Agenda item

The Police and Crime Panel is required to review the Commissioner’s annual

report. The Commissioner will outline the attached annual report which

provides an update on the performance against the priorities, objectives and

measures set out in the Police and Crime Plan for the period 1 April 2014 –

31 March 2015.

The Panel is asked to review, put questions to the Commissioner, and make

recommendations on the annual report if necessary. All recommendations

agreed by the Panel will be published in a report from the Chairman to the

Commissioner

12.     The Panel considered the Commissioner’s Annual Report which provided an update of the Commissioner performance against the priorities, objectives and measures as set out in the Police and Crime Plan for the period 1 April 2014 – 31 March 2015.

13.    The Commissioner introduced the report, highlighting the aim to deliver an effective and efficient service across Sussex, within the recognised financial challenges. Sussex had a 55% overall reduction in recorded crime over the last ten years. A 7% increase in the reporting of crimes relating to domestic abuse, serious sexual offences anti-social behaviour and hate crimes was recorded over the last year due to the promotion and encouragement of reporting these types of crimes. The Commissioner also highlighted the work that had been completed under the four key objectives, including investment in frontline policing, safeguarding and tackling cyber-crime; the development of the victim services contact, the work of the Sussex Youth Commission and the Performance & Accountability meetings (PAMs) that the Commissioner held monthly to hold the Chief Constable to account for the performance of Sussex Police.

14.      The Panel raised the following issues with the Commissioner:

·         The Panel highlighted residents’ concerns in local policing and asked if PCSO levels would continue to be maintained as they had been in 2014/15. The Commissioner advised that Sussex Police were currently reviewing neighbourhood and local policing and would be able to provide details once the review was complete.

·         The Panel queried the 7% increase in reporting of certain crimes and asked what benchmarking had been done against other Police Forces who had also promoted improved reporting to seek assurance that the rise did not reflect and actual increase in crime. The Commissioner identified two areas that has affected the increase in crime reporting. Firstly a national report had indicated that 82% of crimes were being reported accurately by Sussex Police. As a result a lot of work had been carried out to improve recording of crimes, with crime integrity data now at 97%. Secondly, the reporting of these types of crimes (domestic abuse, serious sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and hate crimes) had been encouraged and were traditionally very underreported. The Panel asked for a breakdown of the increase of each of the different stands of crime identified.  

·         The Panel welcomed the achievements of the Commissioner, however they requested that information on areas that required improvement or further development were also included in future reports. The Commissioner highlighted the financial challenges that faced the police force and that the Local Policing Model would be implemented over the next 4-5 years to tackle this. The nature of crime was also changing, for example cyber-crime and online fraud, and the Sussex Police needed to look at how they flex to react to these changes. The Commissioner assured the Panel that the Chief Constable was clear on the key requirements for the Police; catching criminals and protecting the vulnerable. The Commissioner also highlighted that Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) was carrying out an efficiency inspection, with the outcomes expected in September. The report would be available on the www.gov.uk website and the Commissioner would respond to the report and follow up the recommendations at the PAM meetings with the Chief Constable. The financial challenge was the biggest that faced Sussex Police and the Commissioner would continue to challenge and monitor the implementation of the Local Policing Model.

·         The Panel highlighted that the number of killed and seriously injured (KSI) on the roads in East Sussex was in the top quarter nationally and that this needed to be addressed by the Commissioner. The Panel also raised the increased use of ‘legal highs’ and the impact this could have on KSI rates. The Commissioner agreed that it was a concern, and the issue had been discussed at recent PAM meetings with the Chief Constable. Operation Crackdown had been re-established and Operation Dragonfly has been introduced to target drink and drug driving offences. Sussex Police were also one of the first forces nationally to publish details of offenders online. The Commissioner say on the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership Board and would continue to challenge the current figures and how they could be reduced. The Panel highlighted that the high figures were a continuous trend and suggested that a more proactive approach needed to be taken to address the issue, recognising that it was also closely linked to road engineering.

·         The Panel asked what the Commissioner’s view and role was in relation to combating terrorism and suggested that this information is included in future reports. The Commissioner confirmed that terrorism was part of the national strategic policing requirements and that part of her role was to ensure that the Strategic Policing Requirement is adhered to. The Commissioner agreed that this information could be included in her Annual Report in the future.

·         The Panel asked what challenge the Commissioner had given to the Chief Constable to support communities to tackle the impact of ‘legal highs’ for example and the increase in anti-social behaviour. The Commissioner confirmed that reference was made to legal highs in the Queen’s Speech and the legislation would be considered in the future. Meanwhile the issue was high on the police agenda and laws that were currently available to them to address the issue were being used, for example to size legal highs at events.

·         The Panel queried whether any underspend could be allocated to fund victim of crime support given the increased pressure on services through increases in crime reporting. The Commissioner confirmed that budget commitments were already in place to recruit 36 new Serious Offence Liaison Officers  that a significant amount of the precept was being used for victim support.

15.     The Panel thanked the Commissioner for a very interesting report.

16.      Resolved – That the Panel accepts the Commissioner’s Annual report, and agrees to write to the Commissioner to outline the comments made.

17.     The Panel held a minute’s silence at 12pm to remember the victims of the terrorist attack in Tunisia on Friday 26 June.