Agenda and minutes

The Democratic Services Officer will preside over the election of a Chairman for the forthcoming year.

The Democratic Services Officer opened the meeting and called for nominations for the position of Chairman for the forthcoming year.

Cllr Tony Pickernell nominated Cllr Steve Bucknell, which was seconded by Cllr Kelvin Nash.

There were no further nominations.

Decision

To appoint Cllr Steve Bucknell as Chairman for 2024/25.  

To elect a Vice-Chairman for the forthcoming year.

The Chairman called for nominations for the position of Vice-Chairman for the forthcoming year.

Cllr Stanka Adamcova nominated Cllr Junab Ali, which was seconded by Cllr Abdul Amin.

There were no further nominations.

Decision

To appoint Cllr Junab Ali as Vice-Chairman for 2024/25.

To receive any apologies for absence and changes to membership.

Apologies were received from:

·       Cllr Dr Brian Mathew – substituted by Cllr Gordon King

·       Louise Williams

·       Denisa Ahmeti

The Chairman noted that Cllr Sudha Sri Nukana had been replaced on the Panel by the newly elected Vice-Chairman, Cllr Junab Ali. The Chairman thanked Cllr Sri Nukana for her work in supporting the Panel and welcomed the new Vice-Chairman.

It was also reported by the Chairman that Cllr Gayle Cook and Cllr Suresha Gattapur had been appointed as substitute members. Cllr Matthew Vallender and Cllr Jo Morris had been removed from the substitutes list. The Chairman congratulated the new substitutes on their appointment. 

It was highlighted that Cllr Cook had planned to attend the meeting to gain an insight into the Panel’s work but had sent her apologies that she was now unable to attend.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2024 as a true and correct record.

On the proposal of Cllr Abdul Amin, seconded by Cllr Vijay Manro, it was resolved to make the:

Decision

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2024 as a true and correct record.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive announcements through the Chairman.

The Chairman reported that Policing Minister Chris Philp had written a letter in response to the findings of the Home Affairs Select Committee’s inquiry about the Police and Crime Commissioner model. He noted that the findings of the Committee had been circulated to the Panel, so they could consider any implications for their own work. It was possible that the Panel would look further at this issue if time allowed in their work schedule. 

It was also highlighted by the Chairman that the Home Office had invited bids from local authorities hosting police and crime panels to set up and run a best practice hub. The proposals were reviewed by the Monitoring Officer at Wiltshire Council, and he did not feel that the council was in a position to put in a bid to host the hub. There was a very short bidding window and, if successful it would have involved employing three new staff on fixed contracts until March 2026.

The Democratic Services Officer confirmed that Swindon Borough Council would not have been eligible to host the hub as the bidding process was only open to host authorities.

The Panel welcomes contributions from members of the public.

Statements

If you would like to make a statement at this meeting on any item on this agenda, please register to do so at least 10 minutes prior to the meeting. Up to 3 speakers are permitted to speak for up to 3 minutes each on any agenda item. Please contact the officer named on the front of the agenda for any further clarification.

Questions

To receive any questions from members of the public received in accordance with the Panel’s constitution.

Please note that questions must relate to the responsibilities and functions of the Panel and must not relate directly to operational policing matters.

Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named on the front of this agenda no later than 5pm on Thursday 20 June 2024 in order to be guaranteed of a written response. In order to receive a verbal response, questions must be submitted no later than 5pm on Monday 24 June 2024. Please contact the officer named on the front of this agenda for further advice. Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent.

Details of any questions received will be circulated to Committee members prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on Wiltshire Council’s website.

The Chairman referred the Panel to the answer to a written question submitted by a Mr Paul Howlett available on pages 17 and 18 of the agenda pack.

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson, OBE to provide an update.

Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Philip Wilkinson, OBE, MPhil, congratulated the Chairman on his re-election and stated that he felt reassured that their positive working relationship would continue. The PCC was pleased to report that Wiltshire Police had come out of the ENGAGE process, so was no longer in special measures. He explained that he had given a briefing to the oversight group from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS), who had been reassured that the foundations for improvement were in place.

