and Crime Plan for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland covering the period 2021 to 2025 in accordance with sections 5 and 7 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011.

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) presented the Police and Crime Plan outlining some of the focus and strategic priorities for policing in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and recognising the operational independence of the Chief Constable.

The panel noted key points that:

·         Elements such as the 1-in-4 Recruitment Commitment inherited from the previous PCC would continue to be met and recruitment processes would include other factors to gain fair representation across the Force from the whole area of Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland.

·         During the development of the Police and Crime Plan the PCC had shared details of early versions with the Panel and listened carefully to their comments and incorporated those into this version. The PCC had also engaged with the Chief Constable, his senior team and had undertaken a public consultation exercise with residents across Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland to gain their views.

·         The Police and Crime Plan would be supported by a strong suite of measures and key performance indicators (KPI’s) would be brought to the Panel in due course.

The PCC submitted that the Police and Crime Plan was ambitious, designed to give the Police a clear mandate and maintained his Sir Robert Peel philosophy at its core and he commended the Police and Crime Plan to the Panel for approval.

Deputy Chief Constable Nixon addressed the Panel and explained his involvement in the process of drafting the Police and Crime Plan which also took account of national requirements and overlaying those to ensure there was no conflict.

Members considered the proposed Police and Crime Plan for 2021-2025.

Members noted the contents of the Police and Crime Plan and welcomed various aspects including the Mounted Volunteers Scheme; actions to put in place a Rural Policing Strategy; the very clear distinction between rural, urban, business, and cyber-crime set out in the Plan; the approach to the night-time economy and partnership work e.g., North West Leicestershire borders.

In terms of the Rural Policing Strategy, it was noted this was still a work in progress. Rural crime meant different things to different people, and the aim was to also look to define that within the strategy. It was advised that Neighbourhood Policing Areas would receive enhanced rural crime training and there would be other improvements such as better rural response vehicles in the fleet. A bespoke training programme would be introduced at the Training Academy and all neighbourhood officers would have a generic level of awareness of rural crime in their role.

There was a brief discussion around hunting and hare coursing, and it was suggested that the licensing of shot guns should return to the Police.

It was also suggested that there should be a focus on the market towns across Leicestershire and Rutland  ...  view the full minutes text for item 83.

None notified.

To note the date of the next scheduled meeting on Monday 4^th April 2022 at 1pm to take place at County Hall, Glenfield.

To note the next scheduled meeting to take place on Monday 4^th April 2022 at 1pm at County Hall.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 1:04pm.