Information

POLICE ASSURANCE & ACCOUNTABILITY

Welcome and introductions.

 

Attendees:

PFCC Danielle Stone (DS)

DPFCC Marianne Kimani (MK)

Jonny Bugg (JB)

Paul Fell (PF)

Louise Sheridan (LS)

CC Ivan Balhatchet (IB)

DCC Ash Tuckley (AT)

C/Supt Chris Hillery (CH)

C/Insp Oliver Charter (OC)

 

• DS welcomed everyone to the problem-solving meeting.
• Apologies were accepted from Vaughan Ashcroft, Nick Alexander

 

Performance Review

 

The items previously notified to the Chief Constable for discussion in Part 1 of this meeting are Victim satisfaction and Residential burglary.

 

Victim Satisfaction

 

• C/Supt Chris Hillery provided additional commentary to the meeting paper.
• A supplementary paper was also given out at the meeting.
• Performance is measured based on crime types; how the victim was kept informed; the action taken.
• Data is on a 12-month rolling basis
• All are green except ASB.
• Dissatisfaction within ASB suggests calls backs were not happening so person reporting didn’t know if anything was being done.
• The Force have now reinvigorated call backs and a PCSO will visit.
• ASB also gets a live deployment if officers are free and in the area.
• People not always fixed on outcome. Being heard is what is important.
• Managing expectations and communicating outcomes as soon as possible is key.
• There was a discussion about hate crimes.
• FCR are picking up repeat callers to identify when person is a victim on numerous occasions

• If repeat victim of the same offender, will deal as harassment.
• Data for all crime types show satisfaction levels overall are improving.
• QLIK data goes down to officer level so line managers can discuss any performance issues if contact details are not left with a victim.
• VCOP compliance is also monitored.
• The OPFCC Customer Service team share monthly stats regarding complaints with Superintendents and PSD for cases that are routinely services recovered and where performance issues are identified (consistently rude which will trigger a conversation with the officers sergeant)
• There was a discussion about a Response shift pattern review to address officer satisfaction and welfare.
• There was a discussion about a recent rise in burglary particularly in Daventry and South Northants which have now also started to increase in Corby and Kettering.
• Whilst it was accepted that the increases are off the back of a 20% overall reduction this still needs careful monitoring.
• It was agreed that Paul Fell will monitor via Performance FEM

 

Assurance statement:

The Commissioner welcomed the fact that the most recent data suggested that in most crime types there were signs of improvements in victim satisfaction.

She did express concerns however that this was on the back of a relatively significant period of decline and wanted to be assured that processes were in place to understand this and the reasons for it, and to respond more rapidly when this was the case.

She reiterated the point that she had previously made that victim satisfaction was one of the key measures and deliverables that would in her belief improve trust and confidence in policing locally.

 In relation to recent increases in burglary at South Northamptonshire and Daventry and potentially Kettering as an emerging theme. She welcomed the fact that there had been some significant improvements in terms of reduced levels of burglary across the county over recent years and recognised that context, but was seeking some assurances that the current rises were understood in that context and was being responded to, as the situation in South Northamptonshire did not appear to have been resolved since the point that this was initially raised in January this year.

 The Chief Constable had not brought a paper or data to this a meeting in relation to this matter and it was agreed that this would be dealt with at Performance FEM later in the month.

 

 

Knife Crime

The Commissioner has been provided with data indicating that the Force has experienced a reduction in overall knife crime in the County. This is to be welcomed.

She remains concerned however in relation to the number of incidents that appear to be reported involving groups of people fighting or armed with knives in the street or where firearms officers are being deployed to knife related incidents and the public safety risks associated with both.

She requests a report and presentation relating to knife crime to demonstrate the overall levels of knife crime in the County over the last three years and the overall trend. She also requests that this data is broken down and presented in the same way in relation to all of the subcategories that make up the overall knife crime statistics and data.

She also requests that the Chief Constable include the victimology and offender breakdown, as well as the geographic locations where these offences are taking place. This data should inform a discussion about what action is being taken to reduce these matters further and better protect the public.

• C/Inspector Oli Charter provided additional commentary.
• The introduction of the Violence Reduction Partnership under the leadership of Supt Andy Glenn has had a positive impact with an 11.8% reduction in ADR since 2022.
• Under 18’s account for 15.9% of victims and 23.7% of offenders.
• Overall seeing longer term reduction in both offenders and victims.
• The Commissioner asked if there was any data relating to schools.
• OC confirmed there is some data however not all schools report incidents to the police, so seizure data is a better indicator for this age range.
• Schools in disadvantaged areas are more likely to encounter this issue and can be linked to a higher number of exclusions.
• There was a discussion about victimology – highest age range is 25 – 34 years of age for both victim and offender.
• White victims form the largest proportion based on 1000 per population
• Arrest rates and positive outcomes for knife crime is 52% which is a 4.8% reduction.
• Positive Stop and search up from 9% to 13% and number of searches are reducing
• There was discussion about drug culture which is a big influencer and where have since the largest increase in knife related offences.
• Generally, the victim and offender are known to each other.
• For Decile 1 and 2, a place and people centric approach is required.
• Although incidents are still low there has been an upward trend in last 12 months taking the Force back to 2021/22 levels.
• It was noted that ADR data still doesn’t distinguish between threat and use.
• Threat is going up, but use going down.
• The Commissioner was pleased to see that the Chief Inspector position was a growth post and thanked OC for his comprehensive report.

 

Assurance Statement:

 

The Commissioner made it clear that knife crime and the issue of people carrying knives in the County remains an issue and is key amongst her concerns, especially in relation to young people and she remains concerned about this.

She recognised the partnership approach that was taking place across the County in relation to knife crime, as well as serious violence across the board and articulated that this had to have a strong partnership approach in order to make real, long terms differences.

 The Commissioner offered support from her office, where this was required.

 The Commissioner thanked the Chief Constable for the significant efforts that the Force are putting into this issue but stressed that there was a clear expectation this would continue in order to address this societal issue.

 

 

AOB

 No further business was raised