Cllr Ross Henning arrived at 10:39am.

The PCC took the opportunity to praise Chief Constable Catherine Roper and her senior leadership team for their work in restructuring and driving improvement in the force. The importance of drawing on the diverse experiences of staff in senior leadership positions was emphasised, including the new Assistant Chief Constable for Local Policing and Specialist Operations, Ian Saunders, who had experience of policing in Northern Ireland and the Chief of Corporate Services, John Derryman, a former Head of Corporate Risk at HSBC.

However, the PCC noted that progress had been faster in some areas than others and that he was closely analysing data to avoid any flatlining of performance. He emphasised the importance of instilling a meritocratic culture, particularly in middle management, and expressed his confidence that the Chief Constable was implementing the necessary policies and procedures.

During the discussion, points included:

·       The Panel thanked the PCC for his update and welcomed the news that Wiltshire Police had come out of the ENGAGE process.

·       In response to a question about who had replaced John Derryman in coordinating Community Speed Watch (CSW) teams now he had changed role, it was explained that Perry Payne was heading up a multi-agency group called Wiltshire and Swindon Road Safety Partnership. In addition, a member of staff, Colin, from the PCC’s office was also helping to coordinate CSW teams.

·       When asked about how he was tackling his key areas of focus, the PCC explained that his office had procedures to hold the Chief Constable and her team to account, including a formal monthly executive leadership meeting and informal fortnightly meetings. The PCC used these meetings to press the Chief Constable on how she was driving forward improvement in areas such as middle management.

·       The Panel noted that they would welcome timescales for when improvements would be achieved so that they were better able to hold the PCC to account. They would adopt a critical approach to ensuring that the PCC delivered against his strategic objectives.

·       The PCC explained that it was his goal to make Wiltshire Police an outstanding police force within two to three years. He was aiming for a process of continual improvement, so it was not possible to set a precise target date for becoming an outstanding force. The PCC noted that Wiltshire Police were ranked as the third worst performing force in the country three years ago and that they were now mid-range in terms of performance. He  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

To review the Highlight and Performance Report.

Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Philip Wilkinson OBE, MPhil, introduced a report, available on pages 19 to 38 of the agenda pack, outlining the progress made towards his Police and Crime Plan between April and June 2024.

During the discussion, points included:

·       The Panel thanked the PCC for his report.

·       In reply to questions about what he was doing to address response times to 999 and 101 calls, the PCC explained that supervisors were providing and receiving more extensive training than before and that he had invested in new technology to allow data to be transferred automatically. He also noted that a chief superintendent was managing the call centre, greater efforts were being made to improve staff retention and they were carrying out more dip monitoring of calls.

·       The Panel noted that call response times were a key factor impacting confidence in the police and expressed frustration about the level of calls being abandoned. They passed on feedback from residents that had not reported crimes due to dissatisfaction with response times, so sought assurances that the PCC was pressuring the Chief Constable to ensure that this was a top priority.

·       It was noted that there were concerns about reporting crime in all parts of Wiltshire but that this was particularly an issue in less affluent areas. 

·       The PCC reassured the Panel that he shared their concerns and that call times were the Chief Constable’s top priority. He was applying pressure on the Chief Constable to do all she could to address the issue and was confident that she was doing the best she could with the available resources.

·       The Chief Executive of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), Naji Darwish, reported that call times were better than 12 months ago. He explained that average talking time per call had increased, possibly indicating a greater level of confidence in police response, but that this was a contributary factor to waiting times. He also highlighted the resource constrains on the force.

·       A member of the Panel reported that they had recently had cause to ring 999 twice and that the response had been excellent on both occasions, with officers arriving on the scene almost immediately.

·       In reply to a query about whether the underlying issues with response times to 101 calls were due to staffing levels, the PCC stated that additional staff had now been recruited, so they were now fully staffed. He emphasised the need to balance resources, reporting that, with the exception of shoplifting, improvements had been made in tackling all types of crimes.

