2015 UPDATE TO THE police and crime plan 2013-17 SUMMARY
Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight UPDATED NOVEMBER 2015
Foreword This Police and Crime Plan outlines my vision and priorities for policing and community safety across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The Plan shows how I intend to keep the pledge I made when I took office – to ensure the police, with other partners, continue to reduce crime and protect people and places. I am committed to working in partnership with others to ensure communities are safe and to deliver effective, modern and meaningful criminal justice. My vision is to reduce crime and re-offending across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight; to bring about a social change across all our communities. It is only through this approach that we can hope to see a real, and lasting, reduction in crime and anti-social behaviour that leads to fewer victims and better life chances for those who would otherwise have offended. I believe it is through inclusion, community co-operation and consultation that, together, we will deliver these outcomes and a better society. I believe strategies and policy development must follow the evidence-base of what is proven to work. I want to ensure the community that is Hampshire and the Isle of Wight has the utmost trust and confidence in their local police force, and in the values that govern it. When the police are seen to be fair, maintaining neutrality, making good judgements and treating people with dignity and respect, then public trust and confidence in the police will continue. My challenge to the Chief Constable is to build on the areas of excellence already in existence across our two counties and continue to reduce crime and the number of victims even further. The priorities in this plan have been shaped by your views. I will do my best to ensure they are delivered on your behalf.
Simon Hayes Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight 2
2015 update Police and Crime Plan SUMMARY
Community engagement As a publicly elected representative, I am committed to being as accessible as possible to people in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight by meeting members of the public face to face and fully exploring the use of print and online media to engage with communities. I welcome feedback on the service being provided by my office, Hampshire Constabulary and other partners involved in preventing crime and disorder, and protecting people and places in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Through investment in technology, such as Body Worn Video (BWV), improved IT and the Hampshire Alerts service, I am keen to promote safer communities and ensure a better understanding of the demand on policing. I have signed the Howard League’s pledge to consult with young people, including those in contact with the criminal justice system, when developing future Police and Crime Plans. My Youth Commission, made up of young people from across our communities, is ensuring that young people are listened to and are able to influence positive social change.
Financial information Achieving my priorities and targets is dependent on having adequate resources, and for there to be prudent financial management to maximise available funding and to ensure value for money service delivery solutions. The 2015/16 budget for my office and Hampshire Constabulary was £301.3m. The majority of police funding (66%) comes from Government grants, with the remaining 34% coming from the council tax precept. It was spent as follows:
Investigation
£58.3m
Neighbourhoods and Prevention
£48.2m
Response and Patrol
£44.2m
Corporate Support
£44.1m
Intelligence Tasking and Development
£22.8m
Contact Management
£21.5m
Operational Support
£21.4m
Custody and Criminal Justice
£16.3m
Central
£14m
Management of Risk
£4.2m
ACPO
£3.4m
Police & Crime Commissioner
£2.9m
For the full version of the Police and Crime Plan visit www.hampshire-pcc.gov.uk 2015 update Police and Crime Plan SUMMARY
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In 2014, HMIC assessed Hampshire Constabulary as the 6th most cost effective force in England and Wales in terms of cost per head of population.
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2015 update Police and Crime Plan SUMMARY
PRIORITY 1: Improving frontline
policing to deter criminals and keep communities safe Hampshire Constabulary has risen to the financial constraints imposed upon it by central Government since the 2010 Comprehensive Spending Review, resulting in having to make £80m worth of savings. Innovative ways of making those savings have had to be sought through my Operational Change Programme and Estate Strategy. Through these initiatives and by bringing about a more business like approach, I have worked with the Chief Constable to achieve the necessary savings, whilst protecting frontline policing and maintaining high quality investigative policing.
Research indicates that the certainty of being caught is a more effective deterrent than the type of court sentence received. An increase in solved crime – in both urban and rural areas – also plays an important role in retaining public confidence in policing and keeping communities safe. Violence, theft and burglary are crimes that affect all our communities and will continue to be priorities for the police.
By the end of my term of office there will be:
In 2013-15 I:
¾¾ An increase in the proportion of police personnel engaged in frontline duties.
¾¾ Engaged with partners to examine tasks being undertaken by Hampshire Constabulary which more appropriately lie elsewhere, with the aim of freeing up police resources for their primary role.
