Agenda item

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

In response to Councillor Poole, the Commissioner advised that the Police Degree Programme was a national initiative. Warwickshire Police had entered an agreement with Staffordshire University to deliver the Programme. He stated that new recruits were allocated patrol and response duties, providing a good foundation prior to choosing a specialism. The Detective Constable Degree Holder Entry Programme had been established to address the national shortfall in the number of detective constables, enabling degree holders to join the organisation at this level.

The Commissioner advised that practical work formed an integral element of the Programme. Student officers were given the opportunity to join duty shifts. He expressed his support for this approach, stating that he had advocated for an improved balance between academic and practical work. However, he emphasised the complexity of modern policing which required a detailed understanding of IT systems and databases. 

Polly Reed (Chief Executive, OPCC) advised that candidates were required to pass a standard interview to be accepted as student officers. There were assessment points throughout the duration of the course where students could either pass or fail. As with other degree programmes, students were offered the opportunity to select different modules focusing on specific areas. She advised that a good standard of pastoral support was provided throughout the course. Once sufficient progress had been made, student officers could be granted independent patrol status.

In response to the Chair, Polly Reed advised that student officers were subject to a probationary period which was likely to extend beyond completion of the course. She offered to clarify these details following the meeting.

The Commissioner highlighted that the Degree Programme provided police officers with an accredited qualification. Previously, they had not been offered this opportunity.

In response to the Chair, the Commissioner advised that the initial intake of student officers would soon graduate. He stated that an increased proportion of less experienced officers was an inevitable consequence of the drive to expand the Force. Effective training and mentoring would support new officers’ development.

The Chair requested that future reports to the Panel continue to provide a breakdown of levels of experience within the Force, including the proportion of recently graduated officers who were less than one year into their posts.

In response to Councillor Golby, the Commissioner advised that it would be possible to track the attrition rate of recently graduated officers in the years ahead. At present, an average of approximately eight officers left the Force each month, either to retire or, less commonly, to transfer to another force. He stated that that tuition fees were paid for by the Force. This was consistent with arrangements elsewhere and helped to attract capable individuals.

The Commissioner advised that online learning resources enabled student officers to maximise the amount of time spent on duty. It was proposed that the proportion of time dedicated to academic study be revised to around 60%, allowing increased direct experience of policing.

In response to the Chair, the Commissioner advised that the recruitment policy was supported by a robust retention policy focusing on career development. However, graduates from the Degree Programme were not obliged to repay tuition fees if they chose to leave the organisation. A clawback provision was not permitted under the terms of the national scheme.

Andy Davis highlighted the recently published findings of His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) following inspections of Northumbria Police, Staffordshire Police and the Metropolitan Police Service which highlighted the challenges associated with a high proportion of inexperienced officers. He asked what learning could be derived from the Inspectorate’s conclusions.

The Commissioner advised that an inspection by HMICFRS of Warwickshire Police would commence in the coming weeks. He stated that HMICFRS provided an independent view of the Force’s performance, enabling a focus on specific areas where more attention was required. It was likely that HMICFRS would give attention to levels of experience within the Force. In common with forces elsewhere, the proportion of less experienced officers had increased in Warwickshire as an inevitable consequence of enlarging the Force.

Polly Reed advised that the OPCC regularly monitored issues raised by HMICFRS and other national agencies to inform approaches to holding to account activities, including selection of ‘spotlight subjects’ at Governance and Performance Board (GPB) meetings with the Chief Constable. She emphasised that the deployment of new officers would be a managed process, adding that ‘inexperience’ was a relative term; there would be varying levels of experience across academic cycles.

The Chair suggested that it would be helpful for the Panel to periodically receive a breakdown of levels of experience across the Force, monitoring the progress made by student officers across successive intakes.

In response to the Chair, the Commissioner advised that the ‘Action Taken on Burglary’ data presented within the report drew upon various measures, including detection rates. He stated that there were multiple reasons for the low rate of positive outcomes. However, the present rate was unacceptably low. He reported that a significant proportion of burglaries were perpetrated by a small number of repeat offenders, including organised crime groups. These groups would continue to be targeted, making use of forensic and evidential links that could lead to prosecution. However, in many instances, burglaries left limited evidence.

