Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from:

·         Councillor Geoff Blunden, New Forest District Council

·         Councillor Tonia Craig, Eastleigh Borough Council

·         Councillor David McKinney, East Hampshire District 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.

It was noted that Councillor Margot Power’s name had been misspelt under items 73 and 74 of the minutes.

The Minutes from the previous meeting were otherwise confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider a report setting out the proposed appointment of two local authority co-opted members of the Hampshire Police and Crime Panel.

Members received a report from the Democratic Services Officer to the Panel setting out the proposed appointment of the two Conservative local authority co-opted members, Councillor John Gledhill and Councillor Sarah Vaughan.

Both Members were invited to introduce themselves to the Panel.

RESOLVED:

·         That the Panel noted its Membership for the 2022/23 municipal year, as laid out in Table 2 of the report.

·         That Councillor John Gledhill and Councillor Sarah Vaughan are appointed to the Hampshire Police and Crime Panel, as a Local Authority Co-opted Members representing the Conservative Group.

·         That the Panel noted its Membership was, at the time of the meeting, politically proportionate for the purpose of the balanced appointment objective as outlined within Table 3 of the report.

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

As the Commissioner was not yet present at the meeting, the Chairman announced that item 5 would be considered after item 8 to allow the Commissioner’s inclusion.

The Panel received two public questions in advance of the meeting from Mr Bob Purkiss, as noted within the appendix to the minutes.

The Chairman announced that the Commissioner had provided commentary on the questions, in advance of the meeting, which stated that whilst the Commissioner welcomed questions from members of the public, to ensure meetings operated in accordance with standing orders, the Commissioner requested questions directed to her, be sent either in writing or email to her office and not through the Police and Crime Panel.

To allow the Panel to further understand how the Commissioner was supporting and promoting Equality and Diversity across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight (IOW) the Chairman proposed bringing forward the thematic update on Equality and Diversity, from the Panel’s work programme, to the next meeting in January, which was supported unanimously by all Members present.

Mr Purkiss was invited to raise a further supplementary question, to which he declined.

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

The Chairman welcomed Councillor Karen Lucioni, who had been appointed as the representative of Isle of Wight Council since the last meeting.

Following notification from the Commissioner that Olivia Pinkney would be stepping down as Chief Constable next year, the Chairman advised that the Panel’s supporting officers had been working with the Commissioner’s team to prepare the necessary arrangements for a confirmation hearing for the PCC’s proposed candidate for Chief Constable. The Chairman noted that once notification was received from the Commissioner of her proposed candidate, a date for the confirmation hearing would be set and published on the Panel’s webpages.

The Chairman, on behalf of the Panel, offered thanks to Ms Pinkney for her dedication to the residents of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. At the suggestion of Dave Stewart, it was agreed that the Panel would write to Ms Pinkney, to formally offer the Panel’s thanks and best wishes for the future.

To receive a verbal update from the most recent meeting of the Panel’s Policy and Performance working group.

The Chairman provided an update from the first meeting of the Policy and Performance Working Group, which had been held in September. Members heard that the working group raised concerns about the lack of data being provided to the Panel to demonstrate delivery against the Police and Crime Plan and had proposed the Commissioner bring an update to the Panel, under item 10 of the agenda, on her priorities to deliver 600 more police officers, better outcomes for victims and to tackle anti-social behaviour.

An updated work programme, as presented under item 12 of the agenda, was proposed by the working group to enable the Panel to hear an update against delivery of all priorities within the Police and Crime Plan, before the end of the Commissioner’s current term, and included a programme of thematic updates.

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

The Chair invited announcements from the Commissioner, who highlighted the following to the Panel:

·         Progress to recruit a new Chief Constable, following notification from Ms Pinkney of her intention to leave the force in early 2023, was on track with interviews being held on 3 and 4 November. The Commissioner confirmed that the Panel would receive notification of the proposed candidate in due course.

·         An increase in the South East allowance for Hampshire and IOW police officers had been agreed, in consultation with the Chief Constable. Members heard that an increase to the allowance was necessary to bring Hampshire Constabulary in line with other neighbouring forces and had been well received by the Police Federation.

