Agenda item

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, Kevin Hurley, holds bi-monthly management meetings with the Chief Constable, Lynne Owens and appropriate members of her senior team.

·         The PCC drew the Panel’s attention to the challenges Surrey Police were having in retaining and recruiting Police Officers as well as indicating that a drop in the number of Special Constables (PCSOs) operating in Surrey had been recorded which the PCC indicated was also a cause for concern. The PCC did indicate, however, that the Joint Enforcement Teams (JET) operating in Reigate and Banstead had recorded huge success in tackling crimes such as fly-tipping and parking offences. Furthermore, it was stated that Surrey Police were on budget for the financial year 2013/14 with a very slight under-spend and that the Force was in a better position than most other forces in the UK to deal with reduced budgets. It was also highlighted that one of the Assistant Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) has been working closely with Police Officers to increase awareness of the cultural issues around crimes such as honour-based violence and domestic violence to ensure that the Force is better prepared to tackle crimes of this nature.

·         The Panel expressed concerned with events in Rotherham and members assurances that the Police wouldn’t be obstructed by political correctness. The PCC assured the Panel that all claims made to Surrey Police would be rigorously investigated regardless of who the claim was made against and that all groups participating in ritualised grooming or sexual offences against young women would be investigated and brought to justice. It was further stipulated that discussions would be conducted with Children’s Services and Police Officers working in areas with large Pakistani communities to ensure that they coordinated and engaged with the community effectively.

·         The Panel also requested more information on the problems that Surrey Police were having with recruiting and retaining Police Officers. Numerous pressures but in particular the high cost of living in Surrey and the increased salaries offered by the Metropolitan Police were highlighted. The Panel queried whether it would be possible to pay a bounty to PCSOs in an attempt to attract more people to fulfil this role in Surrey. It was confirmed this had been considered but that existing legislation restricted paying PCSOs. Other potential options were, however, being considered to reward PCSOs for their work such as Council Tax rebates.

·         The Panel requested some detail on how the OPCC was using its resources to mitigate the threat of terrorism from British citizens returning from fighting in Iraq and Syria. The PCC suggested that the overwhelming majority of those returning from Syria or Iraq would live peacefully and presented no risk. It was stressed, however, that every effort was being made to ensure the safety of the public and that discussions had been conducted with the Security Services to ensure that individuals who may have been radicalised were identified and that appropriate measures were taken to ensure that the public was not at risk.

·         Members sought clarification on the nature collaboration between Surrey and Sussex Police forces. The PCC highlighted that Surrey Police continues to collaborate with Sussex on a number of operational matters but assured the Panel that, from the PCC’s perspective, these were always conducted with an eye to how it would benefit Surrey especially given the relative financial positions of the two Forces. Crucially, it was advised that there were no Surrey-funded Police Constables working in Sussex, while the PCC indicated that Surrey Police had received substantial support from Sussex Police during last year’s floods by providing Officers to assist Surrey residents.

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RESOLVED: That,

1. The report be noted.