·       The Chief Executive of the OPCC emphasised that efforts were being made to improve the health and wellbeing of call centre staff to improve staff retention. There had been improved line management, with daily meetings being held, anticipating resource challenges and exploring using additional sites where possible. He expected to see an improvement in call time responses by the Panel’s meeting on 14 November.

·       In response to queries about whether partnership work was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

To note the proposal and timescales for developing a new Police and Crime Plan as well as the opportunities for feedback by public, stakeholders, and partners.

Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Philip Wilkinson, OBE, MPhil, introduced a report, on pages 39 to 42 of the agenda pack, outlining the proposed timeline for developing his new Police and Crime Plan, as well as the opportunities for feedback from stakeholders. 

It was explained by the PCC that his Crime Plan would be informed by a wide and deep consultation with residents, as well as the Chief Constable’s operational advice. He reported that he would continue to provide comprehensive oversight on behalf of the public and felt that his new plan would help the public hold him to account. He was confident that Wiltshire Police were operating more effectively than when he wrote his existing Police and Crime Plan, enabling him to be more precise in defining output and outcomes in his forthcoming plan. 

·       The Panel thanked the PCC for his report.

·       The PCC was on no fewer than 11 WhatsApp group chats with different community groups to get feedback about what they felt were the threats they were facing.

·       The PCC reported that he would receive a report from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) in August detailing their expectations of Wiltshire Police now they had come out of the ENGAGE process. Once the Chief Constable and he had received the detailed findings from HMICFRS, the PCC would ask the Chief Constable for a detailed plan about how she intended to address the issues identified.

·       Further details were sought about the engagement opportunities that there would be for partner organisations. The PCC explained that he would consult with as many agencies and individuals as possible, including at political, strategic, and local level. Assurance was provided that his plan would be predicated on the concerns of Wiltshire’s residents.

·       The Chief Executive of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Naji Darwish, noted that they would engage with all partners formally and informally to ensure that they had input into the Crime Plan.

At the conclusion of the discussion, on the proposal of Cllr Abdul Amin, seconded by Cllr Vijay Manro, it was resolved to make the:

Decision

To note the proposal and timescales for developing a new Police and Crime Plan as well as the opportunities for feedback by the public, stakeholders and partners.

To receive a presentation about the work being carried out between different agencies to reduce serious violence.

To receive a further presentation about work to tackle knife crime.

Natasha Gell, Serious Violence Duty Coordinator, delivered a presentation about the work going on to prevent and reduce serious violence in Wiltshire. She provided background information about the programme and set out the key performance indicators stipulated by the Home Office. Key points included:

·       Serious Violence Duty was implemented in 2023 to meet a legal obligation for different agencies, such as the police, local authorities and health providers, within a police force area, to prepare and implement a strategy for preventing and reducing serious violence.

·       Wiltshire and Swindon’s strategy adopted the World Health Organisation’s definition of serious violence and had a particular focus on gang violence and knife crime.

·       At the heart of the strategy was a public health approach to violence reduction which was evidence led and focussed on cooperation and early intervention. It adopted a trauma informed approach.

·       There were 362 knife crime offences between September 2022 and August 2023, meaning that Wiltshire had the fifth lowest levels of knife crime of any police force area during that period. 

·       There was a big difference between perception and reality about the number of young people carrying knives. The 2022 Wiltshire School Survey found that three percent of children surveyed said that they carried a knife whereas they believed that 19 percent of their peers were carrying knives.

·       Delivery of the Serious Violence Duty was overseen by a joint steering group, which met with the executive boards of community safety partnerships on a quarterly basis. The steering group had oversight of the Serious Violence Duty Grant, approximately £255,000 in 2023/24.

·       Projects funded in 2023/24 included a food truck for Swindon Youth Justice Service and the WAY Beacons project at Great Western Hospital, which had helped 66 young people with the aim of breaking the cycle to hospital readmission. 

·       The Focussed Deterrence project had been implemented in Devizes targeting 12 young people through education to help them make safer choices, four of which had signed up.

·       Additional funding had been allocated to community safety partnerships in both local authorities leading to an improvement and engagement. They had been invited to pitch ideas to the joint steering group for funding.