·         The Commissioner alongside the acting Chief Constable had recently pledged a commitment that Hampshire Constabulary would attend all  domestic dwelling burglaries.

·         Funding had been provided by the Commissioner to provide six unmarked police bikes for Hampshire Constabulary to support officers to tackle anti-social behaviour in urban areas and apprehend offenders more quickly.

·         Hampshire and the IOW had been one of the  most successful areas nationally in being awarded funding under round four of Safer Streets. The Commissioner noted her thanks to partner Councils in bringing together strong bids for funding.

·         A landmark pilot had been launched in Portsmouth, the Co-op Navigator scheme, to tackle growth in retail crime and aimed to address underlying causes of offending behaviour.

·         Over the summer months the Commissioner had undertaken a very successful joint campaign with Hampshire County Council focussed on child protection entitled ‘is your child safe?’.

·         The Commissioner’s office had relocated, as planned, on 7 October which would enable the savings previously reported to the Panel to be realised.

·         Black Ethnic And Minority (BEAM) reviews were being undertaken across the Criminal Justice System as part of the national race action, co-ordinated via the Local Criminal Justice Board, chaired by the Commissioner. The Commissioner had, as part of the annual BEAM conference, hosted a contingent from Albania at request of Home Office in recognition of the success of the Youth Commission. Members heard that the Commissioner and her team had forged links with the visiting mayor from Albania and would be supporting them to tackle youth offending. The Commissioner agreed to bring an update to future panel meeting on the progress of the reviews.

·         The impact of recent strike action by barristers had been felt across Hampshire and IOW, particularly on Crown Courts. The Commissioner recognised that delays in court hearings could have a significant impact on victim confidence.

To review the Police and Crime Commissioner’s draft Annual Report 2022.

Members received a draft copy of the Commissioners Annual report for 2021-22. The Chairman invited the Commissioner to introduce the report, after which Members were invited to raise comments and recommendations in accordance with Section 28(4) of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act.

The Commissioner noted that the annual report provided an insight in activities undertaken during the year by the Commissioner and her office to successfully deliver the Police and Crime Plan. Members heard the report highlighted the significant savings made during the Commissioner’s first year in office, which were being re-invested in operational policing delivery.

In response to Members questions it was heard that:

·         The format and colour used throughout the report met with corporate branding. To reduce printing costs it was anticipated that very few printed copies would be produced, with an accessible version of the report published online. The report would be shared with local authorities, MPs and town and parish councils. Members suggested the use of QR codes in key visible locations, such as police stations, to enable ease of access and raise awareness with residents.

·         Recruitment of over 600 additional police officers for Hampshire Constabulary, as pledged within the Police and Crime Plan, was on track to be completed by Spring 2023. The Commissioner confirmed that, through both uplift funding and precept contributions from residents, the necessary funds were secured within the policing budget to meet ongoing costs for the new officers.

·         Whilst it was positive to hear of the efforts taken to enhance the diversity profile of new recruits, the Panel observed that more needed to be done to enable the force to be fully representative of the communities they serve, and welcomed the Commissioner’s call for more black officers in British policing.

·         The pay award of £1,900 for police officers equated to roughly a 5% pay rise. 3.5% had been budgeted for in January by the Commissioner and central government had provided sufficient additional funding to cover 2% of the increase, so overall the costs would be met from the existing budget, with any savings to be contributed to delivering the 600 additional police officers. The Commissioner met with the Police Federation monthly, and had maintained an ongoing dialogue with them in the lead up to the pay award being set. Agreement had not yet been reached on the pay award for policing staff, and the Commissioner and her team were in dialogue through with Unison through regular meetings.

·         With the new officers recruited as part of the uplift programme, Response and Patrol Teams now had sufficient capacity to meet the commitment to attend all home dwelling burglaries. Each Police Investigation Centre (PIC) held an Operation Hawk team who investigated burglaries. It was noted that whilst the IOW did not have a dedicated Operation Hawk team, their Criminal Investigations Department (CID) were able to call upon the Operation Hawk team based at Southampton PIC for support as needed.

