Agenda and minutes

To appoint a Chair of the Police and Crime Panel for the 2023/24 municipal year.

Councillor Derek Poole nominated Mr Andy Davis to serve as Chair for the coming year. Councillor Dave Humphreys seconded the nomination. There were no other nominations and Mr Andy Davis was elected unanimously as Chair to the Police and Crime Panel for 2023/24.

To appoint a Vice Chair of the Police and Crime Panel for the 2023/24 municipal year.

Councillor Dave Humphreys nominated Councillor Derek Poole to serve as Vice-Chair for the coming year. Councillor Ray Jarvis seconded the nomination. There were no other nominations and Councillor Derek Poole was elected unanimously as Vice-Chair to the Police and Crime Panel for 2023/24.

The Chair expressed his thanks to fellow members of the Panel following his appointment, stating that he would seek to work collaboratively, positively, and proactively with the Police and Crime Commissioner and his staff over the coming year.

The Chair welcomed two new members to the Panel – Councillor Natalie Gist of Stratford-on-Avon District Council and Councillor Katie Hunt of Warwick District Council.

To receive any apologies from members of the Panel.

Apologies were received from Councillor Barbara Brown and Councillor Jenny Fradgley.

Members are required to register their disclosable pecuniary interests within 28 days of their election of appointment to the Council. ?Any changes to matters registered or new matters that require to be registered must be notified to the Monitoring Officer as soon as practicable after they arise.

A member attending a meeting where a matter arises in which they have a disclosable pecuniary interest must (unless ?they have a dispensation):

•        Declare the interest if ?they have not already registered it

•        Not participate in any discussion or vote

•        Leave the meeting room until the matter has been dealt with

•        Give written notice of any unregistered interest to the Monitoring Officer within 28 days of the meeting

Non-pecuniary interests relevant to the agenda should be declared at the commencement of the meeting.

The public reports referred to are available on the Warwickshire Web https://democracy.warwickshire.gov.uk/uuCoverPage.aspx?bcr=1

There was none.

To consider the minutes of the meeting held on 6 April 2023.

It was resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 6 April 2023 be confirmed as an accurate record and signed by the Chair.

There were no matters arising.

Councillor Keith Kondakor (Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council) was welcomed to the meeting and invited to put his question to the Panel and Commissioner.

Councillor Kondakor highlighted the seriousness of bicycle theft. He stated that since 2010, funding cuts had intensified pressure on the police service and Criminal Justice System. This was evident in the performance of the 101 Service. He commented that fewer crimes were being reported due to a loss of confidence by some residents that action would be taken.

Councillor Kondakor stated that figures published by the Ministry of Justice indicated that there had been no convictions for bicycle theft in Warwickshire over the past three years. For some members of the public, there was a feeling that the Force was not interested in pursuing theft of a bicycle, leading many to resort to social media platforms to attempt to recover their property. He stated that a bicycle provided a sole means of transport for many people. Even when insured, it could be very difficult to recoup the cost of a stolen bicycle. He asked the Commissioner how action could be taken to seek an improvement.

The Commissioner thanked Councillor Kondakor for his question. He advised that the recently established customer resolution centres at Nuneaton, Rugby, Leamington Spa, and Stratford-upon-Avon were open seven days a week, providing an opportunity for members of the public to access help and advice from a police officer. He stated that the number of 999 and 101 calls received by Warwickshire Police had continued to increase. In the past week, the Force had received more than 5,000 calls to 999 and 101. This was a record-breaking level of demand. It demonstrated that members of the public continued to see reporting of crime as being worthwhile.

The Commissioner advised that operational changes had been made to improve response times for calls to 101 during periods of high demand; 10 new call handlers had been recruited with funding allocated to secure the appointment of an additional 15. This would substantially increase the Control Room’s capacity to respond to calls. He emphasised that 999 calls were being responded to promptly; on average it took 6 seconds for a call to 999 to be answered.

The Commissioner advised that Warwickshire Police data showed a different picture to that of the Ministry of Justice figures. During the 2021/22 and 2022/23 financial years, 22 people had been charged or summonsed for bicycle theft. There had been 20 convictions, including three individuals who had been convicted of multiple bicycle thefts. Since 2018/19, there had been a 37% decrease in reported bicycle theft offences in Warwickshire. He emphasised that the Force would continue to pursue a positive outcome when theft of a bicycle was reported.

