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.
Minutes:
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 PCC provide a written response as to when there would be further employment of PCSOs.