The Chair thanked members for attending this Extraordinary Meeting of the Police and Crime Panel. 

This meeting has been called by four members of the Panel through the process outlined in the Police and Crime Panel Rules of Procedure. 

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the discharge of functions by the Police and Crime Commissioner while a police investigation, to which she is linked, is underway.

In summary for members benefit, the functions of the Police and Crime Commissioner in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act (2011) are to –

·         secure an efficient and effective police for their area;

·         appoint the Chief Constable, hold them to account for running the force, and if necessary dismiss them;

·         set the police and crime objectives for their area through a police and crime plan

·         set the force budget and determine the local precept

·         contribute to the national and international policing capabilities set out by the Home Secretary; and

·         bring together community safety and criminal justice partners, to make sure local priorities are joined up.

The Chair reminded members of the Panel at this stage that they will not be discussing the allegations against the Commissioner.  They are both beyond the remit of this Panel and any discussion of specific allegations could prejudice ongoing investigations. 

The Chair will interrupt and close down debate if he considers that members are creeping beyond the Panel’s remit.

He reminded members that this meeting is being webcast.   The discussion will be available for up to a year following this meeting. 

Following time for public questions the meeting will move to the main agenda item.  The members who called the meeting will be given time to explain their concerns to the rest of the Panel and time for the Commissioner to respond before the meeting moves to a question and answer session.

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

There were no declarations of interest made by members in respect of items under discussion at this 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, 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.

Four questions had been received from three members of the public.  Mr Terry Deans and Mr Chris Elliott attended the meeting to put their questions and Councillor Croad (Chair) responded as follows (a copy of the responses had been sent to the questioners in advance of the meeting) –

The Panel will be asked to consider the discharge of the function of the Police and Crime Commissioner under Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel Rules of Procedure 2.1(7).

The Chair gave the four members of the Panel who requested this meeting the opportunity to ask their questions –

‘The code of conduct under which we all operate is based on the Nolan Principles of Public Life.  It stresses the fact that public perception of our behaviour is all important.  Do you therefore think it would have been better for you to have waited until you had been cleared by the investigation before taking up office?’

(Councillor Watson)

‘In hindsight would it have been prudent to discuss this issue with the Police and Crime Panel prior to the public referral to enable us to best support you in your role?’

(Councillor Brown)

‘Does this mean that any member of the Devon and Cornwall Force and your office, any of them who may be the subject of future investigations, will be allowed the same leniency as you have exhibited here, and not be required to be removed from duty or suspended during their period of investigation, and also what your comments might be in relation to recent comments made by the Police Federation on behalf of the Police?’

(Councillor Batters)

‘Your predecessor in the role of Police and Crime Commissioner, Tony Hogg, I think it’s fair to say took up the role at a time when there was very little public appetite for the role – election turnout in the order of 15% I seem to remember - and certainly very little knowledge of it.  During the course of his term of office he worked very hard and in his own words he says he believes that he built up the trust and confidence of the public in the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and I would add to that he did that largely in a non-political way.  He has recently said in an interview that he believes that your recent action have pretty much destroyed in 24 hours all that good work over the previous 4 years.  Would you agree with his statement?’ 

(Councillor Sutton)

Alison Hernandez (Police and Crime Commissioner) and Andrew White (OPCC Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer) were available to answer the Panel’s questions and address their concerns.

Members were advised that –

The Panel re-convened at 12 noon.

The Chair’s proposal that –

seconded by Councillor Wright, was agreed unanimously (16 members present out of 20).