Councillor Gareth Derrick proposed a motion regarding Policing for Plymouth.  Councillor Sally Haydon (Cabinet Member for Customer Focus and Community Safety) seconded the motion.

Following a debate Council agreed to -

1.      Protest in the strongest possible terms to the Chief Constable at the reduction by 25% in PCSO numbers allocated to Plymouth as advised in a letter to this Authority signed by the Plymouth Police Commander, dated 2nd November 2018.

2.      In a letter to the Home Secretary signed by the Leader of the Council, call for;An uplift in funding for Devon and Cornwall to fully address the crisis in its Policing. The December provisional funding settlement for Devon and Cornwall Police to be at least adequate to ensure an immediate stabilisation of Police Force numbers at current strength (Officers, PCSOs and staff), and to note other actions being taken (described below).

3.      Take immediate steps to conduct direct engagement with the Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable as appropriate to ensure that policing in Plymouth is resourced fairly, and to assess and plan the improvements necessary to address the requirements endorsed unanimously by full Council on 17 September 2018, namely;

a.     Investment back into Neighbourhood Policing, specifically the provision of more PCSOs and Neighbourhood Beat Officers.

b.    Improvements to 999 call responses.

c.     Commitment to improve the condition and use of the Police estate in Plymouth in line with the ambitions of a modern Police Force.

d.    A spend profile for Plymouth that reflects the complexity of needs and demands of policing a major urban centre.

e.     Retention of the city’s Basic Command Unit.

4.   Ensure that the requirements for enhanced Policing for Plymouth as developed under the action at 3 above are factored into any submissions by the Police and Crime Commissioner to the Home Secretary as part of the comprehensive review of the Police funding formula.   

5.   Write to the Chair of the Police and Crime Panel, calling for an emergency meeting no later than December 2018, for the Panel to address these significant concerns.