Agenda item

As part of its Crime and Disorder Panel responsibilities under the Crime and Disorder (Overview and Scrutiny) Regulations 2009, the Committee has invited Matthew Barber, the Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley to attend, as well as the Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, Jason Hogg, and Chief Superintendent Benedict Clark, Local Command Unit Commander for Oxfordshire.

The Police and Crime Commissioner has provided his annual report reporting on progress made against the Police and Criminal Justice Plan.

Also attached is a presentation from the Chief Constable and the Chief Superintendent.

Having considered the reports and asked questions, the Committee is recommended to AGREE any recommendations it wishes to make to Thames Valley Police or to the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner.

As part of its Crime and Disorder Panel responsibilities under the Crime and Disorder (Overview and Scrutiny) Regulations 2009, the Committee invited Matthew Barber, the Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley to attend, as well as the Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, Jason Hogg, and Chief Superintendent Benedict Clark, Local Command Unit Commander for Oxfordshire. 

Cllr Andrew Gant, Cabinet Member for Transport, and Paul Fermer, Director for Environment and Highways, also attended. 

The Commissioner briefly highlighted key issues, including police officer numbers, which had increased significantly, particularly in neighbourhood policing. He mentioned improvements in 101 performance and the success of the DISC app in tackling shoplifting. The Commissioner noted reductions in rural crime and the establishment of a road safety partnership. He discussed the progress in CCTV partnerships and the financial challenges faced due to the comprehensive spending review. 

The Chief Constable reported the highest number of police officers ever, despite financial challenges. He highlighted the restructuring of the force from 12 local command units to five, improving resilience and performance. The Chief Constable noted improvements in crime-solving metrics, reductions in knife crime, and neighbourhood crime. He emphasised the importance of public confidence and the need for a joint plan to address road safety concerns. 

The Chief Superintendent reported on the successful performance of his team post-restructure, with high victim satisfaction rates and improved crime-solving metrics. He discussed the focus on retail crime and the flexibility to respond to local issues. The Chief Superintendent highlighted the importance of partnership engagements and the need to improve response times to domestic abuse calls. He addressed the Oxfordshire paradox, where low crime rates did not correlate with public confidence, and the need to improve visibility and communication. 

In discussion with the Committee, the following areas were explored: 
 
Fatality rates on strategic roads, such as the A34 and the A40 neither of which are Council responsibilities.  The Commissioner and the Chief Constable agreed that better data collection and analysis were needed to understand the causality of road incidents.  A working group was being established by the Commissioner to consider this. 

Social media reports of items like sausage rolls being locked up to prevent theft. The Commissioner explained the use of the DISC app, which allowed retailers to report theft and share intelligence, leading to increased charges and better prevention.  

Collaboration between the police and trading standards in targeting shops, particularly in relation to the new legislation on vapes. The Chief Superintendent noted that TVP were already working in partnership with community safety partnerships and trading standards to address issues such as illegal goods in retail premises. 

The allocation of financial resources for road safety and how it fits into the wider strategic planning of the police force. The Commissioner estimated that road safety accounted for approximately 5% to 6% of the overall force budget, explaining that the allocation was based on strategic priorities, public concerns, and professional judgement rather than a fixed percentage. Operation Tutelage, which targeted uninsured drivers, and other innovative approaches to road safety that do not necessarily require additional funding were highlighted and the Committee was told that local neighbourhood teams and were involved in road safety operations, emphasising that traffic offences were often committed by criminals, making traffic enforcement a valuable tool for broader crime prevention. 

The Cabinet Member stressed the Council's commitment to road safety, mentioning Vision Zero and the Road Safety Partnership with Thames Valley Police (TVP). He urged for more focus on road safety in the PCC's plan, aiming to eliminate road deaths and serious injuries. He cited Operation SNAP's success in the West Midlands and its potential in Oxfordshire. He underscored the importance of average speed cameras and police support in addressing speeding in 20 mph zones, referring to Wales's significant reduction in road deaths and injuries after implementing 20 mph zones. 

Members asked about the number of static speed cameras in Oxfordshire and whether they were moved between locations. The Chief Constable stated there were 20 active digital camera sites, with mobile safety cameras moved several times a day. The Commissioner stated that old cameras could not be calibrated for 20 mph zones and upgrading them would require significant investment. 

Regarding the enforcement of 20 mph zones, TVP did enforce them but without additional police presence for the reduced limit. Effective communication was deemed necessary to manage public expectations. For road safety messaging, the Road Safety Partnership agreed on a joint communications cell for consistent messaging across Thames Valley. The Chief Constable highlighted the limitations of current tools for enforcing 20 mph zones. 

Members raised concerns about the use of illegally modified e-bikes and e-scooters, which were a frequent source of complaints. The Chief Constable responded that TVP seized 500 e-bikes and e-scooters last year, and they were working with a local college to train officers to spot illegally modified e-bikes. He mentioned an upcoming operation to tackle anti-social behaviour involving e-bikes and e-scooters. Change in legislation and collaboration with local authorities could help to address the issue more effectively. 

The Committee asked about the recruitment and retention of officers and staff from ethnic minority backgrounds. The Chief Constable responded that 14% of the population in Thames Valley were from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities, while 7% of the workforce was.   22% of new officer applications this year and last year were from BAME backgrounds.  

Members highlighted the need for initiatives focused on working with victims of domestic abuse and asked about efforts to improve work with victims, encourage reporting, and support them through the process.  

The Committee was advised that there had been improvements in rape response charges but it was conceded that domestic abuse charge rates were hindered by this backlog and stressed the need for investment to address delays. The Commissioner highlighted the importance of victim services, mentioning efforts to improve police referrals and support availability before reporting. A new service for child victims and witnesses of domestic abuse was also mentioned. The rapid video response initiative, which aims to engage with victims quickly and allow officers to focus on apprehending suspects. 

The Committee inquired about how issues are reported and resolved locally, and how residents can participate. The Chief Superintendent explained that issues reported through 101 or local teams enter the crime reporting system and intelligence network. Combining this with partner input from Community Safety Partnerships, analysts prioritise concerns for monthly tasking meetings where resources were allocated. The Chief Superintendent stressed community engagement and encouraged residents to report issues and interact with their local teams. 

The Chief Constable and Police and Commissioner agreed to respond to the remainder of the Committee’s questions in writing.  The questions and answers are appended to these minutes.