Agenda item

To receive an update of progress against the Police and Crime Plan Q1 2020/21, to enable Panel members to scrutinise performance, seek assurance and assess outcomes achieved in the reporting period.

The Director of Operations introduced the Monitoring Report (for 2020/21 Quarter One) which had been created so the Police and Crime Panel and public could see the progress made by the PCC, and in particular the additional area/s of focus since May 2020. 

 

Prior to the Covid outbreak, and the suspension of the 2020 PCC elections, the Panel learned that the vast majority of the PCC’s 100 commitments had been met.

 

The Director of Operations highlighted the commitments and achievements to date within the report.  In addition to the original 100 commitments, the PCC and team had identified a range of other commitments for the PCC’s additional, unexpected, year of office, which also includes three areas of focus (vulnerability, anti-social behaviour and violence reduction),  Further information is available at www.dorset.pcc.police.uk

 

The PCC then highlighted a number of issues, including an emergency funding scheme to provide money to small charities who were affected by Covid 19, victims of offender charities and further grants for community youth projects.

 

In response to a question regarding misogyny being included as a hate crime the PCC noted that this was both a complicated and controversial issue and would welcome any thoughts my panel members being shared with him by email. The definition of hate crime is a matter for Government and, currently, neither gender nor sex are a protected characteristic.

 

In relation to the continued work to remove barriers to reporting hate crime, the Chief Executive of the OPCC gave an update of work carried out with the BCP Citizens Advice Bureau who put together a best practice video, the link to which is below together with the press launch:

 

Link to the PCC funded hate crime video produced by Citizens Advice BCP - https://www.citizensadvicebcp.org.uk/hate-crime-project/

 

Press surrounding launch: https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/18668963.dorset-pcc-supports-anti-hate-crime-film-produced-citizens-advice-bcp

 

The PCC advised that the number of domestic abuse cases reported during lockdown had remained similar to pre-lockdown levels, and although there had not been a massive surge in sex offences and domestic abuse it was important to note there was still a lot of uncertainty. It was requested that these statistics be included in the minutes and are detailed below;

 

April to Aug

 

DA Crime - 2020 = 3,986                            2019 = 3,884 (+2.6%)

 

DA Incidents – 2020 = 3,487                       2019 = 3,233 (+7.8%)

 

The panel received an overview of Pillar 2 – including information on a survey carried out on Dorset Police’s response to Covid-19. The majority of respondents felt that the Police had carried out a good job and public messaging had been clear.  The Driver Awareness Scheme had been delivered on-line for the first time.  £266,000 had been secured to tackle acquisitive crimes in Pokesdown and an Anti-Social Behaviour Survey had been carried out through the summer.

 

The dashcam scheme, Operation Snap, was still running successfully and most speed cameras were now digitalised.  The PCC asked the Panel to look at a National Road Safety Survey which was asking for views on enforcement. 

 

Referring to page 47 in the agenda pack (Safer Streets Fund) the Chief Executive advised that the OPCC was just in the receiving stage of money coming in but would keep members updated.

 

A member asked a question about fly tipping.  The PCC was unable to give statistics on prosecutions as these were led by councils, but he was able to confirm that fly tipping was an all year-round problem and not a seasonal crime. He was happy to report back to the Panel with an update in the future, as required.

 

The Panel received an overview of Pillar 3. A member asked a question relating to Criminal Justice System backlogs.  The PCC noted that there had been backlogs in the courts which had closed due to Covid and the need to socially distance.  He considered this to be the biggest emergency for Police and the CPS in 30 years.  The PCC suggested that the aforementioned written response would be beneficial as he did not have all of the information to hand to respond to the question.  It was noted that Dorset had put up two locations for a Nightingale Court including the BIC in Bournemouth, however the closest to Dorset was in Cirencester.

 

Following member concern that there were no longer dedicated officers for Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), the PCC advised that staffing  was an operational decision  but he would raise the issue with the Chief Constable.

 

The PCC outlined key points within Pillar 4.  It was noted that most of the 33 original commitments assigned to this pillar had been completed.  The PCC had supported a national campaign against attacks on emergency service workers.

 

Iain McVie made note that he would contact the Director of Operations during October to frame the key lines of enquiry for a spotlight scrutiny review on the OPCC’s adoption of new complaints powers. Year 1 uplift money received by Dorset Police had been spent towards the first year target of 50 new and transferring officers. There had been no confirmation of targets for funding in years 2 & 3.

 

It was agreed that a report from Chief Constable and PCC advising where the additional uplift and officers had gone should be added to the Forward Plan.  The PCC welcomed input from Local Councillors as to how the uplift could help local policing in their areas.

 

The Chief Finance Officer presented the financial aspect of the report which set out the position for Q1. The budget showed a predicted overspend due to the impact of the pandemic and reduced income levels.  The capital programme had also been impacted by the pandemic and there would be an updated revised budget for Q2.

 

In response to a question asking how the capital programme would be affordable over time if continued borrowing was required, the Chief Finance Officer advised that the revenue budget would need to be increased over time up to £4m a year in order for estates, vehicles, IT etc to be funded by an ongoing source.

This was planned for implementation over the next 5 years.

 

A balanced budget was anticipated by 2024/5 – the recommended programme will be funded without borrowing and will have balanced.