Councillor Kondakor stated that it was positive that victims of crime now had improved opportunities to contact the police at customer resolution centres. He suggested that efforts be made to promote these resources and to signpost members of the public to the options available to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3(4)

The Report is attached for consideration and comment by the Panel.

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) presented his report which provided an update on key activities since the meeting of the Panel in April 2023. The Report encompassed trust and confidence in the police service, progress to deliver the Police and Crime Plan, criminal justice considerations, the recently published His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) Annual State of Policing Assessment, grants and commissioned services, financial information, and details of the arrival of the Knife Angel sculpture to Nuneaton town centre. He praised the contribution of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council which worked alongside Warwickshire Police and others to coordinate the arrival of the Knife Angel.

Councillor Golby stated that the Knife Angel showed how local communities could take creative approaches to focus on preventing violence and aggression. Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council had taken the initiative to do things differently. She stated that securing the Knife Angel had been a significant achievement. The arrival of the sculpture presented multiple benefits. Educational initiatives had taken place in schools, it had attracted an increased number of visitors to the town and facilitated a dialogue on the harms of knife crime. She praised the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner (DPCC) who had made a valuable contribution.

The Commissioner stated that the Knife Angel provided an effective means to prompt discussion of the harms of knife crime. It also provided a powerful and poignant memorial to those who had lost their lives to knife crime.

The Chair highlighted coverage in the report of the HMICFRS Annual State of Policing Assessment. The update provided to the Panel summarised that the Chief Inspector of Constabulary had emphasised the need for police forces to “show professionalism, get the basics right when it comes to investigating crime, and respond properly when someone dials 999. This is what matters most to the communities they serve, and this is the way forward for the police to regain the public’s trust”. He sought the Commissioner’s view of this statement.

The Commissioner stated that the Annual State of Policing Assessment examined national issues affecting policing; it was right that detailed consideration had been given to public expectations for policing. He emphasised that public confidence in policing was a core consideration; where this faltered, there was a risk that crimes would not be reported. He underlined his intention to increase confidence in Warwickshire Police and prove to victims and witnesses that reporting of crime would yield positive results.

The Commissioner’s Annual Report and Executive Summary are attached for consideration and comment by the Panel.

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) introduced his Annual Report which outlined activities and progress over the course of 2022/23. He emphasised that the Report was framed against the priorities of the Police and Crime Plan to ensure that progress could be effectively tracked. The Report also included details of engagement activities, commissioned services and grants, financial considerations, governance arrangements, and the findings of His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) following its most recent Police Effectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy (PEEL) Inspection of Warwickshire Police. He emphasised that the findings of the Inspectorate constituted an improvement on the results of the previous inspection. He would continue to hold the Chief Constable to account to address the areas identified by HMICFRS as requiring improvement. He reported that the next inspection was anticipated to occur in January 2025.

In response to Councillor Gist, the Commissioner highlighted the substantial expansion of Warwickshire Police in recent years. Since 2016, officer numbers had increased by over 300, bringing the total number of officers to just over 1,100. This had been partly financed by the national Police Uplift Grant as well as by Warwickshire council taxpayers. He emphasised that, in raising the police precept for 2023/24, he had made a commitment to expand the Force and ensure that officers were deployed evenly across the County by population, demand, and levels of crime (taking account of operational considerations such as firearms officers who had a central base). Under the Empower Programme, a new geographically-based policing model had been introduced with command centres in the north, east, and south of the County each overseen by a Chief Inspector. These chief inspectors were well-placed to liaise with local councillors to address community concerns.

In response to Councillor Humphreys, the Commissioner advised that, on average, between 8 and 10 officers left the Force each month. This was usually due to retirement. To maintain officer numbers, it was necessary to recruit approximately 100 new officers each year.

The Chair praised the level of detail included within the report. However, he highlighted that the Panel had previously received a more detailed overview of the Force’s performance, particularly in relation to key activities and priorities. In recent update reports, performance data had been less specific with a greater emphasis placed on governance arrangements and processes that shaped how the Force operated. He stated that a renewed focus on performance would help the Panel to develop a clearer idea of how strategic initiatives were operating in practice.

The Commissioner stated that this was a reasonable request. However, he emphasised the importance of establishing clear lines of demarcation between the role of the Panel and the role of the PCC. Performance data would be included in future reports to inform the Panel’s analysis of his holding to account of the Chief Constable in relation to the performance of Warwickshire Police. He advised that performance data was also published on the PCC website.

The Chair stated that this would be helpful. He highlighted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Report is attached for consideration and comment by the Panel.