The Commissioner advised that priority was given to invasive crimes, such as home break-ins, which had the worst impact on victims. He emphasised that, nationally, Warwickshire Police’s response to burglary was ranked within the upper quartile. He added that a focus on prevention had brought down the number of burglary offences.

The Chair expressed support for the effectiveness of prevention measures; however, there was limited assurance that a reduction in the number of burglary offences had led to an improved rate of detection.

There was discussion of the causes of low detection rates, allocation of police resources, and the role of Safer Neighbourhood Teams to respond to incidents of theft and anti-social behaviour. The Commissioner requested that members provide details of specific incidents which he would raise with the Chief Constable.

The Commissioner advised that good progress had been made to introduce a Performance Framework to monitor delivery of the objectives and success measures of the Police and Crime Plan 2021 – 2025. An update would be provided at the next meeting of Panel. The Planning and Performance Working Group would also provide a view on the development of this initiative.

Councillor Davison expressed support for the ‘Warwickshire Road Victims Need Assessment’ undertaken by Staffordshire University. He asked the Commissioner to clarify how this initiative would contribute to the objective to “Keep People Safe and Reduce Harm”.

The Commissioner advised that the success of initiatives to improve road safety were difficult to measure, the Warwickshire Road Victims Need Assessment provided a means to target funding to the areas where it would have the greatest impact. He expressed confidence in the work of the Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership, which brought stakeholder organisations together to reduce harm; and the Independent Road Traffic Victim Advocate scheme, which provided support to families bereaved by road traffic collisions.

In response to Councillor Davison, the Commissioner advised that measures were in place to promote a cultural change in attitudes to road safety by means of engagement with schools, driving instructors, and others. Videos and promotional resources had been produced to raise awareness of risks. These measures would be integral to achieving the targeted 50% reduction in the number of fatalities on Warwickshire roads by 2050.

In response to Councillor Poole, the Commissioner advised that delivery of the key priority to “strengthen communities” could be achieved by an increased focus by the Force on crime prevention, coupled with enhanced partnership working. For example, by promoting increased engagement by partnership organisations with Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs).

Councillor Poole underlined the importance of the role of CSPs, stating that Rugby CSP was seeking to improve partnership working arrangements and secure the engagement of stakeholders across the public sector.

Councillor Poole left the meeting at 15:55.

In response to the Councillor Fradgley, the Commissioner advised that residents’ concerns had been central to development of the Empower Programme, leading to measures to support the work of Safer Neighbourhood Teams as well as dedicated teams to address rape and serious sexual offences and domestic abuse. He stated that decentralisation of the Force into three separate commands for the north, south, and east of the County would lead to improved communication with residents and councillors.

There was discussion of efficiencies emerging from investment in ICT across the Force. The Commissioner stated that he would continue to seek assurances that investment had led to measurable efficiencies.

In response to Andy Davis, the Commissioner advised that the severity of the backlog of cases waiting to be progressed to courts had been exacerbated by industrial action by barristers. He reported that the Ministry of Justice had provided data to provide a clearer idea of the timescale for resolution of the backlog. He emphasised the impact that delays would have on policing and victims of crime. However, the return of Magistrates Courts to Warwickshire in October 2022 would lead to improved justice outcomes. As Chair of the Local Criminal Justice Board (LCJB), he would facilitate engagement across partnership organisations to seek an improvement.

In response to the Chair, the Commissioner provided an outline of holding to account activities between his Office and the Chief Constable, including monthly GPB meetings as well as weekly meetings to ensure that issues could be addressed promptly. Minutes of the GPB meetings were published on-line. He stated that topics for scrutiny took account of concerns raised by residents, businesses, and councillors. It was necessary to exercise judgement to prioritise issues, with a focus on the safety of Warwickshire residents and communities.

In response to the Chair, the Commissioner advised that he had acted on the Panel’s recommendation that the induction programme for the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner (DPCC) give specific attention to finance and budget management. Training had been provided by the Treasurer of the OPCC, and the DPCC regularly attended and contributed to budget meetings.