Meeting documents

To note and ask questions on the general issues report.

The main specific topic to address in this item bearing in mind recent incidents is to ask the PCC questions on the robustness of Thames Valley Police Armed Response Unit.

http://www.hampshire.police.uk/internet/about-us/specialist-teams/joint-operations-unit

Armed Response

One of the topical issues for discussion was armed response. Members noted that from the last HMIC PEEL assessment that the leadership has strong oversight of the Force’s ability to respond to national threats, such as terrorism, serious cyber-crime and child sexual abuse. Its own arrangements for ensuring it can meet its national obligations in this regard (such as planning, testing and exercising) are assessed as ‘good’.

During discussion the following questions were asked:-

·         Cllr Sinclair asked about the recent emergency exercise undertaken by Thames Valley Police. The Chief Constable reported that the Special Forces undertake regular exercises to ensure that the Force is prepared to respond to any major threats. This should also provide reassurance to the public. Panel Members noted that Local Authorities were not included in this exercise because of firearms. However, other emergency exercises were carried out with Local Authorities.

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/newsevents/newsevents-pressreleases/newsevents-pressreleases-tem.htm?id=340864

·         The Chief Constable reported that they would be increasing the capability of specialised armed officers over the next couple of years and that there would be 50% uplift in armed response.

·         Cllr Sinclair asked the PCC about his view of the use of Tasers. The PCC said he supported the use of Tasers as they saved people’s lives. Truncheons which were used previously could inflict more damage than Tasers. Furthermore, the use of Tasers offered more protection from harm to police officers as it reduces the need for close-quarters contact with a person being apprehended. The Chief Constable referred to a recent radio interview where he had commented that Tasers should be issued to all officers but obviously officers needed to be fully trained. He referred to the awful incident in West Mercia where a man had died of a heart attack after a Taser had been used. A risk assessment needed to be undertaken on the use of Tasers. For each police shift there would be an officer who was trained in the use of Tasers. Cllr Burke asked for detailed information on any harm that had been caused by Tasers. The Chief Constable reported that this information was freely available on the internet. She then asked whether the Taser was put away in a locked cabinet, particularly in police vehicles. The Chief Constable confirmed this.

·         Mr Marshall asked whether Special Constables would have to use Tasers. The Chief Constable reported that nationally it was agreed that Special Constables should not be issued with Tasers or firearms. He informed Panel Members that the number of times that Tasers were used (approx. six times in 2016) were few and that the threat of a Taser often had the desired effect of calming a person down.

Community Safety Fund

The Chief Executive of the OPCC reported that they were looking at the recent consultation exercise undertaken to review options for the Community Safety Fund. They would write to Local Authorities in October/November with their preferred option so that Councils could factor any changes into preparation for next year’s budget. Some Authorities had commented that they wanted to keep the status quo and that funding be distributed to individual Local Authorities. Other Authorities could see the benefit of having more centralised commissioning.

Neighbourhood Policing

Reference was made to the recent research carried out by Cambridge University which showed that police officers on the beat really prevent crime. The Chief Constable reported that the service delivery returns from neighbourhood policing far outstrip the value of investment. The Force were just finalising their Neighbourhood Policing infrastructure and were discussing how integrated teams would look with Local Authority Chief Executive’s.

The Panel noted the report.