Mr John Anderson (Chair of Warwickshire Joint Audit and Standards Committee) introduced the Joint Audit and Standards Committee (JASC) Annual Report for 2022. He provided a summary of highlights from the report, stating that:

·       At its meeting in November 2022, WJASC considered the joint external audit unqualified opinions on statutory accounts and value for money arrangements. These documents were formally signed off by management and the external auditors shortly afterwards. This constituted a significant achievement given current pressures affecting the audit sector nationally.

·       WJASC was provided with information relating to the process for appointment of external auditors to the Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable for the five-year period from 2024 to 2028. The Committee recommended that Grant Thornton be re-appointed as the external auditor and highlighted the effect of change fatigue on the Finance Department. The Committee’s observations were relayed to Public Sector Audit Appointment Ltd (PSAA); however, it was resolved that Azets Audit Services Ltd be appointed as the external auditor. Since then, two senior auditors had moved from Grant Thornton to Azets Audit Services which mitigated some of the concerns raised by WJASC, providing improved continuity.

·       The Committee took a close interest in risks associated with the transition of services following the termination of the strategic alliance between Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police. These included the development of the Evolve ICT Project. The closure report for the Project showed that it had been completed on time and on budget. This was rare for projects of this type and constituted a good outcome.

Mr Anderson described the key areas of focus for 2023/24, these included performance management and accountability, vetting, cyber-crime, and fraud and corruption.

The Chair highlighted the benefits of alignment between the Panel and WJASC. It was helpful to share information and for a member of WJASC to be present at Panel meetings. He thanked Mr Anderson and his colleagues on the JASC for their support and dedication.

The Panel noted the WJASC Annual Report.

To confirm arrangements for working groups in the 2023/24 municipal year.

The Chair introduced the report, stating that the Panel was asked to confirm the continuation of dedicated working groups in 2023/24. Provided this was agreed, the membership of each group would be updated, and priorities would be set for the coming year. He stated that the OPCC’s support of the working groups in 2022/23 had been valued and appreciated.

The Commissioner stated that he would be happy to meet with the chairs of the working groups, once appointed, to discuss arrangements and how meetings could be supported by his office.

Resolved:

That the Police and Crime Panel confirms the continuation of dedicated working groups for the 2023/24 municipal year and authorises the Panel’s Support Officer to confirm arrangements for working groups, and appointments thereto, following liaison with Panel members.

The Report is attached for consideration and comment by the Panel.

The Chair introduced the Annual Report which provided a summary of the Panel’s activities and achievements during 2022/23 and priorities for the municipal year ahead.

It was resolved to endorse the Annual Report.

To consider any issues flagged by Community Safety Partnerships, providing a means for community concerns that have high-level, strategic implications to be discussed by the Panel and Commissioner.

No issues had been raised by Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) ahead of the meeting.

In response to Councillor Poole, Polly Reed (Chief Executive, OPCC) advised that a meeting would be arranged between CSP chairs and the OPCC. She advised that consideration had been given to prospective points for discussion. She encouraged CSP chairs to raise any points that they would like to be discussed.

To consider and review the Panel’s Work Programme.

The Panel noted the Work Programme.

The Chair suggested that the Work Programme be reviewed once arrangements for Community Safety Partnerships and the Panel’s working groups had been confirmed. He encouraged members to suggest any items that they would like to be included.

To note the arrangements for future meetings. Meetings will start at 2pm, unless specified otherwise.

The following meetings are scheduled to be held at Shire Hall, Warwick:

·       21 September 2023

·       22 November 2023 (at 10am)

·       5 February 2024

·       4 April 2024

The Panel noted the dates of future meetings.

As the meeting on due to be held on 4 April 2024 was likely to fall within the pre-election period for the Police and Crime Commissioner elections in early May 2024, it was proposed to also reschedule this meeting. The Panel’s Support Officer would contact attendees to arrange a suitable earlier date for the meeting.

At the discretion of the Chair, items may be raised which are considered urgent (please notify Democratic Services in advance of the meeting).

There was none.

To consider passing the following resolution:

“That members of the public be excluded from the meeting for the items mentioned below on the grounds that their presence would involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.”

Resolved:

That members of the public be excluded from the meeting for the items mentioned below on the grounds that their presence would involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 6 April 2023.

The exempt minutes of the meeting held on 6 April 2023 were confirmed as an accurate record and signed by the Chair.

There were no matters arising.

To consider any complaints received and considered regarding the conduct of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

It was confirmed that no complaints had been received since the last meeting.