Agenda item

To receive a report from the Police and Crime Commissioner.

The Panel was provided with a report which detailed progress made (Year 4, 2020/21 to end of quarter 2) on delivery of the following four-year Police and Crime Plan key aims for addressing Prevention and Early Intervention:

·       Coordinated efforts by police and partner agencies to improve public awareness of measures to protect themselves from cybercrime, particularly targeting those most at risk (such as those at either end of the age spectrum).

·       Increased focus by all agencies on preventing and tackling ‘peer on peer’ abuse.

·       A coordinated strategy between police, health and local authorities to tackle FGM in Thames Valley, leading to improved reporting of FGM and evidenced approaches on prevention.

·       Improved reporting and understanding of the prevalence and nature of hate crime across Thames Valley.

·       Police and partners address road safety concerns, especially amongst vulnerable groups such as younger people, cyclists and pedestrians.

·       Improved use of technology by police, in order to prevent crime and support earlier intervention with known offenders.

The PCC referred to the first key aim on Cybercrime which particularly affected the elderly and those less skilled with technology. An Economic Crime Unit and Finance Team have been set up to deal with the problem.

Reference was made to the increasing number of email scams which had resulted in huge financial loss to people which was a major issue. The PCC reported that not enough was being done on this at a national level, although the law had changed which meant he was able to “lift” unexplained money from the bank accounts of convicted people and assign those funds to charities and organisations that dealt with this type of crime. 

In relation to peer on peer abuse, this was aimed at the young community and centred on gangs and the pressure put on young people to join gangs and the  crime which could result from this activity. A Member referred to Domestic Abuse and the PCC said that this was separate major issue. The Chief Constable reported that Domestic Abuse had increased by 21% from last year which had mainly been due to COVD 19 and lockdown.

Proactive visits had been made to vulnerable people under lockdown, offering reassurance. Domestic Abuse outcomes, justice for victims had gone up 35%.

Reference was made to TVP’s Radicalisation website and the PCC and Chief Constable were congratulated for the work on this.

Discussion took place on hidden crimes such as FGM and the PCC was thanked for the support he gave organisations who tackled this.

The Chairman praised the work which had taken place on Hidden Crimes but reference was made to the PCC’S Strategic Priorities and it was asked that in future Police and Crime Plans, that Abuse should include those hidden crimes, such as Caste Discrimination, Honour Based Abuse, Forced Marriage and Coercive Control.

The PCC referred to the figures on Hate Crime which had showed this had gone up. It was difficult to know whether this was because it was on the increase or because of better enforcement or people being able to report it easier.

The PCC reported that TVP were adopting a number of new technologies and referred to the increasing use of drones. TVP IT systems were improving.

Members Questions

(1) What was the reason for hate crime figures going up, but the incidents having gone down in the same period? Was this due to the increase in confidence in reporting various types of hate crime?

[The PCC reported that people were less frightened to report Hate Crimes which was obviously a good thing and perhaps the bar had been lowered in terms of the threshold to report. The level of serious incidents had gone down.]

(2) What was the success rate for the prosecution of Faith related Hate Crimes which had gone down?

[The PCC did not have the figures but commented that you could prosecute on incitement when a hate crime was committed. It was difficult to know the success rate as the figures were hidden.]

(3) How much interagency and collaborative work is carried out by TVP with other Police Forces?

[The PCC replied that collaboration and interagency work took place through Regional Counter Terrorism, Serious Organised Crime Unit and South East Regional Organised Crime Unit. Reference was made to the shared IT systems used which mainly worked well and the PCC commented that it would be interesting to see how this would work once the UK had left the EU and how effective systems would be across national boundaries.]  

(4) In relation to the use of technology and the Police use of Body Cameras to protect the public and the Police, why was there a reluctance to share Body Camera footage when the Police were accused of harassment?

[The Chief Constable reported that it depended on circumstances and it was a complex issue. The privacy of the other person had to be considered but the Police would consider this in the future.]

RESOLVED – That the report and information be reported.