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PERFORMANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD

Meeting date: Friday 19 February 2015 at 14.00 at Cornwall county Council, Truro

Police:Shaun Sawyer, Jim Pearce, Richard Bullock

OPCC:Tony Hogg, Andrew White, Jan Stanhope, David Eaton

Open for the purposes of FOI

Agenda Item and Discussion Points
1. Introductions
  • The Commissioner informed the Board that the meeting date coincided with the public announcement of the three year contract extension which had been agreed with the Chief Constable. The Chief Constable’s contract would now run for five years from the date of the contract extension.
  • The most recent crime figures were highlighted, including the attainment of first position for Devon and Cornwall in relation to public satisfaction, and the fall in the figures for total crime. Areas of challenge were being addressed.
  • The government had not yet announced a revised funding formula which meant that there was still some uncertainty regarding future funding arrangements. However, recent government announcements had brought a greater degree of financial stability.

2. Declarations of Interest
  • There were no declarations of interest.

3. Minutes of the Meeting held on 12 December 2015
  • The minutes of the last PABhad been circulated separately. The Commissioner provided an update on the actions from the last meeting.

4. PCC’s Question Time
  • Rural Drink Driving.The Chief Constable informed the Board that during the period of the December drink driving campaign 9% (177) of the tests had been positive. Drug driving kits were also in use. The Drink driving campaigns were also supported by educational work such as the “Honest Truth Campaign”.
  • Fatal Accidents. The Chief Constable reported that the number of fatalities had fallen over the last 12 months. The principle causes remained alcohol, speed, styles of driving, failure to use seat belts and distraction whilst driving.
  • Controlling or Coercive Behaviour. The Chief Constable reported that the focus of the police was on safeguarding and criminal investigation if appropriate. However, this was a difficult and complex area to police, and working with partners was particularly important. All front line teams and specialist staff such as the safeguarding teams had or would receive training
  • Male Victims of Domestic Abuse. The Chief Constable emphasised that this was an area where stereotypical views had to be challenged, particularly the assumption that perpetrators would be male. It was often difficult to establish who was the victim and who was the perpetrator. The role of the Victims Care Unit was crucial, with over 40 agencies available to offer support.
  • 101 Service. The Chief Constable did not discount the possible impact of call delays on crime reporting and recording, and the potential contribution of this this to reduced crime figures.
  • Trail Hunting. The Chief Constable informed the Board that all complaints were investigated, and prosecuted where appropriate. The police were placed in a sensitive position given the vociferous nature of the support for each side.
  • Anti-Social Behaviour. The problem of anti-social behaviour had been raised at both a local and regional level. The local Chief Supt listed the various approaches which had been adopted across Cornwall and provided an update on the current situation with regard to Cambourne and Redruth, Truro, and St Austell. The Chief Constable expressed his appreciation of the support received from local councils and the partnership work which was being developed.

6. Chief Constable’s Report
Victim Based Crime.
  • The Chief Constable drew attention to the fact that Devon and Cornwall now had the second lowest level of victim based crime nationally, and that this reflected positively on the work of the police and of partners. However, other areas of challenge remained.
  • The Commissioner highlighted Devon and Cornwall’s previous low position and questioned the extent to which other forces were now having to adopt a more rigorous approach to their own recording of this crime category, and were, therefore, seen to be performing less well.
  • The Chief Constable emphasised the importance of accurate recording if reductions were to be accepted as genuine. To this end a research exchange and mutual inspections had been arranged with Dorset to assess the comparability of the two forces’ recording systems.
Vulnerable Victims
  • The Chief Constable informed the Board that the incidence of reporting was falling but that the crime element, specifically Domestic Abuse, was still rising. For sexual offences as a whole, Devon and Cornwall had moved from worst to 17th Nationally.
  • Surveys showed that there was a very high level of satisfaction with the service provided by the force.
  • Further clarification was requested regarding the conviction rate at court (ACTION)
  • In response to a question regarding force strategy for dealing with repeat domestic abuse the Board was informed that in the first instance there was a focus on identifying the incidence of repeat offending.
Public Confidence
  • The Commissioner extended his congratulations to the Chief Constable and the whole force for achieving first place nationally for public confidence.
  • The Chief Constable emphasised the collective efforts of front line officers, force leadership and the Commissioner in helping to achieve this position.
Violent Crime – Misuse of Alcohol
  • The Chief Constable emphasised the continuing nature of the challenge presented by this crime category. The most recent figures had been significantly affected by the inclusion of dog bites within violence with injury as these were responsible for the majority of the increase.
  • The local Chief Supt. Outlined the specific strategy which had been adopted in Cornwall, particularly in relation to the role of alcohol and the incidence of domestic abuse.
  • The Commissioner questioned the reliability of the figure for alcohol related violence, which he suggested may be under represented. This could be due to under reporting.
Mental Health and File Quality
  • The Commissioner welcomed the transformation which had been achieved in the way individuals with mental health problems were being dealt with, and expressed his thanks to the Chief Constable for the success of his pro-active approach and the initiative he had taken to break the previous reliance on the use of custody.
  • The Chief Constable reported that the health service had responded very positively and effectively in helping to bring about this change, but that it was important to continue to seek to reduce the use of custody still further. There was also a need to ensure that the handover process in hospitals was less time consuming where there was no threat of violence from individuals.
  • File quality had seen significant improvements but remained below the national target, as was the case in 42 of the 43 forces across the country.
Victim Care
  • The Chief Constable believed the development of the new victims’ care process to have been a significant improvement on the former arrangements. The Commissioner queried whether all victims’ needs were equally well supported, and the number of Victim Needs Assessments which were being processed by the Public Protection Unit (ACTION).
Volunteering and Special Constables Hours of Service.
  • The total number of hours provided by specials was highlighted, although the impact of recruitment into the force remained a factor influencing the intention to increase the number of hours.
  • The Chief Constable drew attention to the improvement in productivity as a result of the increase in the number of hours per month which were being achieved. The number of volunteers was also increasing and the opportunities for service were being opened out.

ACTIONS UPDATE FROM LAST MEETING (February 2016)
  • Vulnerable Victims
Further clarification was requested regarding the conviction rate at court
ACTION UPDATE – see attached note
  • Victim Care
Request for the number of Victim Needs Assessments which were being processed by the Public Protection Unit.
ACTION UPDATE – see attached note

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