Agenda item

47.1  Consideration was given to the refreshed version of the Plan previously submitted in March, 2015 (Minute No. 37 refers). 

47.2  The Plan was a key document that set out, on behalf of the public, the priorities for the Police for the year ahead.  Having listed to the views of a wide range of stakeholders including community groups, local authorities and the voluntary sector, the Police and Crime Commissioner had identified all shared a similar view with respect of being safe and feeling safe.

47.3  There was a consensus to retain the existing priorities for South Yorkshire of Protecting Vulnerable People, Tackling Crime and ASB and Enabling Fair Treatment.  However, there was recognition of the need to change emphasis in some of the outcomes in order to reflect new and evolving policing and crime demands identified through consultation with the public and partners as well as results from needs/threats assessments.

47.4  After the Police and Crime Commissioner had completed summary of the report, Members of the Police and Crime Panel asked the following questions:-

·             When would the report from Professor Drew be published and could this be shared with Panel Members.

·             Publication of the strategic priorities and the shifting of resources by other public organisations following comments previously made.

·             Giving fair treatment for all, meeting service delivery and ensuring a visible Police presence, which was an older person’s perception that visibility was reducing.

·             Concerns that the Police Protection Unit was being disbanded.

·             Managing the issues given that 80% of Police activity was not related to crime.

·             Positive outcome of Operation Clover and paying tribute to bringing some of the perpetrators to justice.

·             Increased reliance on technology and the proposed training on twitter and whether consideration should be given to including other Police Officers.

·             Confidence levels in the Police and the decreased levels of confidence in Rotherham and how this could be restored.

·             Advice provided by the Independent Advisory Panels and how participation in the Police Cadets could be encouraged from the minority ethnic communities

·             Staff acting according to their respective codes of ethics and professional practice which was welcomed.

·             Increasing staff confidence and dedication from officers.

·             Funding to acquire the capital assets, equipment and infrastructure that were needed to deliver policing services in South Yorkshire and added concerns about the insufficiency of mental health placements with the burden falling on the Police.

·             Force collaboration whether this be locally, regionally or nationally and the need to respond to challenges and ensure any devolution was efficient, effective and sustainable.

·             Devolution of power to the Sheffield City Region and the continual monitoring of how this would be policed in the future.

·             Collaboration across the public sector and partnership working and the need for a flexible approach.

47.5  The Police and Crime Commissioner gave an undertaking that he would continue to listen to the views of all those involved in the design and delivery of policing and crime services to inform priorities and assist in commissioning services that contributed to the delivery of the outcomes identified within this Plan and asked for any additional feedback.

Action:-  (1) That the report be received and the detail noted.

(2)  That the Panel submit any further comments to the Police and Crime Commissioner on the Police and Crime Plan 2013/17: Putting Safety First before the 14^th March, 2016, deadline.

(Mr. S. Chu, Independent Member, declared a personal interest in that he was the Chief Executive of a local charity)