Agenda item

This paper provides an update on Coronavirus including implications on: finance, oversight and scrutiny arrangements, commissioning and service funding as well as partnership arrangements.

Witnesses:

David Munro - Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner

Alison Bolton - Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer, Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC)

Steve Owen-Hughes - Director - Community Protection & Emergencies (SCC) and Chief Fire Officer for Surrey Fire & Rescue

Key points raised in the discussion:

1.    The PCC introduced the report and hoped that it showed how the OPCC and Chief Constable had been active in supporting a variety of people and organisations to cope with coronavirus. He thanked the OPCC staff and Surrey Police for quickly identifying key areas of need during the pandemic and doing their best to provide support.

2.    He highlighted that the report had been written a week ago and there had been changes since including the ‘rule of six’. He had spoken to the Chief Constable on the new restrictions and noted that Surrey Police would still maintain the four Es: encourage, educate, explain and enforce. Policing was done by consent, with enforcement as a last resort.

3.    A Panel member queried the new enforcement arrangements for the ‘rule of six’ which included the provision of Covid-19 secure marshals organised through councils - with a register of environmental health officers compiled to offer support - and if Surrey Police had enough resources required should greater enforcement be necessary. In response, the PCC noted that yes there were enough police officers to provide enforcement particularly if the majority of residents obeyed the rules.

4.    The PCC noted that the introduction of Covid-19 secure marshals was a surprise and no further details had been provided from Government on the matter. He had spoken to the Chief Constable and there were no plans for the Surrey Police to actively recruit such marshals as that was down to local councils. At present, Surrey Police and the JETs were the only body with enforcement powers. The PCC added that he was happy to consider a small amount of initial funding to councils to establish such marshals.

5.    A Panel member was grateful that Surrey Mediation had been supported by the OPCC and asked approximately how much funding had been given to the partner. The PCC responded that he was a firm supporter of Surrey Mediation and details would be provided on the funding in due course.

6.    The Vice-Chairman asked what action or additional resources Surrey Police would deploy to enforce the ‘rule of six’ so that residents had confidence that they will be kept safe; particularly concerning beauty spots with large crowd gathering to enjoy the good weather. In response, the PCC provided reassurance that there was an ongoing police presence at the beauty spots including Box Hill and Frensham Ponds - he asked residents not to go to busy beauty spots as Covid-19 remained a threat.

7.    Panel members were concerned that the Government’s announcement of Covid-19 secure marshals had raised the public’s expectation on enforcement and asked if the Panel could be kept informed on the implications on enforcement and any involvement of Surrey Police. The Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer noted that the Chief Constable would be present at the Panel’s October informal meeting and could provide an update on Covid-19 secure marshals.

8.    A Panel member asked if it would have been helpful to have received a briefing from the Government on the Covid-19 secure marshals. The PCC responded that yes all forces preferred more timely and detailed communications from the Government. He added that the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) made regular requests for early and thorough briefings, but in fairness he noted the fast-moving situation.

9.    A Panel member noted that the Panel should express its thanks to Surrey Police and the OPCC for their work during Covid-19, going beyond their usual duty. The PCC responded that he had a virtual meeting with four hundred police officers yesterday, thanking them for their work.

10.  The Director - Community Protection & Emergencies (SCC) and Chief Fire Officer for Surrey Fire & Rescue noted that he was also the director of the Surrey Community Protection Group and was the chair of Surrey’s Local Resilience Forum (LRF). He provided clarity on Covid-19 secure marshals, noting that:

-       Currently, two boroughs and districts in Surrey had marshals. He was liaising with the Director of Public Health (SCC) on the provision of marshals and the LRF’s Strategic Co-ordinating Group (SCG) - co-chaired by the Chief Constable - would be meeting on Wednesday to discuss the matter and what their role would be.

-       Regarding enforcement although it was primarily Surrey Police’s role, public health, trading standards and local authority safety advisory groups had a role in joint enforcement.

-       Over the summer the beauty spots were monitored by borough and district council emergency planning teams, rangers, Surrey Police and Surrey Fire & Rescue Service; and would continue to be monitored.

-       As chair of the LRF, he offered thanks to Surrey Police for its outstanding work over the last six months. In response the PCC returned the compliment, praising the collective effort of all the emergency services, district and borough councils and Surrey County Council.

11.  The Chairman queried why only two Citizens Advice groups had received the Ministry of Justice funding. In response, the PCC noted that the reason why was because those two groups were at the forefront in providing domestic abuse services in the county. All the groups were aware of the funding and the OPCC would continue to look at their bids.

12.  An independent member queried whether the Surrey LRF and Surrey Local Outbreak Engagement Board were the same. In response the PCC clarified that they were separate bodies.

13.  Referencing the co-commissioning of enhanced substance misuse support, the independent member asked if there was any intention to liaise with both Alcoholics, and Narcotics Anonymous which could offer support and were self-funded. The PCC responded that he did not have the detail of which organisations were being liaised with regarding that co-commissioning and he would provide a follow-up.

RESOLVED:

The Police and Crime Panel noted the report and their appreciation to Surrey Police, and Surrey Fire & Rescue Service for all their efforts during the pandemic.

            Actions/further information to be provided:

1.    R28/20 - The PCC will clarify how much funding is given to Surrey Mediation, in providing anti-social behaviour support. 

2.    R29/20 - The Panel is to be kept updated on the provision of Covid-19 secure marshals and any enforcement involvement of Surrey Police. 

-       The Chief Constable to provide an update at the Panel’s October informal.

3.    R30/20 - The PCC will look into the organisations being liaised with regarding the co-commissioning of enhanced substance misuse support and to consider both Alcoholics, and Narcotics Anonymous.