Agenda and draft minutes
Venue: Council Chamber, Council House, PL1 2AA
Contact: Jamie Sheldon Email: jamie.sheldon@plymouth.gov.uk
Media
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Appointment of the Chair for the municipal year 2021 - 22 Additional documents: Minutes: The Panel received a nomination from Councillor Pengelly for Councillor Rodger Croad to stand as Chair. This was seconded by Councillor Salmon.
The Panel received a second nomination from Councillor MacGregor for Councillor Hackett to stand as Chair. This was seconded by Councillor Knowles.
The Panel voted in favour of Councillor Rodger Croad taking the positon as Chair for the next municipal year with eight votes. Councillor Hackett received four votes.
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Appointment of Vice Chair for the municipal year 2021 - 22 Additional documents: Minutes: The Panel received a nomination from Councillor Alvey for Councillor Towill to stand as Vice Chair. This was seconded by Councillor xxxx.
There were no other nominations. The Panel voted in favour of Councillor Towill taking the position as Vice Chair for the next municipal year.
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To sign and confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 2021. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair proposed the minutes of 5 February 2021 to the panel for approval; this was seconded by Councillor Towill.
The minutes were agreed as a true and accurate record of the meeting.
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Declarations of Interest Members will be asked to make any declaration of interest in respect of items on this agenda. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
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Public Questions To receive questions from (and provide answers to) members of the public that are relevant to the panel’s functions.
Questions should be no longer than 100 words and sent to Democratic Support, Plymouth City Council, Floor 3, Ballard House, West Hoe Road, Plymouth, PL1 3BJ or democratic.support@plymouth.gov.uk
Questions must be received at least 5 complete working days before the meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: Mr Chaz Singh asked a question which was answered the Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner.
Question - As a British Sikh who is proud of his identity I would like to raise my concerns about not being able to record my ethnicity when recording a hate crime
When I have reported a hate crime and it asks me what my ethnicity is it doesn’t allow me the option.
If in 12 months’ time I want to know the number of hate crimes against the Sikh community the Police couldn’t tell me.
What is the PCC doing about this issue as I do not feel confident in reporting or encouraging reporting hate crime if specific communities can’t self-identify?
Answer
I know this is a particular area of concern to a number of British Sikhs eho share you view that Sikhism should be recognised as an ethnic identity for demographic recording purposes.
The recording systems in place in Devon and Cornwall Police are in line with those mandated by the home office for all Police Forces and Criminal Justice Departments in the Country.
The standardisation of recording categories allows Devon and Cornwall Police to report to the Home Office on the statutory requirements obligated to them and reported to the Home Secretary. Any deviation from this mean that the Force are unable to report on these statutory obligations in line with the Government Statistical Services (GSS) – see the Gov.uk website for this.
I am aware that on 24th April 2020, the Sikh Federation UK brought a second judicial review challenge against the Cabinet Office over government plans for the 2021 Census. The case was heard by the Judge, Mr Justice Choudhury who dismissed the legal challenge on this issue on 6th November 2020.
I recognise your frustration but ask that you and members of all diverse communities work with is to not see this as a barrier to reporting, and use the free text boxes in the forms to provide all relevant information including self-identification of any form that sits outside the Home Office reporting mechanisms we need to comply with.
I have liaised with the Force Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion on this matter and will also raise your concerns with the Chief Constable in order to understand how the Police are using the free text boxes to build a good understanding of hate crimes against the Sikh community and inform their work. |
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Appointment of Independent Member (Cornwall) of Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel The Panel will be asked to approve the Selection Panel’s recommendations regarding the appointment of an independent member to the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel. Additional documents: Minutes: Following a recruitment exercise in February, Sharon Minty had been recommended for an appointment to the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel as an independent member for Cornwall.
Ms Minty had extensive knowledge and experience and had volunteered, worked and studied within probation, Housing (supporting young offenders) and Victim Support since 1984.
Members voted unanimously in favour to appointment Ms Minty to the Panel.
The Panel thanked Emily MaCaulay for her service to the Panel and wished her well for the future. The Panel would be recruiting for a Devon based Independent Member.
Ms Minty declared a private interest in relation Item 8 on the agenda. Ms Minty had been a member of an organisation that provided victim support services.
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Police and Crime Commissioner's Update Report PDF 318 KB Additional documents: Minutes: Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner, presented the Commissioner’s Update report.
Key points highlighted to Members included the following:
Panel Members discussed:
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Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner's Draft Annual Report PDF 990 KB Additional documents: Minutes: Alison Hernandez advised that the report is in draft, it’s an unformatted report that will be published.
Members of the Panel discussed the following:
The Panel noted the report.
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Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner's Performance Report PDF 223 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: The Police and Crime Commissioner asked for questions in relation to this item, members did not have any.
The Panel noted the report. |
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Government Review of the Role of Police and Crime Commissioners PDF 183 KB Additional documents: Minutes: Chief Executive Fran Hughes presented this item to the Panel.
Police and Crime commissioners as well as the respective Panel had been in place since 2012. The Home Secretary announced a review of Police and Crime Commissioners last summer in terms of the scope and breadth of their role. Due to the election the review had been split into two parts. Part 1 took place in Autumn 2020, the Panel had been a consultee to part of that review. Part 2 had been expected to start imminently and was anticipated to review the criminal justice space and understanding what the future roles and responsibilities would be for the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Fran Hughes took Panel members through particular area’s to note;
Members discussed:
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Additional documents: Minutes: Chief Executive Fran Hughes advised the Panel there had been one complaint however this was received just prior to the recent election and had therefore not been progressed as complaints are delegated to the Chief Executive by the Chair before coming back to the Chair in the second instance.
Councillor Cheedle requested an output for future meetings to be included to understand how many complaints have been dealt with satisfactorily.
Chief Executive Fran Hughes advised that all complaints have been dealt with satisfactorily.
The Panel noted the report.
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Work Programme Additional documents: Minutes: Members requested the following items to be input onto the work programme.
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