Detective Superintendent Guy Elkins, Swindon Hub Commander, delivered an online presentation about knife crime. Points included:

·       There had been fewer crimes involving knives and blades in April 2024 that in April 2023 in both Swindon and Wiltshire.

·       There had been a noticeable decline in public order offences involving brandishing a knife in public.

·       There had been 28 fewer robberies involving a knife or blade in the year to April 2024 than in the preceding year.

·       Wiltshire had the sixth lowest number of offences involving knives or blades per capita of any police force area and it was Wiltshire Police’s aspiration to have the lowest.

·       Intelligence was reviewed on a daily basis to identify individuals suspected of carrying a knife and hotspot areas where knives were thought to be present.

·       Wiltshire Police had a strong relationship with Crimestoppers and engaged with their Fearless  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

To note the forward work plan.

The Panel noted their forward work plan. It was highlighted that an update on antisocial behaviour would be provided at the next meeting on 26 September and that Chief Constable Catherine Roper planned to attend the Panel’s meeting on 14 November.

To receive an update on how the Police and Crime Panel can improve its communications with the wider public.

The Chairman reminded that Panel that their annual report had been presented to Wiltshire Council’s Full Council meeting on 21 May and was also available on Wiltshire Council’s website. In addition, it was planned to present the report at Swindon Borough Council’s Full Council meeting on 25 July.

It was requested that the Democratic Services Officer email the report to the Swindon Borough Council councillors on the Panel in advance of 25 July.

An opportunity for Members to raise any other matters, or questions for the Police and Crime Commissioner.

The Chairman asked for an update on the Panel’s request to shadow Wiltshire Police for a day to gain an appreciation of the issues that they faced on the frontline. Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Philip Wilkinson, OBE, MPhil, reported that he had raised the issue with officers and would make further enquiries. The Chief Executive of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), Naji Darwish, said that he would look at opportunities for members of the Panel to attend relevant scrutiny groups and attend public engagement events.

Cllr Vijay Manro and Cllr Gordon King left the meeting at 12:30pm.

In response to a query about the impact of proposals from the Ministry of Justice for early prisoner release, the Chief Executive of the OPCC confirmed that the issue had been discussed by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and was being worked on at a national and local level. He noted that the Panel would receive an update on reducing reoffending at their November meeting.

The Panel requested an update on the progress towards plans for a new policing hub in the south of the county. The PCC explained that two sites were under consideration, one at Old Sarum and one at High Post, an industrial site between Salisbury and Amesbury. The PCC was waiting for planning permission to be granted at both sites before taking a decision on the final location. The Chief Executive of the OPCC reported that a planning application had been rejected at High Post but that a fresh planning application would be submitted. He highlighted that there were issues with the allocation of land for business purposes in the south of the county in Wiltshire’s emerging Local Plan. The Chairman offered to make enquiries to see what could be done to speed up the planning process.

In response to a query about the visibility of neighbourhood teams, the PCC explained that the Chief Constable was keeping the operational model under review. He stressed the importance of a central operational function to ensure the appropriate geographical distribution of officers at any one time. He reported that he had also asked Chief Constable Roper questions about the advertising of the front desk service at police stations. It was noted that Tidworth Police Station did not have a front desk but did have a ‘phone to contact the neighbourhood team.

The Panel noted that they would welcome greater continuity in staffing within neighbourhood teams to enable stronger links to be built with local communities. In response, the PCC stated that he agreed that having consistency was important to develop long term relationships and reassured the Panel that he was pushing hard for improved staff retention. 

To note the future meeting dates below:

·       Thursday 26 September 2024, 1:30pm

·       Thursday 14 November 2024, 10:30am

·       Thursday 16 January 2024, 10:30am

·       Wednesday 5 February 2025, 10:30am

·       Wednesday 26 March 2025, 10:30am

Future meeting dates were confirmed as:

Thursday 26 September 2024, 1:30pm, Swindon Borough Council Offices

Thursday 14 November 2024, 10:30am

Thursday 16 January 2025, 10:30am

Wednesday 5 February 2025, 10:30am

Wednesday 26 March 2025, 10:30am