Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from:

• Shirley Young, Independent Co-opted Member
• Councillor Alan Oliver, Hart District Council
• Councillor Martin Pepper, Gosport Borough Council

To enable Members to declare to the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interest they may have in any matter on the agenda for the meeting, where that interest is not already entered in their appointing authority’s register of interests, and any other pecuniary or personal interests in any such matter that Members may wish to consider disclosing.

Members were able to disclose to the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interest they may have in any matter on the agenda for the meeting, where that interest is not already entered in their appointing authority’s register of interests, and any other pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests in any such matter that Members may wish to disclose.

No declarations were made.

To confirm the minutes from the previous meeting.

The Minutes from the 26 January 2024 meeting were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To receive any questions or deputations in line with Rule 31 and 31A of the Panel’s Rules of Procedure.

No questions or deputations were received by the Panel on this occasion.

To hear any announcements the Chairman may have for this meeting.

The Chairman gave five announcements:

Letter to Secretary of State

At the last meeting it was resolved that the Chairman write to the Secretary of State and Shadow Secretary of State to highlight the Panel’s concerns about the level of central government funding received by Hampshire & the Isle of Wight and the need to take forward the Police Funding Formula Review. The Chairman confirmed this had been done and the letter shared with Panel Members. Any response would be circulated to Panel Members in due course.

Legal Support to the Panel

Following the procurement process closing at the end of February, a new contract was being drawn up for provision of legal support to the Panel from April 2024 onwards. As the contract had not yet been signed the outcome could not be reported, but the Chairman assured Members it was in hand to be completed shortly, to ensure no gap in service.

Panel Member Briefing

The Chairman noted that a briefing was held for Panel Members on Friday 8 March at the Police HQ in Netley. He thanked those Members that attended and the officers involved in the event. It had been an informative session with the opportunity to meet officers involved in dealing with fraud and cyber crime, and a presentation on Crimes That Hurt You the Most – Murder and Serious Violence. It was hoped Panel Members found the session useful and that the briefing supported an informed debate at this meeting.

Police Officer Numbers

The Chairman reported that at the last meeting the Panel had requested figures to demonstrate the overall increase in police officer numbers over recent years given the numbers leaving the profession compared to the numbers recruited. He reported that he had been informed there had been an increase of 651 from January 2020 to January 2024, and the figure was expected to increase by the end of March 2024. It was expected that the Home Office target head count of 3420 as at 31 March would be achieved.

Chairman

The Chairman announced that this would be his last meeting as Chairman as he was stepping down as a Councillor after serving for 38 years.

To hear any announcements the Commissioner may have for the Panel.

The Chairman invited announcements from the Commissioner, who gave an overview of activity undertaken by her and her office since the last meeting (a written form of the announcements had been circulated the previous day)

Highlights included:

·         It had been one of her pledges to increase police officer numbers so she had been pleased to deliver on this

·         The recent Commissioner’s Oversight of Policing Services session received over 80 questions

·         During Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week the Commissioner raised the profile of the support services funded by her office

·         The Violence Reduction Partnership had been launched, coordinated by the PCC’s Violence Reduction Unit

·         The OPCCs Youth Commission held their annual conference

·         The Commissioner visited Waterlooville Boxing Club after leasing a derelict police estate building to the club

·         Launch of the Victim Care Hub including Victims online portal joint with Thames Valley Police

·         Commissioner and Chief Constable putting a focus on zero-tolerance on retail crime

·         Attending events both locally and nationally celebrating International Women’s Day

·         Launch of £500,000 funding for partner organisation initiatives to tackle anti-social behaviour

·         Hosting an awards ceremony to pay tribute to officers, staff, volunteers, support services and community groups who do excellent work to help keep Hampshire & Isle of Wight residents safe

Under her role on the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners:

·         Following the report making recommendations following Wayne Couzens behaviour while a serving police officer, there was a duty on all police forces to learn and seek to prevent such a situation taking place in future

·         An anti corruption anonymous crime stoppers line had been launched for the Metropolitan Police and then rolled out to all forces. It received 800 calls in the first 24 hours

Panel Members asked questions for clarification and heard that:

·         Around 1250 officers had been recruited over the past 4 years in order to reach the 650 extra to cover those leaving over the same period

·         The Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) was currently funded until March 2025. The VRU coordinates the Violence Reduction Partnership response to serious violence. In the absence of further funding, the VRP should be self-coordinated from April 2025. The Commissioner would be considering with the Chief Finance Officer any other options

·         In terms of achievements since being elected, the PCC was particularly proud of the reduction in crime figures, improved victim services and better awareness of the PCC role

To receive a quarterly update from the Police and Crime Commissioner detailing performance of and delivery against the Police and Crime Plan, with a spotlight on ‘Crimes that hurt you the most’ covering:

• Serious and organised crime and countering terrorism

• Murder and serious violence

• Domestic abuse, rape and serious sexual offences

• Child abuse, exploitation and vulnerability

• Fraud and cyber crime

To also consider the review of the whole Plan, as the plan period is coming to an end with the Police and Crime Commissioner election in May 2024.

Members received some advance slides and a presentation from the representative of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner setting out an update on delivery against the Police and Crime Plan 2021-2024 (see Item 7 in the Minute Book). This update included a focus on the priorities in the Plan regarding ‘Violence against Women and Girls’ and ‘Crimes that hurt you the most’. It was noted that this was the final update on the Plan as the Commissioners term of office was coming to an end in May 2024 and that 100% of the objectives had now been evidenced.

In response to questions, the Panel heard:

·         The Commissioner offered to cover further detail on training for officers regarding Violence Against Women and Girls at a future Panel Briefing, as a Panel Member reported poor practice in this area was still being brought to his attention. This could also cover how controlling behaviour is now prosecuted

·         Through the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, children are recognised as victims in their own right in situations of domestic abuse. The commissioned services already had support for Children and Young People embedded with dedicated CYP workers.

·         Hampshire and Isle of Wight was a test area for the Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s Domestic Homicide Review Oversight mechanism to help inform national roll out

·         Learning from people with lived experience seeks to improve understanding of challenges and inequalities, aid decision making and support positive change. The Youth Endowment Fund consider Prison Awareness Programmes to not have a desirable impact on children’s invovlement in crime and violence, and can increase the likelihood that children become involved in crime. The OPCC does not commission Prison Awareness Programmes such as Scared Straight

RESOLVED:

That the update on the delivery of the Police and Crime Plan was noted.

To consider a report from the Police and Crime Commissioner regarding the Estate Plan for the Police Estate in Hampshire & the Isle of Wight.

The Panel received the ‘Estate Objectives 2024-2029’ from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) (see Item 8 in the Minute Book). The representative of the OPCC highlighted the achievements made in managing the estate since May 2021 and key facts about the buildings the police operate from.

It was noted that the Facilities Management service was being brought in house during 2024. It was reported that it was intended to move away from leasehold properties over time. It was intended that there would be a front counter open to the public in each District area by the end of 2025. Under austerity there had been a reduction in both staff and estates and there was now a need to increase both. The Police estate was owned by the PCC and managed by a team within the OPCC.

Panel Members noted that the PCC had inherited an estate in a poor state and congratulated the PCC on the improvements already made. There was interest in receiving further detail on future plans in due course.

RESOLVED:

That the update on the Estate Plan was noted.  

To consider a report setting out the proposed work programme for the Panel.

Members received a report from the Democratic Services Officer to the Panel setting out the proposed work programme for the Panel (see Item 9 in the Minute Book).

The Chairman noted that this meeting concluded this work programme period.

RESOLVED:

That the work programme is agreed.