Agenda item

To receive any verbal updates from Partners and Community Groups present, and to note written updates attached to the agenda.

Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner – Jerry Herbert, Deputy PCC

·       Precept Consultation links:

Public consultation survey (open from 5 January to 2 February) - https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/PNHBKSG

PCC Precept Video - https://youtu.be/eRMtE_YxdWk

Partner Updates:

·       Police – Warminster CPT (Mere & Tisbury) Salisbury/Wilton update attached

·       Fire & Rescue – update attached (apologies from representative)

Note: Speakers are reminded that they each have a 3 minutes slot, unless they have previously discussed alternative arrangements with the Community Area Manager.

Written Information Items:

·       CCG

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       Wiltshire Council – Covid-19 update

The Board noted the written updates and information available via the online pack and received the following verbal presentations and updates from Partners present:

Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC)

Deputy PCC Jerry Herbert gave a presentation on the annual Precept proposals.

The precept was increased last year, with additional money and the additional officers that came as part of the ‘Boris Bobbies’ scheme, into our Rural Crime team. There would be a total of 65 additional Officers by the end of the financial year. Up to 1050 Officers in total from the 934 two years ago. A vast amount of those Officers were going into the Community Police Teams.

Other areas of Policing which had received an uplift were Cyber-crime, dealing with crime prevention and investigation.

A flat cash settlement from the Home Office would pay the basic costs, beyond that there would be a shortfall of around £3m, that was driven by the fact that the Home Office funding did not pay for the 50% of last years pay award which fell into the next financial year, the increased costs of running the Police Aviation service or the national Police technologies.

The only way to keep the force running at the current level was to rise the precept. A £15 increase a year, which worked out as £1.25 a month for a band D property. Without this they would have to cut Community Policing

It was expected that there would be an add 48 officers in the new financial year.

The Commissioner has just launched a consultation period, running from 5 January 2021 to 2 February 2021. Please could you spread the word on the consultation as would like as may contributions as possible. It offers the chance to contribute your thoughts on what you think the local priorities should be.

 Questions and Comments:

·       What sort of feedback do you get through the consultation?

Answer: About 1100 responses in the first week.

·       When the consultation has finished, would there be justification for the increase in the precept, as previously a high-level response was given as a reason for it being acceptable. 

Answer: There continues to be relatively small numbers, If there is a clever way to get feedback please let us know.

·       What did the PCC Office cost per annum?

Answer: The Cost of the PCC office can be found on our website, it costs around £800k to run. If we stuck at precept without the rise, we would have a £3m deficit, without it we would have to look at some unappetising alternatives.

Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPT)

Wilton area (Salisbury NPT) – Inspector Pete Sparrow

Mere and Tisbury areas (Warminster NPT) –

The Board noted the written reports attached to the agenda. The following comments and questions were then received:

·       How far can people go for a walk if driving there in a car, what is ‘a reasonable distance’?

Answer: Good question, we have been asked several times, the legislation does not specify. We should engage, encourage and explain the regulations and as a last resort enforce.

·       Cllr Church gave thanks to Inspector Sparrow for sparing PC James Barratt to carry out some work on the Avenue and in South Newton.

I understood from local residents on Wilton Hill that Officers had been asking people why they were out and about. With cases of Covid rising, it was understood why those enquiries were being made. Was that the purpose of the work there or were there speed checks being carried out as well?

Answer: The purpose for the Officers in that location was to carry out speed checks but I support asking people questions as well.

PC Barratt – Today was about speed enforcement and visibility. When I stop a driver, I do like to ask them where they have been and where they are going to get a general indication on the speed limits they would have been travelling through.

·       You mention that you would like to see a change in the law of people carrying catapults.

Answer: This was something that had been raised through Rural Crime Partnerships and Members of Parliament. There were legitimate reasons to carry a catapult, such as fishing, otherwise there was no reason to carry one. A catapult could do a tremendous amount of damage. There was recently an incident in Downton where officers and a police dog were fired at. There was also so much damage caused in the community that I would like to see a similar piece of legislation as carrying a crossbow etc. I have a passion to try and change that legislation.

·       You mention parking chaos in rural communities, is that generally or had it increased?

Answer: This has been exacerbated with the Covid matters.

Inspector Simon Cowdrey – for Mere and Tisbury

The new Inspector for the Warminster area introduced himself and then handed over to Sergeant Kevin Harmsworth who was in attendance to give an update.  

Cllr Wayman commented on the issue of speeding through villages and hoped to see patrols similar to those in Wilton in other parts of the community.

Answer: PC Salter had made enquiries with some villages, if Cllr Wayman could email Sgt Harmsworth he will be able to respond.

Sgt Harmsworth updated on new officers which had joined the area and the introduction of new dedicated Covid Officers which were able to respond to reported breaches.

A resident in the Street in Kilmington who had been causing a high demand of policing due to anti-social behaviour, had been removed from the area and improvements had since been felt in the community.

Op Elf was running in December to tackle shoplifting.

Following reports of a strong smell of cannabis from a warehouse in Mere. A container was emptied, and a cannabis growth was found. An arrest was made and an investigation was ongoing.

We have online lessons available for all schools, email me for further details.

Speed checks were being carried out in the community as CSW was not operating during lockdown.

‘Act Early’ – was an initiative running which provided advice on how to spot the early signs of terrorist activity and recruitment.