Agenda item

One of the main responsibilities of a Police & Crime Commissioner is to set out a Police and Crime Plan to cover their current tenure and until the end of the financial year after the next election. The Plan should be set as soon as is practicable after an election, at the latest before the end of the financial year after election, that is March 2022.

PCC Lisa Townsend wishes to make sure that the Plan she sets is the right one for Surrey and is reflective of as wide a range of views as possible. As part of this she is carrying out extensive consultation, assisted by her Deputy. The Plan also needs to reflect operational demands and the professional opinion of the Chief Constable.

The consultation and timescales for publishing the Plan are set out in the report.

Witnesses:

Lisa Townsend - Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey

Ellie Vesey-Thompson - Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey

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

Key points raised in the discussion:

1.    The PCC highlighted that the development of a Police and Crime Plan was one of the main responsibilities of PCCs, the new Plan was currently in development and under phase one of the consultation Panel members should have been invited to provide their views; phase two would be a survey open to all of Surrey’s residents and stakeholders.

2.    The Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey (DPCC):

·         Explained that in phase one she had hosted twenty-five focus group style sessions to gather the views of schools - further sessions were to come - councillors and subject matter experts, as well as view gathering when out and about meeting residents and stakeholders.

·         Urged Panel members to complete the tailored survey link regarding phase one of the consultation.

·         Noted that some clear themes had emerged which she did not delve into so as not to pre-empt the data driven analysis led by the OPCC, the themes would feed into phase two which would be a broader public consultation piece and she welcomed Panel members’ support in terms of sharing that consultation survey once ready widely across Surrey.

·         Noted the timeline with the draft Plan to be provided to Panel members in mid-November in advance of the November Panel meeting, with the aim to publish the Plan by early December.

3.    A Panel member sought assurance whether the Police and Crime Plan (2016-2021) produced by the previous PCC remained a valid document whilst the new Police and Crime Plan was being drafted - particularly in the event of its publication being delayed to 2022.

-       The PCC explained that the Police and Crime Plan (2016-2020, extended to 2021) remained in place until a new Plan is published, she was required in law to publish the new Plan by the end of March 2022, and noted that it was on track to be published this December.

4.    A Panel member asked whether an evaluation of the current Plan and its impact would be undertaken as part of the development of the new Plan, and whether incremental changes were being looked at or the new Plan would start from a clean slate.

-       The PCC responded that all options were being considered. 

-       The Chief Executive (OPCC) explained that as part of the development of the new Plan, the performance against the existing Plan would be reviewed to ensure the priorities set by the PCC are relevant, in addition to the consultation work, other documents would be considered such as reports from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, the Strategic Policing Requirement, and information from the Chief Constable.

5.    A Panel member noted that he was pleased that the work was progressing well but noted that proposed timings often slipped. He sought assurance that the Panel would be provided with the draft Plan far in advance of November’s Panel meeting so Panel members could review the significant document.

-       The PCC explained that unlike other PCCs who had been keen to produce their Plan quickly within the first three months of their election, she noted that it was important to take the time to consult widely - which aligned with the legislative timetable for Plans to be published by the end of March 2022.

-       The draft Plan was on track to be provided to the Panel in mid-November, she emphasised that although it was an important document it would not be extensive as it would contain headline priorities to remain in place over its three years.

6.    The Chairman proposed two additional recommendations (2 and 3) which were agreed.

-       Referring to the second recommendation, the PCC was happy to share the information on how the plan was developed, which would be aggregated due to the vast amounts of information.

-       Referring to the third recommendation, the PCC emphasised that the Plan would not be developed credibly without the public understanding that it was for them; in terms of explaining the role of the PCC to respondents that was a wider piece of work that covered not just the Plan but the role of the PCC and Panel.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Police and Crime Panel noted the progress being made on the development of the Police and Crime Plan 2021-2024.

2.    That at the same time the draft Police and Crime Plan 2021-24 is submitted to the Panel, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey would submit to the Panel all of the evidence which informs the draft Plan and is suitable for disclosure to the Panel. 

3.    The Panel was of the view that the forthcoming consultation on the proposed priorities for the Police and Crime Plan 2021-24 should clearly and concisely explain to respondents the role of the PCC and the nature and purpose of a Police and Crime Plan.  

Actions/further information to be provided:

1.    R24/21 - That at the same time the draft Police and Crime Plan 2021-24 is submitted to the Panel - on track for mid-November - the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey will submit to the Panel all of the evidence which informs the draft Plan and is suitable for disclosure to the Panel. 

2.    R25/21 - The PCC will note the Panel’s view that the forthcoming consultation on the proposed priorities for the Police and Crime Plan 2021-24 should clearly and concisely explain to respondents the role of the PCC and the nature and purpose of a Police and Crime Plan.