Agenda and minutes

Chief Constable Confirmation Hearing, Surrey Police and Crime Panel - Tuesday, 17 January 2023 10.30 am

Venue: Woodhatch Place, Reigate, Surrey

Contact: Julie Armstrong, Scrutiny Officer 

Media

Items
No. Item

1/23

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

    • Share this item

    The Chairman to report apologies for absence.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Apologies were received from Cllr Keith Witham.

    Cllr John Robini and Cllr John Furey joined remotely, so were unable to vote. Cllr Mick Gillman chaired the meeting.

2/23

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

    • Share this item

    All Members present are required to declare, at this point in the meeting or as soon as possible thereafter

    (i)            Any disclosable pecuniary interests and / or

    (ii)           Other interests arising under the Code of Conduct in respect of any item(s) of business being considered at this meeting

    NOTES:

    ·         Members are reminded that they must not participate in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest

    ·         As well as an interest of the Member, this includes any interest, of which the Member is aware, that relates to the Member’s spouse or civil partner (or any person with whom the Member is living as a spouse or civil partner)

    ·         Members with a significant personal interest may participate in the discussion and vote on that matter unless that interest could be reasonably regarded as prejudicial.

     

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    None received.

3/23

CONFIRMATION HEARING FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE ROLE OF CHIEF CONSTABLE OF SURREY POLICE pdf icon PDF 273 KB

    • Share this item

    Following notification from the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner of her intention to appoint the preferred candidate, Mr Tim De Meyer, to the role of Chief Constable of Surrey Police, for the Surrey Police and Crime Panel to hold a Confirmation Hearing, in accordance with Schedule 8 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011.

     

    NB The Panel will hold a closed session at the end of the agenda to agree its recommendation to the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Witness:

    Tim de Meyer, Proposed appointment to the role of Chief Constable for Surrey Police (Assistant Chief Constable, Thames Valley Police)

    Key points raised in the discussion:

    1. Mr de Meyer introduced himself and provided a brief overview of his professional background. The Chairman noted that Mr de Meyer would be coming straight from his current role as Assistant Chief Constable, having not served as Deputy Chief Constable, and asked what his approach would be to building confidence within his team, particularly with senior colleagues. Mr de Meyer clarified that he had served as temporary Deputy Chief Constable on two occasions at Thames Valley Police (Thames Valley) and he considered this supported his credibility when applying for this role. Within his time at Thames Valley, Mr de Meyer improved investigative and criminal justice outcomes, as well as leading nationally on work in this area. Mr de Meyer had introduced new ICT systems across the region and was the Gold Commander for the policing operation of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in Windsor. Mr de Meyer hoped that his professional background, combined with his clear vision, would provide the senior team with confidence. His vision involved preventing crime at every opportunity, protecting the vulnerable, serving victims tirelessly, investigating crime thoroughly, and pursuing criminals relentlessly.

     

    1. A Panel Member asked what experience the proposed appointee had of increasing public confidence in policing and how he would look to do this in the Chief Constable role, especially with resource constraints. Mr de Meyer explained that he had particular experience related to violence against women and girls (VAWG), rural crime, and serious crimes and homicide. In 2019, Mr de Meyer held the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) portfolio for disclosure, at a time where the NPCC, the College of Policing, and the Metropolitan Police were being taken to judicial review by the Centre for Women’s Justice regarding ‘digital strip searches’ of rape victims. Mr de Meyer led the response on behalf of the police service, whereby the judicial review was resolved. This resulted in reform of the process and improved public confidence in how Police deal with VAWG. Mr de Meyer was holding over 100 talks to officers within Thames Valley, setting out what needs to be improved in this area and he had also given this talk to external partners, such as sixth form colleges. Mr de Meyer explained that he felt it was his responsibility to influence the internal culture and to promote public understanding of the issue.

     

    1. A Panel Member queried how the proposed appointee would approach the issue of retaining staff under a tight budget. Mr de Meyer explained that he had concerns about productivity and would seek to improve this by better realising the benefits of technology, training officers adequately, ensuring that officers were literate in investigations, and he would personally engage with partners across sectors to better manage unreasonable demands on policing. It was also crucial to recognise the work of officers and staff and reward them for it. The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3/23

4/23

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

    • Share this item

    The next public meeting of the Police and Crime Panel will be held on Friday, 3 February 2023.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    The Panel noted that its next meeting would be held on Friday, 3 February 2023.

5/23

EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

    • Share this item

    Recommendation:

     

    To resolve that the public be excluded from the meeting during the following item of business, as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during that item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within Paragraph 3 of Part I Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, being information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding the information) and, further, that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

     

    While there may be a public interest in disclosing this information, namely openness in the deliberations of the Panel in determining its recommendation regarding the proposed appointment, it is felt that, on balance, this is outweighed by other factors in favour of maintaining the exemption, namely enabling a full discussion regarding the merits of the proposed appointment.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    RESOLVED that under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information under paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

6/23

CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS PROPOSED APPOINTMENT TO THE ROLE OF CHIEF CONSTABLE OF SURREY POLICE

    • Share this item

    Following notification from the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner of her intention to appoint the preferred candidate, Mr Tim De Meyer, to the role of Chief Constable of Surrey Police, for the Surrey Police and Crime Panel to hold a closed session to agree its recommendation to the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner.

    Minutes:

    The Panel deliberated over the responses provided to their questions and then voted unanimously to recommend that Tim de Meyer be appointed to the position of Chief Constable of Surrey Police.

    RESOLVED:

    That the Police and Crime Panel recommend the appointment of Tim de Meyer as the new Chief Constable of Surrey Police.