Meeting documents

To receive a report for the Police and Crime Commissioner.

The Police and Crime Commissioner informed the Panel that his Police and Crime Plan set out the following aims for addressing vulnerability:

•          Improved recognition across the criminal justice system of mental health distress experienced by both victims and offenders leading to, (a) referral pathways into appropriate support agencies and (b) Improved access to mental health care from those in contact with the criminal justice system

•          Better understanding by police and partners of the extent and nature of elder abuse, followed by positive actions taken to address the issues uncovered

•          Improved police awareness and robust prosecution of those practising ‘more hidden’ forms of abuse, including coercive control, stalking, harassment, honour based abuse (HBA) and forced marriage

•          Improvements in criminal justice experience and outcomes for victims of domestic and sexual abuse

•          Ongoing assessment by police of the benefits arising from Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hubs (MASHs), including the current arrangements of 9 MASHs serving Thames Valley. 

Reference was made to the work which Police Officers carried out, relating to work around safeguarding and vulnerability, and the culminative psychological impact this had on police officers. A question was asked whether police officers had access to routine psychological support to enable resilience to such work. The Chief Constable reported that as a matter of course, those officers who worked in Domestic Abuse Units, Child Abuse Units were required to sit down and have a health care screening with the Occupational Health Unit on a regular basis, or to go elsewhere if required. Line managers were trained in this area and officers could also discuss any issues outside of their line managers if required.      

The PCC referred to the ongoing assessment by the Police of the benefits of 9 Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hubs (MASHs) serving the Thames Valley region, with one each in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, one in Milton Keynes and six in Berkshire. There were too many and this number needed to be reduced to improve efficiency and expertise.

In response to a question, the PCC informed the Panel that the work of MASHs was critical and referred to the work of the Oxfordshire MASH and the work which had been carried out on the scale of "Bullfinch".

The PCC was asked for his view on the recent comments made by Sara Thornton, the Chair of National Police Chief Council, that the Police should focus on crimes such as burglaries and violent crimes and not so much on "non-crimes" such as misogyny, where no real offence has been committed. The PCC replied that he supported those comments and referred to the Home Office Select Committee, which recommended major changes to the police response to new and growing crimes. More traditional crimes were rising as well as crimes involving serious violence, which was putting severe pressure on already overstretched police forces. The police had to prioritise crimes committed and those real hate crimes which were committed were a serious issue and would continue to be treated as such by the police. The PCC commented that the vast majority of those incidents classed as hate crimes, could be considered as incidents of rudeness, and almost all, did not end up in Court.

The PCC in response to a question, reported that in relation to improved police awareness of the more hidden forms of abuse, coercive control etc., there was now greater police awareness of these types of crimes, with greater police training on stalking, harassment, honour-based abuse and forced marriage. The reporting of these crimes had to be improved and the message had to get out to those "harder to reach communities".

The Chief Constable informed the Panel that there had been successful campaigns around hidden forms of abuse, such as Hate Crimes, FGM, Honour Based Abuse, on-line abuse and Modern Slavery. These campaigns involved closely working with CSPs, Safeguarding Boards and health partners.

A discussion took place on the work which the public sector and police could do in relation to "County Lines", particularly in relation to those vulnerable people who were targeted by criminal gangs (cuckooing), and on the success or otherwise of the Probation Service and Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs). Related to this, the PCC was asked for his view on criminals being able to purchase mobile phones and SIM cards, particularly from supermarkets without identification.

The PCC reported that it was generally acknowledged that CRCs had not worked. Regarding the purchasing of mobile phones and SIM cards without identification; this was not an issue he had considered. The issue would be around civil liberties and the freedom of individuals. The PCC said he would look at mobile phones.  

The Chief Constable in response to the points made about "County Lines" reported that the Police were working closely with local authorities and Registered Social Landlords, and used both full and partial Closure Orders very effectively. Work was taking place with the newly established County Lines Unit, with information shared between the Unit and TVP.

The PCC reported that "County Lines" needed to be solved on three fronts, the countries where the drugs were being manufactured, the system of how the drugs were imported into this country and the hubs which were distributing the drugs. None of these were in the Thames Valley area. The problem was that if a County Line was closed, another one would open up. Young people were taken advantage of. Reference was also made to the reduction in the use of "Stop and Search" which exacerbated the problem of "County Lines".      

Reference was made to regular standardised meetings with the CPS, to ensure better joined up working. Previously there had not been good joined up working. In relation to the Local Criminal Justice Board, the PCC reported that he would be proposing that the Deputy PCC chairs the Board.

Reference was made to a Rape "Gold" group, which was a group which consisted of all the key players, brought together to improve the positive outcome for victims, how the investigations of rape could be improved, how to learn from best practise, discussion on disclosure issues and improving the quality of investigation of these cases.

RESOLVED

That the report and update provided by the Police and Crime Commissioner be welcomed and noted.