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 2016 –

31 March 2017.

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 on performance for the period 1 April 2016 – 31 March 2017 against the priorities and objectives set out in the Police and Crime Plan 2017/21

13.  The Commissioner introduced the report, which was based around four key priority areas, and highlighted that there was a statutory duty for Police and Crime Commissioner’s to produce an annual report.

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

·         Previously outdated data has been used in the introduction to the report but this had now been removed so that the introduction contained no data. The Commissioner was asked to indicate whether the level of reported crime had gone up or down in the year. The Commissioner responded to that the purpose of the report was to show what she had achieved as Commissioner but crime figures were available online, via Community Safety Partnerships and could be seen being discussed with the Chief Constable during her monthly Performance  and Accountability Meetings (PAMs).

·         The Panel further pressed the Commissioner on why she would not confirm whether the numbers of reported crimes had risen or fallen in Sussex. The Commissioner said it was nationally known that the numbers of reports of some crimes had increased and some had decreased . Changes to the way crimes are reported had made a difference to the figures. The Commissioner reiterated that this was not the purpose of the report but that she would be happy to share the details with the Panel.

·         The Panel asked the Commissioner what work is being undertaken to ensure that the Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies (HMIC) Inspection ‘requires improvement’ judgement, is down to the policing model changes and not another underlying cause. The Commissioner had questions the Chief Constable at her PAM on 24 March on the ‘requires improvement’ judgement, particularly around the response to investigate crimes, reoffending and protecting the vulnerable. The Commissioner and Chief Constable were being thorough with scrutiny. Both were disappointed with the outcome but grateful that HMIC recognised the challenges faced by Sussex Police during a period of significant change. Sussex Police would respond in an immediate and constructive manner and there was confidence that HMIC will improvements in effectiveness as part of the 2017/18 inspection. The Commissioner highlighted the following as an example: an action plan had been drawn up to improve work with victims of domestic abuse and stalking and harassment including the initiation of a gold group. Training had also been rolled out to all front line police and body worn video cameras had been provided to all neighbourhood policing teams to aid prosecutions.

·         The Panel questioned how the Force was managing the decision to increase the number of Armed Response Officers (AROs); specifically how many AROs did Sussex Police currently have and how close were they to meeting the target?. The Commissioner responded that there should be the target number of AROs across Surrey and Sussex within 18 months. The decision to increase the number of AROs formed part of the precept increase and was part of a national imitative. The training is intense and not all officers pass the training to teaching the required numbers would take time. Training programmes had been run in October  2016 and January 2017 of 16 initial applications 9 and 10 passed the course respectively. Another started in May 2017 with 16 applicants and 14 currently remained. There would be five additional Armed Response Vehicles (ARCs) available within six months; two were currently available with a further three to be available within six months. The resources were flexible between Surrey and Sussex via the shared unit.

·         The Panel questioned how well placed Sussex Police were to respond to a complex incident given the vulnerabilities in the County with its ports, airport and crowded spaces such as Brighton Seafront following the terrible events in Manchester and London. The Commissioner was clear that there was no specific intelligence to suggest there was a specific threat against Sussex. The national level remains at severe with the public being advised to remain cautious and report anything suspicious to the Police via 999, 101 or the National Counter Terrorism Hotline. The Commissioner had been questioning the Chief Constable for some time for a suitable response on this issue and had resulted in the increase in the precept to recruit more Firearms Officers. Specialist Counterterrorism Armed Response Officers are paid for the National Policing Grant. 

·         The Panel questioned whether the Commissioner could support the local authorities in enabling all year 8 the local authorities in enabling all year 8 students to see a live performance of ‘Chelsea’s Choice’ a powerful drama performance about Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE), rather than some having to watch it online where it had less impact. The Commissioner responded that she was happy to look at opportunities if it fits the priorities. Sussex Polices’ CSE campaign had hit the headlines.

·         The Panel raised their concern about cyber crime and other new types of crime and they sought assurances that resources were not being reduced elsewhere and requested that more prominence be given to cyber crime in future reports to the Panel. The Commissioner highlighted that Sussex Police was working closely with Hampshire, Thames Valley and Surrey Police forces to tackle cybercrime. Cybercrime was also be tackled nationally as of the National Policing Strategic Priorities. Surrey and Sussex Police were the first forces to set up a joint cyber crime united. Cyber crime is one of the emerging threads of the report but the report reflect the work of the Commissioner in her Police and Crime Plan. The Commissioner would welcome a working group on the issue.

·         The Panel commended the Commissioner on the input and output of the report but were concerned that the outcomes were not clearly defined. The Panel requested that successes are clearly defined in future reports so recourses being expended could be identified, including clear supporting data. The Commissioner highlighted that the Restorative Justice initiative had won three national awards and that data had been attributed to the section on Video Enabled Justice. The Commissioner agreed to look at how the report could be presented in the future.

15.     Resolved –

1.       That the Panel made the following recommendations to the Commissioner:

i. That the Commissioner investigate the possibility of contributing to the funding of live performances of ‘Chelsea’s Choice’ to allow all year 8 pupils to see a show

ii.  That clearly defined outcomes and supporting data be included in next year’s annual report

2.   That the Panel noted the report