¾¾ An increased conviction rate. ¾¾ An improved evidence-based outcome-focussed policing service that is consistently delivered across both urban and rural areas. ¾¾ Improved crime data recording practices, leading to better intelligence and strategic analysis. ¾¾ A police service that operates in a range of buildings accessible to the public, housing a range of partners and providing a safe, high quality environment for victims, witnesses and those detained in custody.
¾¾ Engaged with other sectors and stakeholders to explore how they can contribute to keeping our communities safer. ¾¾ Explored how the percentage of the constabulary employed in frontline roles can be increased. ¾¾ Developed my policy to address rural crime issues to ensure greater equality between solved crimes in rural and urban areas. ¾¾ Undertook a review of the effectiveness of technological solutions used by the Constabulary.
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The needs and wishes of victims and witnesses must be placed at the heart of policing and the wider criminal justice system.
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2015 update Police and Crime Plan SUMMARY
PRIORITY 2: Place victims and
witnesses at the heart of policing and the wider criminal justice system
The responsibility for supporting victims and witnesses of crime - and the funding for providing such services has been devolved from the Ministry of Justice to local Police and Crime Commissioners. My response has been to localise and develop a bespoke, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Victim Care Service, which came to fruition in April 2015. At the heart of the new service is the belief that receiving appropriate and timely support can significantly improve victims or witnesses chances
of coping and recovering from the crimes they have been subjected to.
By the end of my term of office there will be:
¾¾ Tasked the police with reviewing and improving the support they provide for victims and witnesses, including ensuring that police facilities support the way victims and witnesses can be interviewed.
¾¾ A more coherent and individually tailored response for victims, both within Hampshire Constabulary and across the wide range of relevant partner agencies. ¾¾ We will provide a service where victims and witnesses feel more involved and are confident that if they turn to the police or partner agencies, they will receive the appropriate level of care and support. This approach is reflected in my Restorative Justice and Sexual Crime Strategies and the Modern Slavery Partnership. ¾¾ An increase in Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) and Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) who ensure the safety of those at greatest risk of serious harm and death. ¾¾ The ‘Victim Voice’ strategy will ensure that victims views are heard, listened to, and will inform future commissioning and service development. In 2013-15 I: ¾¾ Worked with a range of partners to develop and commission a new Victim Care Service based in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
My office has also worked closely with all partners to develop a number of new integrated planned services looking at the whole system of support for victims of sexual crime and domestic abuse across the whole of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
¾¾ Became a full member of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Criminal Justice Board, enabling our victim-focused work to be integrated with key partner agencies and stakeholders. ¾¾ Explored new initiatives to improve outcomes for victims and offenders, such as Restorative Justice. ¾¾ Identified key issues and brought forward proposals to improve the handling of domestic abuse cases by the police and other criminal justice agencies. ¾¾ Hosted a Victims Conference that focused on relevant national policies and the experience of victims, and conducted a multi-agency victims and witnesses forum and workshops, bringing forward 46 recommendations to improve the experience of victims. ¾¾ Signed Victim Support’s five pledges to ensure that victims and witnesses needs are a priority.
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I am committed to community policing and will work to ensure that neighbourhood policing is at the heart of local communities in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
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2015 update Police and Crime Plan SUMMARY
PRIORITY 3: Work together to
reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in your community I am committed to ensuring that local police and partners are properly focusing on the problems that affect your community at a local level. In consultation with Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs), I am developing a sound understanding of their strategic assessments that identify the underlying causes of crime, disorder and substance misuse, to encourage them to make evidence-based decisions in relation to their local priorities.
By improving both communication and access to accurate data from which information and trends can be extrapolated, I have honoured my commitment to support the Hampshire Information Management Suite (currently comprising Crime Reports, Command Central and SafetyNet). This will continue to maximise its potential with regard to transparent and effective partnership working, reducing and preventing crime and anti-social behaviour, and managing risk and vulnerability.
By the end of my term of office there will be:
¾¾ Established the Police and Crime Reduction Alliance, with the aim of planning services and allocating resources in a co-ordinated manner.
