Agenda item

FINDINGS FROM SCRUTINY OF THE POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER'S AND CHIEF CONSTABLE'S DEVON AND CORNWALL POLICE PUBLIC CONTACT STRATEGY - STATION ENQUIRY RATIONALISATION

The Panel will be asked to agree its findings from item 6 of this agenda which will then be used to inform the recommendations in a final report to be reviewed at the next Panel meeting.

Minutes:

Having reviewed the written evidence, heard from the witnesses, and having conducted a comprehensive and searching question and answer session between the Police and Crime Panel, the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Chief Constable, the following findings were identified –

 

·         Lack of engagement with Town and Parish Councils (particularly in Cornwall) has been acknowledged.

·         A review of Police Custody Centres is in its infancy.

·         No account of, or consideration has been given to, options for community-led models but there is clearly a will in communities to help Police with their challenges

·         101 still appears to be ineffective, which is a concern that has not been fully addressed and improved to coincide with these proposals being implemented.  This is a key crime reporting tool and there is not a robust alternative

·         There are not enough staff at the Contact Centre who deal with 101 calls.

·         There is a possibility that ‘Blue Phones’ outside Police Stations could take priority in the 101 queue which is welcomed.

·         Equality Impact Assessments have not been shared.

·         A robust alternative for IT is needed – many people do not use, or are unable to use, or have no access (including connectivity) in rural areas and areas of poverty.

·         Local Engagement Plans do exist and are in development.

·         The alternative options to the front desk closure proposals were not shared.

·         That the PCC has stated that the ‘decision’ has, in effect, been made about these closures which will commence from 31 October 2014.

·         The public are not aware of the range of services on offer to discuss matters with the Police e.g. the option for a ‘visit if prepared to wait’.

·         It is not clear what joint working opportunities/initiatives are being undertaken now and what consideration is being made in relation to this in the future

·         It is not clear what plans there are for the future use of the Police estates portfolio.

·         Wider engagement, prior consultation and communication by the PCC is key and there is a need to work more together as a whole i.e. the PCP supporting the PCC who in turn supports the Chief Constable.

·         The PCC needs to recognise the value of the role of the panel as not just being about scrutiny, but that it can also provide support and advocacy and there is a willingness amongst panel members to assist with communicating with communities.

·         Whilst it is acknowledged and understood that public sector cuts are, in part, a driver of this decision, other factors include societal changes in general in preferred methods of communication.

 

The Police and Crime Panel therefore recommends that –

 

(1)

 

a mechanism for more effective engagement, communication and consultation, particularly with Town and Parish Councils about future decisions should be addressed and ensured;

 

(2)

 

that the PCP is consulted by the PCC at the earliest opportunity in respect of any review of Police Custody Centres and any other key decisions;

 

(3)

 

opportunities and the willingness that already exists in communities to help the Police with these and future challenges should be encouraged, considered and maximised on;

 

(4)

 

a report be provided to the PCP in respect of 101 performance and following the recent 101 consultation, with a more definitive and clearer statement being included in relation to its performance;

 

(5)

 

consideration be given in relation to increasing staffing levels in the Contact Centre dealing with 101 calls;

 

(6)

 

the possibility of the ‘Blue Phones’ outside Police Stations taking priority in the 101 queue should be explored;

 

(7)

 

the PCP be provided with Equality Impact Assessments for this and future decisions.

 

(8)

 

a robust alternative for IT should be developed to take account of the issue that many people do not use, or are unable to use, or have no access (including connectivity) in rural areas and areas of poverty.  This alternative should be reported back to the PCP;

 

(9)

 

the Local Engagement Plans should be provided to the PCP along with any ‘communication/contact strategy’ and these documents should be made easily accessible to the public;

 

(10)

 

the PCP be provided with details of the alternative options considered in relation to the front desk closure proposals;

 

(11)

 

all consultation undertaken to inform the front desk closure proposals including this report from the PCP should be considered prior to a final decision being made;

 

(12)

 

the PCC should communicate more widely with the public regarding the range of options for meeting with Police officers;

 

(13)

 

The PCP be provided with details of any current joint working opportunities/initiatives that are being undertaken now and what consideration is being made in relation to this in the future;

 

(14)

 

the PCP be provided with the plan for the future use of the estates portfolio, including a more business/entrepreneurial approach;

 

(15)

 

consideration should be given to the value of the PCP’s support and wider engagement, prior consultation and communication with the PCP in order to work as a whole i.e. the PCP supporting the PCC who in turn supports the Chief Constable;

 

(16)

 

consideration should be given in relation to how the PCP can assist with support, advocacy and the dissemination of information and communication to communities in respect of key decisions in the future.

 

Finally, the Chair reminded Members that Section 28 (7) of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 states that the PCP must publish any Reports or recommendations.  This report will –

 

·         be circulated to PCP Members for initial comment and then submitted in draft form to the PCC prior to 31 October 2014 for consideration prior to a final decision being made by the PCC and Chief Constable in relation to the front desk closures);

 

·         then be formally reviewed and agreed by the PCP at its meeting on 19 December 2014 and following the meeting it will be published on the Host Authority’s website and the Police and Crime Panel website with copies being sent to the witnesses.