Agenda item

To receive updates from the Chair of the Panel and the PCC. In addition, a report of the Scrutiny Officer to the Panel is attached providing information on topical issues.

The Panel received a report which provided details of topical issues and media reports relating to policing and crime.

The PCC reported that two new posts had been appointed to his Office: Head of Partnerships and Community Safety and Head of Victims Services.

The PCC informed the Panel that he had received a letter from the Chairman of the National Police Council thanking TVP’s Chief Constable for the supply of PPE to all Police Forces during the Pandemic.

Members’ Questions

(1)  Reference was made to Cherwell’s CSP meeting where it had been reported that stalking and harassment had increased by 120%, which was a significant increase. Were there any plans for the PCC to prioritise this offence?

[Reference was made to the use of Stalking Prevention Orders which placed restrictions on offenders. A league table was recently published which had TVP at the bottom of that table. The Chief Constable had promised that more use of these orders would take place and there would be an improvement. There were a number in process and the Force did take these offences seriously.]

(2)  For domestic abuse, at Cherwell’s CSP meeting a statistic was reported that 2% of domestic abuse victims had been abused by their perpetrator more than five times. Why were these perpetrators still not convicted?

[The PCC replied that domestic abuse was a complex area. Gathering evidence and securing prosecutions was not easy and took time. Cases needed to be taken to Court quicker. Perpetrators may be put on programmes to stop offending as some victims do not want their perpetrators to be convicted but they want them to stop abusing them.]

(3)   There were victims of domestic abuse who did want justice. However, the criminal justice system was often too slow in bringing cases to court. Could the PCC look at the recent pilot which took place at Aylesbury Crown Court where there was an accelerated programme for domestic abuse cases and introduce this throughout Thames Valley?

[The PCC reported that there was a new temporary crown prosecutor, and the scheme would be mentioned to him. However, there was a bigger problem around the backlog of all court cases, not just domestic abuse.]

(4)  Reference was made to a recent questionnaire issued by the Home Office on additional powers for PCCs such as powers to engage in property regeneration. Some of these were a distraction from the main responsibility of the PCC, of policing and crime. The PCC was asked were there any additional powers he thought would be beneficial to his Office.

[The PCC replied that the consultation was also out to PCCs. Regarding the General Power of Competence, he did not think it was appropriate to his Office. There were some interesting areas such as greater scope for PCCs in Offender management, wider areas of the Criminal Justice System giving more powers over the CPS. Fire and Rescue was an obvious area which could be looked at.]

(5)  The PCC was asked for his views on aligning Fire and Police Governance in the Thames Valley under PCC control.

[The PCC commented that as a member of the public, he could see the advantages of Fire and Police joint governance. However, at this time this was not a priority but over time, he could see this being pushed forward from the Home Office. Good collaborations were already taking place with the Fire Authorities across Thames Valley.]   

(6)  The use of CCTV is proven, but in Buckinghamshire there has been an idea of having one control room linking all the systems, possibly in Milton Keynes. Could the PCC provide an update on this?

[The PCC said this was a complex area and perhaps this could be discussed in more detail at a future meeting.]

(7)  The Police should follow up after domestic abuse has been reported but Social Services should get involved as Police Officers were not as well trained in respect of DV. What’s the PCC’s thoughts on this.

[The PCC commented that there were complexities with domestic abuse. TVP Officers did receive specialised training and they were familiar with how to deal with it, however, domestic abuse was a difficult and complex area.] 

RESOLVED – The report and the information provided be noted.