¾¾ Effective and coherent delivery of evidence-based interventions to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour at the neighbourhood level by working with the police, CSPs, third sector partners and my Youth Commission. ¾¾ A consistent approach to police engagement across all 95 neighbourhoods with the aim of generating commitment from local residents and partners in the delivery of local community policing priorities. ¾¾ More consistent and effective use of information sharing to support the reduction of crime and anti-social behaviour, and managing risk and vulnerability, in local communities. In 2013-15 I: ¾¾ Introduced a Community Safety Alliance to improve the integration and delivery of community safety services. Through the Alliance, I have engaged with Community Safety Partnerships to ensure greater coordination and effectiveness of services.
¾¾ Explored with the police the most effective ways of engaging with every neighbourhood to set local policing priorities and provide timely feedback. ¾¾ Hosted a county-wide conference on ASB to ensure all parties are working collaboratively to prevent ASB and help perpetrators change behaviour. ¾¾ Supported the use of data technology to help combat crime and anti-social behaviour. ¾¾ Ensured that the Constabulary and partners continue to focus on and prioritise road safety. ¾¾ Delivered an effective service building crime out of communities through crime prevention design advice to the public sector and developers.
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I have invested in a range of pilot projects focused on helping to break the cycle of reoffending.
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2015 update Police and Crime Plan SUMMARY
PRIORITY 4: Reduce Re-offending The use of custodial sentencing represents a huge cost to the public purse. With more than 60 per cent of frequent offenders who receive less than 12 months custodial sentence back in prison within two years, breaking the cycle of offending is critical. While I accept that prison is the only option for some, I also recognise that prisons are full to capacity and are not the best solution for all offenders. I want to work with criminal justice partners, agencies from the voluntary and community sector, and our communities to
explore the development of alternatives to custodial sentences for youth and adult re-offenders where appropriate.
By the end of my term of office there will be:
¾¾ Explored with partners and stakeholders the use of alternative disposals, including Restorative Justice, and a new Victim Awareness Course for low-level volume crime offenders, to reduce reoffending in both young and adult offenders.
¾¾ Fewer young people entering the criminal justice system. ¾¾ Fewer low to medium risk adult offenders in prison with Restorative Justice efforts directed towards victim satisfaction and improved rehabilitation of the offender. ¾¾ A sustained pursuit of those serious and organised criminals who represent the largest threat to our communities. ¾¾ An effective and integrated approach to offender management joining up key strategies, and the local implementation of the Transforming Rehabilitation Agenda. ¾¾ A coordinated approach to identifying, assessing, managing and reviewing perpetrators of domestic abuse. In 2013-15 I: ¾¾ Engaged with partners to support and improve the overall effectiveness of Integrated Offender Management, and explored how I could effectively support drug and alcohol services.
The enforcement of the law is the primary role of the police and I would like to see greater engagement with the local community to deliver speedier, more accessible justice – especially for high volume but low-level offending.
¾¾ Tasked Hampshire Constabulary to draft a Youth Strategy, whilst launching my youth engagement campaign, Be Part of the Solution, encouraging young people to demonstrate that they can be part of the fight against crime. ¾¾ Supported the Troubled Families initiative, using my influence to encourage those responsible for safeguarding young people to deliver the best diversionary support available. ¾¾ Hosted a Reducing Reoffending Conference and submitted a White Paper with recommendations to the national Justice Select Committee. ¾¾ Agreed to fund the expansion of Operation Fortress, a multi-faceted drugs and firearm enforcement operation, which is targeted against organised criminality. ¾¾ In recognition of the increasing reports of human trafficking, I launched a Modern Slavery Partnership initiative.
¾¾ Did ‘what works’ in relation to intervening earlier when people are at risk of entering the Criminal Justice System, and supported the continued use and development of programmes diverting people away from crime and ASB. 2015 update Police and Crime Plan SUMMARY
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how to contact me Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire, St George’s Chambers, St George’s Street, Winchester, SO23 8AJ 01962 871595
www.hampshire-pcc.gov.uk
opcc@hampshire.pnn.police.uk
@HantsPCC
Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire
If you require any part of this document in Braille, large print, or another language, or if you would like a copy of the full version of the Police and Crime Plan please contact the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner on 01962 871595, or send an email to opcc@ hampshire.pnn.police.uk