Agenda and minutes

The Chair wanted to place on record her thanks to Inspector Mark Bott and his Team for the time taken to give Members the police vehicle, firearms, Tactical Unit, and drone display which had been good for the panel to see.

Introductions were made and everyone welcomed to the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Councillors Clair, Whelband and Woodman.

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

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

There were no declarations.

The minutes of the meeting held on 20^th June 2022 are attached and Members will be asked to confirm they are an accurate record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 20^th June 2022 be confirmed as an accurate record.

There were no actions or matters arising to be reported from the previous meeting.

None received.

There were no public questions submitted.

Members to receive an update of May 2022 reports to the OPCC Corporate Governance Board and overview of Leicestershire Police performance.

Members will be asked to comment on and note the contents of the report.

Members received an update on the May 2022 reports to the OPCC Corporate Governance Board and overview of Leicestershire Police performance. Members were asked to comment on and note the contents of the report.

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) presented the report. It was noted that the next meeting of the LLRPCP would receive reports in the form usually sent to the Corporate Governance Board. Reports would include a paper on the ‘Mini Police’ (cadets of junior school age children), a report on the rape investigatory figures, a piece on the policing of local and national elections, a piece on the policing of Remembrance Sunday. At the request of the Chair, draft reports would be provided to Members earlier than scheduled for the next agenda to allow more time for reading due to the number of reports expected.

A concern was raised that if reports were written by the police for the OPCC, how it added to Members’ ability to hold the PCC or OPCC to account. The PCC stated that a report would be requested on a subject matter brought up by members of the public or OPCC that required detail and a response on a particular subject. The reports were then reviewed and scrutinised by the Corporate Governance Board. The purpose of bringing the reports as appendices to the LLRPCP were to allow Members of the Panel to review the reports to ensure the PCC was challenging the force in the right areas. The PCC stated he would take up subjects of interest on behalf of Members should they so wish. It was further noted that the Police and Crime Plan gave further opportunity to hold the PCC to account.

With reference to the Section 3(ii) Violence Against Women and Girls overview, a Member drew comparison with simultaneous, unusual anti-social behaviour particularly relating to male teenagers against young females. He referred to a recent documentary on TV with a female presenter reporting on disturbing behaviours in the metaverse, and it was questioned if there was a connection with copycat behaviour in the virtual world manifested in the real world that had led to an increase in sexual offences amongst women and young females, with data showing increases both locally and nationally. The PCC was asked if he could take the issue back to be looked into further.

With reference to Section 4 Finance, it was appreciated that the PCC may have inherited the current budget, but with regards to pay inflation and backdated pay to police officers, a future report was requested to identify how the increase would be paid for. The PCC informed the meeting that indications from Government was it would fund around half of the pay increase, with the other half to be found locally.

Members noted in the report at section 6(i) that by 2023 60% of uniformed officers would have less than four years of service, therefore the workforce would have collectively less experience. It was also noted that there had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

Members to receive a verbal update on the Police and Crime Commissioners Annual Report for the period 2021/22.

Members will be asked to consider and comment on the information provided.

The PCC provided a verbal update on the Annual Report 2021/22 which would be provided at a the LLRPCP September meeting.

The PCC informed the meeting that the full report would be produced on time, with a first draft having been prepared. Members recognised that there would be a full report in September but raised concern that the document had been pushed back.

The PCC noted that the subject of visibility of policing was included in the Police and Crime Plan, which was a document covering medium to long-term commitments, but unfortunately due to Covid the PCC’s term in office had been reduced from four to three years, and that it had not been practical to try to squeeze a four-year manifesto pledge to the public into a three-year period. The PCC was looking at the document as a two-term plan, which was in the hands of the electorate.

The PCC explained that the Police and Crime Plan outlined how the interface between the PCC / OPCC with the public had been raised to allow for much greater engagement with the public than had been the case. He assured those present that the demand for more visibility of police had been included in both the manifesto and plan, and in due course the public would see evidence of both.

It was confirmed that the Corporate Governance Board Report was an additional report written specifically for the Panel which demonstrated how the PCC was holding the force to account when fulfilling that part of his role. It was further clarified that further reports would be force reports provided to the Corporate Governance Board and would be provided to the Panel to give additional context to the PCCs challenges or support.