·         A number of thematic inspections had been undertaken of Hampshire Constabulary, as part  ...  view the full minutes text for item 95.

To receive a quarterly update from the Police and Crime Commissioner detailing performance of and delivery against the Police and Crime Plan.

Members received a presentation from the Commissioner outlining delivery against the Police and Crime Plan. Through the presentation and in response to Members questions it was heard that:

·         The Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner conducted regular case reviews for out of court disposals, to ensure that they were being used  appropriately.

Councillor Tony Jones left the meeting at this point.

·         Where victims of crime were better informed regarding the police response, surveys indicated greater satisfaction in the service. Whilst household burglaries represented less than 1% of overall crime type, it was hoped that the commitment to attend all dwelling burglaries would lead to enhanced outcomes and victim satisfaction.

·         In response to the Panel’s observation that victim satisfaction levels for victims of domestic abuse were far higher than other crime types; the Commissioner explained that significant wrap around support was provided for victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence, which it wasn’t currently possible to provide for victims of other serious crimes such as attempted murder and grievous bodily harm.

·         To provide enhanced support for all victims the Commissioner was looking to introduce a new victims hub. Members heard that variations of a victims hub currently operated in 12 other force areas, and the Commissioner had hosted an online conference to learn from the experiences of these other forces. It was intended that the hub would be hosted within Hampshire Constabulary, funded by existing victim care funding. Hosting the hub in this way would enable access to the forces RMS (Records Management System). Members heard the hub would be far better equipped to support victims, both practically and emotionally, and that Frankie workers and Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVA) and Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVA), already funded by the Commissioner, would also be based within the hub. In response to the Panel’s request, the Commissioner confirmed she would be happy to provide the Panel with further detail of the current levels of victim satisfaction for all victims of non-domestic/sexual abuse crimes, to enable the Panel to observe the impact of the new victims hub, once in operation.

·         The Hampshire policing area was a leader in the use of Restorative Justice and was evolving to increase referrals through expanding eligible crime types. The Commissioner observed that Restorative Justice could be life changing both for the victim and the offender and was a significant tool to prevent reoffending. The Commissioner further noted that the contract for Restorative Justice would go out to tender in April 2023.

·         There were currently 16 defined projects being undertaken through the Commissioner’s Office to tackle anti-social behaviour. One such project involved the provision of community trigger training, to ensure statutory partners were enabled to undertake their duties in relation to anti-social behaviour.

·         Hampshire Constabulary were broadly meeting their recruitment targets in relation to the ethnicity profile of new recruits. Particular success had been noted in attracting officers from Asian communities, however the force continued to meet challenge in recruiting more black officers. The Commissioner noted her duty to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 96.

To consider a report outlining proposed arrangements and membership for a Precept Task and Finish Group to operate under the Hampshire Police and Crime Panel (PCP) and to seek appointment to a vacant position on the Policy and Performance Working Group.

Members received a report from the Democratic Services Officer to the Panel, proposing arrangements for a Precept Task and Finish Group, as agreed at the previous meeting, and appointment to the vacant position on the Policy and Performance Working Group

Members were invited to express an interest in membership of the Task and Finish Group and Sub-Committee. Nominations were noted as follows:

Policy and Performance Working Group

·         Councillor Karen Lucioni

Precept Task and Finish Group

·         Councillor Karen Lucioni

·         Councillor Martin Pepper

·         Councillor Sarah Vaughan

·         Shirley Young

·         Vacancy

RESOLVED

·         That the Panel agreed the introduction of the Precept Task and Finish Group 2023/24, in accordance with the Terms of Reference set out in appendix one of the report.

·         That the Panel agreed the membership of the Precept Task and Finish Group 2023/24, as noted in the minutes.

·         The Panel agreed appointment of Councillor Karen Lucioni to the vacancy on the Policy and Performance Working Group for the 2022/23 municipal year.

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

Members received a report from the scrutiny officer to the Panel setting out the proposed work programme for the Panel for the 2022/23 municipal year.

RESOLVED:

That the work programme was agreed.