Agenda item

Written report from the OPCC.

All Police and Crime Commissioners are required to produce an annual report on performance against a Police and Crime Plan, including financial information. The report would be a public facing document, and the Panel have a duty to comment upon it prior to publication.

Angus MacPherson, Police and Crime Commissioner, presented the draft annual report, highlighting key achievements, challenges, delivery of aims and a financial overview. He emphasised that performance monitoring was constant, and that despite evolving threats Wiltshire was one of only seven police forces which had received a rating of ‘good’ in all areas of business assessed by the Police Effectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy (PEEL) programme from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC). Other details noted in the report was recorded crime being up 11%, with domestic burglary a majority priority which was receiving additional resource. He also commented upon recent terrorist acts, and commended the Chief Constable for his leadership, and all the staff for their work on the frontline to protect the people of Wiltshire.

The Panel discussed the draft report and sought additional detail from the Commissioner. In response to queries it was stated there had been a trend in falling anti-social behaviour, though this was to some degree likely to be due to recategorization of some offences as violence without injury crime, of which there had been an increase. As noted in the report, however, there had been genuine increases in some specific crime types.

The 10,000 who had signed up to community messaging from the police was discussed, with comments on how this could be expanded working with partners such as the fire service and local councils, and it was felt the Panel should write to both local authorities to encourage cooperation to improve the system’s reach, as well as avoid duplication of effort.

It was noted that considerable savings had been made, and that although they had performed well in the circumstances, Wiltshire remained one of the lowest funded forces in the country. Details of lobbying efforts to central government for a funding formula that reflected in a fairer way the increased costs arising from rurality and other issues that impacted the cost of policing in Wiltshire were noted, although it was stated the funding formula was unlikely to be reviewed in the short term. However the Panel requested a public letter be sent to the new policing minister on the subject.

Other topics discussed included increased involvement of the commissioner with the Criminal Justice Board, recruitment and retention of Special Constables, in particular signposting volunteers to other areas they could assist if they were unable to progress to be a Special, police morale, high retirement rates, emphasising the scrutiny function of the Panel and detailing how the Chief Constable was held to account by the Commissioner.

Suggestions were also made on layout and presentation of the draft annual report, including listing the partners worked with and display of performance data.

Resolved:

For the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner to take into account the comments raised by the Panel in the meeting and to redraft the annual report as appropriate.