Issue - meetings

RESOLVED that: the Panel notes the report.

The PFCC presented the report, highlighting the following points:

·         Significant work had been done on the force’s performance and efficiency and he now wanted to see this reflected in the outcomes it achieved.

·         The work of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) Team was now complemented by four specialist Domestic Abuse Support Officers, who supported people involved in incidents classified as low level.

·         He had provided additional resources to enhance the force’s response to people with mental health needs.

·         He supported the force to increase its focus on neighbourhood policing and was proud of the increased number of officers now working in this area. New liveried vehicles that had been introduced would also help to increase the force’s visibility in the community.

·         A further successful bid had been made to the national Safer Streets fund.

·         The Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera network in Northamptonshire had been doubled in size and had resulted in 340 recent arrests.

·         The report included information from the PFCC’s Performance Framework giving an assessment of progress on some of the priority areas in the Police & Crime Plan.

The Panel considered the report and members made the following points during the course of discussion:

·         Concern was raised that there was still not sufficient visible policing in the county: St George ward in Northampton and Kingswood ward in Corby were given as examples. It was argued that a dedicated Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) in St George was needed to provide a visible police presence and help to address anti-social behaviour.

·         The aim of increasing neighbourhood policing should not involve officers just going out in police cars, which could cause them to miss out on local intelligence.

·         Feedback obtained from young people at a youth club in Corby was that they were reluctant to speak to detached youth workers as they were not known locally and were suspected of being undercover police officers. The PFCC should consider making more use of voluntary youth workers already in the area: employing them could build on existing working relationships.

·         County lines crime occurred across the county and it should be apparent what was happening in cases when a young person went away for some time and then reappeared with new clothes or a new phone. Further information was sought as to whether the force had a specific team for county lines who local elected representatives could work with on this matter.

·         People taking action in the community against county lines needed to be confident that statutory organisations were also playing their part.

·         Written information had been circulated to residents in Northampton about neighbourhood police officers and PCSOs.

·         The Accountability Board meeting in February 2021 had discussed the need to deliver policing differently in some areas of the county to address issues such as knife crime. However, knife crime was an issue that could not be dealt with solely by the force but needed a joined up approach by relevant organisations.

·         Organisations working with young people needed to reach out to them  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18