Agenda item

To receive the Q1 monitoring report 2023/24.

The Chairman and Vice-Chairman put two strategic questions to the PCC.  These and the PCC’s response can be found at appendix 1.

 

The PCC gave update on the quarterly monitoring report Q1 (00:16:50 on recording).  He gave a brief overview of the report, highlighting some of the main points and progress to date before focusing on the 6 Priority areas in further detail.

 

Priority 1 Cut Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) (00:21:55 on recording)

 

The PCC highlighted the following points:

A small uptick in dwelling burglary and plans for more prevention activity.

ASB had continued to fall.

The need to keep focusing on preventing road accidents in Dorset.

Investment in preventing fraud.

Supporting Young People.

Member questions (00:26:40 on recording) and at appendix 1

 

The PCC also highlighted the need for active reporting from the public if they witnessed people using e-scooters illegally.  The number for reporting incidents to Berol Scooters in the BCP area was 0203 003 5044.

 

There was still work to be done in relation to the sale of e-scooters.  This was not illegal and the answer was to lobby Government to get the legislation correct.

 

Follow on questions from the panel and responses from PCC in relation to ASB and burglary figures. (00:37:57 on recording).

 

ASB was the number 1 criteria for most of the people of Dorset and Dorset was the 6^th safest county in the country, there had previously been a reduction in burglary and the PCC was doing a deep dive to see what else could be done to reduce these figures.

 

 

Priority 2 Make Policing More Visible and Connected (00:43:20 on recording)

 

Dorset Police had exceeded their recruitment target set by Government.

 

Follow on panel questions and responses from PCC (00:47:14 on recording)

 

174 new officers had been recruited, these were in addition to the baseline numbers.

The PCC highlighted the issues relating to the unfair grant formula for Police funding in Dorset and the need for some Police Officers to carry out staff roles.  The PCC and the Chief Constable (CC) were both confident they could deliver the Police Crime Plan with the resources they had however the PCC would still continue to lobby for more funding.

 

Priority 3 Fight Violent Crime and High Harm (00:55:13 on recording)

 

The PCC felt it was important to look at the causes behind violence, ie addiction and substance mis-use. Enforcement, Treatment and Prevention were the three measures he felt were needed to combat this.

 

ACTION: Deep dive into Serious violence and violent crime for the next meeting

Drugs and alcohol to be put on the Forward Work Plan.

 

Panel questions and responses from the PCC (1:01:40 on recording) and attached at appendix 1.

 

Additional Panel questions (01:07:48 on recording)

 

In relation to the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU)The PCC had identified funding and hoped partner agencies would work with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) to address knife crime. This with a combination of education, awareness and youth work could help to reduce violence.

 

 

Priority 4 Fight Rural Crime (1:14:20 on recording) 

 

The PCC advised that there had been a 28% reduction in rural crime in Dorset, compared to a 22% increase nationally.  Rural crime broke into a number of areas including heritage crime which focused on protecting our monuments from night hawks using metal detectors in the middle of the night.  The force had 14 trained heritage officers and Dorset had joined up with other forces to cover the borders between counties.  Dorset had hosted the first South West Rural Crime conference.  The Rural Crime Reduction Board had changed its name to The Partnership Against Rural Crime.

The PCC gave an update on progress made with fly tipping, wildlife crime and the impact of poaching.

 

There were no panel questions.

 

Priority 5 Putting Victim and Communities First (1:20:56 on recording)

 

The PCC highlighted the increase in business crime and epidemic of shoplifting across the country. 

The numbers of recorded hate crime incidents had gone down, he would look at this going forward to ensure it was not due to a problem with reporting. 

Dorset had been given a £1m grant to aid with restorative justice.

 

The PCC was keen to encourage the public to use the new enhanced video contact reporting system for making statements remotely over Teams.

 

Panel questions and responses from the PCC (01:28:57 on recording) and attached at appendix 1.

 

Additional Panel questions and responses from PCC (01:37:10 on recording)

 

Priority 6 Make Every Penny Count  (01:45:44 on recording)

 

The PCC was pleased to report that there had some success in securing some money from competitive national funds.

The Force had been able to secure £520k funding to assist with additional costs incurred by the Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge in Portland.

 

A Fund-Raising Manager had been appointed to the OPCC and a major funding win had already been secured for Dorset.

 

Panel questions and responses from the PCC (1:52:04 on recording) and attached at appendix 1,

 

ACTION: The Finance Officer for the OPCC to respond in writing to the first question.

 

In response to a Panel Member question, The Finance Officer for the OPCC advised that the overall long term debt outstanding was £16m.

 

11:58 – 12:03 Comfort Break