Agenda item

To consider the attached report and receive a verbal update from the PCC.

This will include the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Annual Report and the draft Police and Crime Prevention Plan.

7.1 The Chair introduced Chris Nelson, the Police and Crime Commissioner, to present his Commissioner’s update, Annual Report and draft Police and Crime Prevention Plan. He was supported by Nick Evans, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Ruth Greenwood, Chief Executive of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), Kirsten Fruin, OPCC Assistant Chief Executive – Victims and Commissioning, and Victoria Bishop, OPCC Performance and Accountability Manager.

7.2  The Commissioner reflected on his re-election in May 2024 and confirmed that his pre-election discussions with constituents had led him to changing one of his six priorities in the Commissioner’s Crime and Prevention Plan from ‘Empowering local communities’ to ‘Improving confidence in and within policing’.

7.3  The OPCC gave a presentation introducing the Commissioner’s draft Police and Crime Prevention Plan. The plan is a requirement of the 2011 Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act; the purpose is to set the tone for policing in the county. The Plan which will be effective from 2025-2029 was based on the Commissioner’s manifesto but also involved consultation with stakeholders. It was hoped that the plan would be ready by Autumn 2024.

7.4  The Plan outlined the Commissioner’s Six Priorities which were:

1.     Creating Safer Communities

2.     Tackling violence against women and girls

3.     Strengthening your constabulary

4.     Targeting the causes of crime

5.     Supporting victims and reducing reoffending

6.     Improving confidence in and within policing

7.5  When asked about whether the Police Race Action Plan would be included in the Police and Crime Prevention Plan, the Commissioner confirmed that the Race Action Plan and Better Together would be included in the Police and Crime Prevention Plan’s actions.

7.6  Responding to a Member’s question about petitioning the new government to bring in reforms to the police, prison and prosecution services, the Commissioner stated that he regularly petitioned the government both publicly and privately.

7.7  Responding to members’ questions about the shortage of prison spaces, it was explained that new command groups had been formed to deal with operational matters. The Commissioner reassured the Panel that those who had committed serious crimes would not be released early and that he would push back against any early releases that he did not agree with. An Officer clarified that every prisoner who was released underwent a risk assessment on release. She agreed to share this information with the Panel.

ACTION – Victoria Bishop

7.8  Following the Manchester airport police violence news headline, a Member asked for reassurance that this level of violence would not be used in Gloucestershire. The Commissioner expressed his belief in the use of minimal force in policing. In Gloucestershire, officers were taught in training that they would be held accountable for any force they used. It was emphasised that Gloucestershire Constabulary had a zero tolerance for any officers or staff members who failed to meet expectations in relation to the use of force.

7.9  The Chair questioned when average speed cameras would be installed in Gloucestershire. Nick Evans, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, stated that there had been four roads identified and the first cameras were expected to be installed in Autumn 2024. When questioned about the locations of the new cameras, he informed the Panel that he needed to seek clarity on whether he could make that information public.

ACTION – Nick Evans

7.10   A Member raised concern that some police speed watch vans were being placed in areas that were not being used to improve road safety but instead to make money. The Deputy Commissioner asked to arrange a meeting with the Member to discuss the locations in more detail.

ACTION – Nick Evans

7.11   Responding to a Member’s question about how intimidation against women in the community was being dealt with, the officers confirmed that there was an OPCC consultation officer who worked with those communities who were unlikely to report issues. It was also stated that Bystander training was being ran throughout the county and different educational programmes were being ran in schools which focused on consent and prevention.

7.12   A Member questioned why the Police and Crime Prevention Plan’s Priority Six’s name had been changed to ‘Improving confidence in and within policing’ when it still contained many of the same principles of the previous priority which was named ‘Empowering local communities’. The officers confirmed that the reason for the name change was to keep many of the previous ‘Empowering local communities’ principles but also add a greater emphasis on restoring confidence in policing for the public and for police staff.

7.13   Responding to a Member’s question about the intimidation of politicians through social media, officers explained that the Online Safety Act 2023 was used by the police to take action against intimidation and threats made on social media. The Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner also confirmed that the OPCC had signed up to the Local Government Association (LGA)’s ‘Debate, not Hate’ campaign which aimed to reduce intimidation and encourage healthy debate.   It was agreed that the Chief Executive would identify if anything more could be done in Gloucestershire.

ACTION – Ruth Greenwood

7.14   Responding to a question about reoccurring reports of anti-social behaviour (ASB), the officers explained that if residents had reported repeated ASB over a period of time, they were able to request an ASB Case Review (formerly referred to as a Community Trigger). The review process was created to prompt a review of the actions taken by those agencies that had a role in tackling ASB where there had been repeated incidences of ASB. It was emphasised that a review could only be requested if the incidents of ASB had been reported. It was agreed that an item on the ASB Case Review would be added to the work plan.

ACTION – Democratic Services