The Corporate Governance Board Report was first discussed with the Panel in November 2020 when it was brought with the Accountability Strategy when it had been discussed how things would be done moving forward. For the September meeting, the OPCC would be bringing its Commissioning Strategy for the Panel’s views. It was noted that in the Forward Plan a lot of the reports were written by the OPCC to the Panel. At the request of Members, the reports would be provided with a cover sheet.

As an addition to discussion on police visibility issue a suggestion was put to the PCC to look at any disparities between wards in the city and two counties, to see if there were any areas with particular concerns, or if it was perception by the public. The PCC was also asked if he could look into when there would be further employment of PCSOs. The PCC noted the requests and would provide written responses.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the contents of the verbal update about the Annual report were noted in anticipation of the full written Annual report in September.

2.    The PCC provide a written response on actual or perceived disparities of police presence in wards in the city, and two counties.

3.    The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

Members to receive a verbal update in relation to Domestic Abuse/Violence linked to Alcohol Abuse.

Lizzie Starr, Interim Chief Executive provided a verbal update on domestic abuse / violence linked to alcohol abuse.

Members were reminded of a presentation given in December 2021 when an analyst provided a presentation on domestic violence and alcohol use, and the links between the two. A full report would be provided to the Panel at the September meeting when more detail analysis would be provided, and detail on repeat offenders where incidents were occurring.

A summary of key points that had been raised at the Corporate Governance Board meeting were provided, including analysis from the force showed that 22% of offenders were under the influence of alcohol, which was considered to be relatively low level when considered against a study by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism which had estimated figures of 27%-40%. The pre-pandemic baseline from July 2018 to July 2019 was 30% as a comparator. It was noted there were limitations to data and accuracy around the recording of alcohol incidents due to way that the markers were on the police system which did not determine whether it was the offender or the victim under the influence of alcohol.

A query was raised at the meeting in December 2021 if offenders were being directed to a perpetrator programme. A summary of what the force was doing would be included in the report. It was noted that officers on the force received training on identifying the trilogy of risk; substance misuse, mental health and domestic abuse to help identify the combination of factors that significantly increased risk. Where officers identified that alcohol was a key factor then referrals would be made through the Adult at Risk Public Protection Notices.

The Panel was informed that substance misuse service providers were represented at daily management meetings for high risk domestic abuse, could also receive referrals for people brought into custody.

The Panel was invited to request anything additional that they would like to see in the report, when it was brought back to the meeting in September, along with the Commissioning Services report.

The Chair asked if anything had been heard back on the bid for funding for the perpetrators programme, which would need to come to the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) Chairs before the September meeting.

Members asked that the report once it had been presented to the meeting in September 2022, be shared with all CSPs as an item of interest.

One issue of concern that was raised by a Member was with so many people under financial pressures that if triggers for domestic abuse could include alcohol consumption, substance misuse and mental health, a lot of those things would be affected by people struggling to pay bills and could lead on to more cases of domestic abuse.

Another observation was the link with football. It was asked if the data was still available which could be included in the report. The Interim Chief Executive confirmed the request would definitely be picked up with day and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

Members to note the ongoing work programme.

The current work programme was received and noted.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the report on the Section 106 Working Party recommendations to be included on the agenda for September 2022.

A request was made for reports from the OPCC’s office rather than verbal updates, and not reports written by the police.

·         Councillor Cutkelvin raised concern over a recent tweet from the PCC on the recent changes to the law regarding abortion in America. The PCC responded the tweet had been made on a private twitter account, he refuted any suggested of misuse of public office, and stated it was not a comment on abortion, but on the constitutional decision and democratic process.

The Chair informed those present that there was a complaints procedure to the OPCC if people had concerns to raise regarding the PCC’s behaviour.

·         Councillor Cutkelvin asked if the member of staff employed by the OPCC as debated in the House of Lords would bring the OPCC into disrepute. The PCC responded that the investigation into the member of staff was ongoing, and it was his opinion that someone was innocent until proven guilty.

The Chair informed the meeting that a request for the Terms of Reference to the meeting would be resent to all Members to remind them of the remit for the meeting.

Monday 26^th September 2022 at 1pm at City Hall, Leicester.

The next meeting was scheduled for Monday 26^th September 2022 at 1.00pm, City Hall.

There being no other items of business, the meeting closed at 3.20pm.