Issue - meetings

The Panel is asked to raise any issues or queries concerning crime and

policing in Sussex with the Commissioner.

There will be one question per member only and one supplementary

question; further supplementary questions allowable only where time

permits. The Chairman will seek to group together questions on the same

topic

112.    The Panel raised the following issues and questions of the Commissioner:

• The Commissioner was asked about her recent attendance at a

Headteachers’ meeting in West Sussex and the support that Sussex Police

provides to schools to tackle the problems they face with drugs. The

Commissioner responded that the Assistant Chief Constable was the lead

officer for young people and would work closely with schools and local

authorities. Sussex Police had invested in youth intervention teams and

worked to build relationships with schools. There needed to be a joint

initiative to tackle the issue.

• It was noted that a new divisional commander had attended a meeting with a

local community group which had been very well received as they were

armed with better information on the new policing models and plans than the

officers that generally attended the meetings. The Commissioner encourages

senior officers to get out and about in their communities but how they spend

their time is an operational matter.

• The Panel sought reassurance that there was ongoing training for officers

and support staff to recognise incidents of modern slavery. The

Commissioner stated that this was a key priority area for police forces

nationally. Training on the issue was run by the College of Policing. Sussex

Police were considered good at tackling modern slavery.

53.    The Panelraised the following questions ofthe Commissioner:

•    The Commissioner was asked whethershewas in supportof theproposalto bringFire andRescueServicesinSussexunder the authorityof the Office of the Police and CrimeCommissioner.The Commissioner welcomed the debate on the proposals andstated that the decision would not be taken unilaterally and wouldonly be implementedif it was shown to be in the public interest.

•    A recent news reportinCrawleyclaimed thatcharges onlyresulted from1 in

10burglariesinthe Borough; the Commissioner was askedif thiswas reflected across the rest ofSussexand whether there were sufficient

resources committedto the detection andprosecutionof burglaries?The

Commissioner regularlychallenged the ChiefConstable over the performance of the force in relation to burglaries.OperationMagpie was ineffectin

S  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9

The Panel is asked to raise any issues or queries concerning crime and policing in Sussex with the Commissioner.

36.         The Panel welcomed the debate and topics that had been covered in the meeting and had no further questions for the Commissioner at the time.

The meeting ended at 1.20pm.