The panel will elect a Chair of the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel.

Agreed that Councillor Croad is appointed Chair of the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel.

The panel will elect a Vice-Chair of the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel.

Agreed that Councillor Rule is appointed Vice-Chair of the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel.

Vote of Thanks and Welcome

The Chair took the opportunity to record a vote of thanks to former Panel members Nicky Williams, Tony Boyd and Mike Firbank and to welcome the newly appointed Panel members, Councillors Rennie and Inch.

To sign and confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 7 February and 2 April 2014.

Agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 7 February 2014 and the minutes of the meeting held on 22 April 2014, subject to the inclusion of apologies from Councillor James.

Members will be asked to make any declaration of interest in respect of items on this agenda.

The following declaration of interest was made in respect of items under consideration at the meeting –

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, Civic Centre, Plymouth PL1 2AA or democratic.support@plymouth.gov.uk.  Questions must be received at least 5 complete working days before the meeting.

There were no questions from members of the public.

The Police and Crime Commissioner will introduce the delivery mechanisms and performance measures for the plan.

The Police and Crime Commissioner introduced his report setting out how the Police and Crime Plan would be delivered.  The report also explained the delivery mechanism that had been agreed with the Force, how progress would be tracked and published, and set out the approach adopted in the Plan to performance measures for 2014 – 2017.

Current areas of concern highlighted to the Panel included –

·         alcohol and sex crimes;

·             problems with the Force’s archaic computer system, although this was in the process of being renewed and would greatly improve data capture and sharing capabilities;

·             funding cuts of £14m over 4 years combined with numerous challenges including –

o   having to send resources to other areas of the Country when required (e.g. the forthcoming NATO Conference, Northern Ireland etc.);

o   job evaluation;

o   legal challenge to forced retirement after 39 years’ service

A lengthy debate followed the detailed presentation of this item during which a number of issues were raised by Panel Members and responded to as follows –

The Panel noted the report.

The panel will receive an update from the Police and Crime Commissioner in respect of performance against objectives in the Police and Crime Plan 2013/14.

The Panel received an update on the Police and Crime Commissioner’s objectives as set out in the Police and Crime Plan to the end of the performance year 2013/14.  The report advised that –

In response to a questions raised, Members heard that the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner did undertake dip-sampling of customer complaints.  However, complaints about the quality of policing should be referred to the Chief Constable and should the situation not be resolved to the complainant’s satisfaction taken up with the IPCC.

Members will be asked to consider options for agreeing their next ‘reactive’ and ‘proactive’ scrutiny topics for 2014/15.

The Panel considered its work programme for 2014/15 and agreed that –

The panel will be presented with the process and timescale for recruiting the independent (non-council) member.

The Panel considered the report of the Community Safety Partnerships Manager outlining recruitment proposals for a new Independent Member following the resignation of Mike Firbank. 

Agreed –

The Police and Crime Commissioner will present the consultation process which has commenced in response to the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act, which places a duty on police and crime commissioners to consult with members of the public and community representatives on what punitive, restorative or rehabilitative actions they consider appropriate to be included in its Community Remedy document.

Under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, the Police and Crime Commissioner was responsible for determining a list of remedies available for taking restorative action in instances of low level crime and anti-social behaviour, thereby offering victims a far greater say in how offenders made amends.  In May 2014 the Commissioner launched a consultation on how those arrangements should operate in Devon and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and, to date, over 1,000 responses had been received.  Members heard that the closing date for the consultation was 30 June 2014, at which point the Commissioner would be discussing the various options with the Chief Constable and how the Community Remedy would be implemented across Devon and Cornwall. 

The Panel noted the report.

The Police and Crime Commissioner has provided the panel with his regular report regarding the activities and decisions he has made to date.  The report also details any forthcoming planned events.

The Police and Crime Commissioner submitted an update on his office activities over recent weeks.  The Panel heard that following feedback, the format of the report had been changed to provide that a clearer delineation between issues and referencing the Police and Crime Plan priorities.

In response to a query about changes to victim support, Members were advised that, with effect from April 2015, the Police and Crime Commissioner would have responsibility for delivery of victim services.  There were a significant number of groups who felt they would like to obtain support from alternative service providers and part of the project would be to identify who those suppliers could be and then develop a network and directory.  Expressions of interest had been sought across Devon and Cornwall and, to date, a number had been received.

The panel noted the report.

Members will consider the report and, after due consideration, agree the resolutions by the Chief Executive Officer of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

The Panel noted that one complaint had been received against the Police and Crime Commissioner during the period 13 March to 6 June 2014.  The PCC’s Chief Executive reported that he had taken the decision not to record the complaint because the complaint referred to the alleged failure to allocate resources to a police investigation.  The allocation of resources to an investigation is not something that the PCC has any control over and is at the discretion of the Chief Constable.  The complaint against the Chief Constable was being progressed.

The following are the scheduled dates for future meetings of the panel –

·         17 October 2014

·         19 December 2014

·         6 February 2015 (precept)

·         20 February 2015 (if precept veto’d)

·         10 April 2015 (provisional)

The dates of future panel meetings were confirmed as follows –

·         17 October 2014

·         19 December 2014

·         6 February 2015 (Precept)

·         20 February 2015 (only required if Precept veto’d)

·         10 April 2015 (Provisional)