Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted by Cllr Carroll (Buckinghamshire Council), Cllr Culverhouse (Buckinghamshire Council – co-optee), Cllr Lygo (Oxford City Council) and Cllr Webber (Oxfordshire County Council).

The Minutes of the meeting held on 3 November 2023 were agreed as a correct record.

Anyone who works or lives in the Thames Valley can ask a question at meetings of the Police and Crime Panel, at which a 20 minute session will be designated for hearing from the public.

If you’d like to participate, please read the Public Question Time Scheme and submit your questions by email to tvpcp@buckinghamshire.gov.uk at least three working days in advance of the meeting.

Cllr Andrew Gant of Oxfordshire County Council asked the PCC the following question:

Thames Valley police action on road safety appears to be behind what we see from other forces and are hearing from other local authorities. Other police forces seem to be more willing and able to implement continuous operation and average speed camera enforcement.

Other forces are using cycle and bus patrols to detect and deter mobile phone use and illegal or fake number plates. It is generally recognised that stopping drivers for driving and vehicle offences often uncovers other serious crimes, and that third party reporting is well encouraged. This can help improve overall driver behaviour and road safety.

It is understood that resources are limited, but inaction will cost more than action in the long run. The PCC was asked for TVP to act against this increasing trend of dangerous driving before there are more tragic consequences. The specific request was for closer collaboration with local authorities, both collectively across the Thames Valley area, and individually to help achieve improvements to road safety.

The PCC was asked to acknowledge the benefits and value of lower speed limits, especially the 20-mph scheme, and to support local authorities by enforcing them. In addition to appreciate the advantages of average speed camera enforcement and to cooperate with Oxfordshire County Council, especially on sections of the A34, A40, A420, and A417.

There should also be a crackdown on anti-social driving behaviours such as driving and parking on pavements.

Response

[The PCC replied that he agreed with most of the points raised and recognised, that sadly, that there are often more road accidents at this time of year due to the weather. This year has been particularly bad, with another incident on the A420 last month.

There is often a gap between those factors that can lead to some of the worst casualties and some of the measures that are simple and popular today. Reference was made to not taking enough action on pavement parking, which is a problem in most places now. The PCC said that unless the pavement parking was causing obstruction, it was up to local authorities to deal with pavement parking.

He was meeting in the next week or so with South Oxfordshire Council and residents regarding pavement parking.

The PCC referred to the 13 deaths on road accidents which were tragic. Two were caused by fallen trees on the road, five cases were due to mental health issues and one driver had a heart attack.

Of course, there was the need to address many of the other cases related to drug and drink driving and those particular issues.

Reference was made to a review which was taking place to determine where road policing resources were best placed. There was access to the Road Safety Fund, which is the money generated from the speed awareness courses, funded by speeding drivers.

There had been no final decisions made on much of that funding, as this was being  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

11.00am

The Panel will consider the budget papers which were presented to and agreed at the Performance and Accountability meeting between the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Chief Constable on 18 January 2024.

The Panel will be given the opportunity to question the PCC on the detail contained in the papers and the Panel will be asked to approve the Police and Crime Commissioner’s precept for 2024/5 as set out in the OPCC budget papers.

The Panel considered the budget papers which were presented to and agreed at the Performance and Accountability meeting between the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Chief Constable on 18 January 2024.

The PCC introduced the item and explained the reasoning behind the proposed £13 (Band D) increase to the Council Tax precept. Reference was made to the PCC’s responsibility to ensure that Thames Valley Police has the resources to effectively prevent and investigate crime, support victims and protect communities from harm.

The PCC commented that he was conscious of the current cost of living pressures on households, however, alongside this, economic pressures such as high utility, fuel, and vehicle costs are also continuing to significantly impact policing budgets despite a rise in government funding.

The investment in policing would focus on the priorities that mattered to residents with strengthened neighbourhood policing and crime prevention. The budget included investment in an additional 150 police officers across the force, including neighbourhood officers, priority crime teams to tackle burglaries, theft and shoplifting; and an increase in the Rural Crime Taskforce.

Reference was made to the plans enabling continued investment in programmes to improve forensics, crime investigation, safeguarding and the training of new officers.

In relation to the capital plan, funding would be provided for long-term investment in technology and infrastructure, with sustainable funding support.

The revenue plan is balanced over the four-year timeframe and would be maintained through the ongoing Force Productivity Plan saving £20m in the first two years of the Plan, with the bulk of the savings coming through the Force Review project. There were savings of £7m in 2024/25 which have been identified in detail.

For 2025/26 there was a £13m savings target which had been largely identified at an outline level by department, and detailed plans were being worked through with external expert support.

Members’ Questions:

(1)   The PCC was asked about the proposals to reduce the number of officers in the Roads Policing Unit which was concerning as they were a front-line service and the optics of this would not be good.

[The PCC replied that there was no clear decision made on this. There would be a look  at what savings could be made in the second year.]

(2)    Reference was made to a later agenda item (Topical Issues) relating to HMICFRS  who had sent a warning to TVP after an Inspection highlighted problems with the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (Clare's Law) which included resourcing issues and long delays. Also, the report 'Tools and Strategies for Domestic Abuse', detailing that a number of bids for a centralised team, after a small successful pilot to address the issues with the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme ... have been unsuccessful.

The PCC was asked to confirm funding will therefore be made available to address this failing, as highlighted by HMICFRS, to avoid continued reliance on external bidding applications, which have so far been unsuccessful?

[The PCC replied that there was an increase in resourcing although the bidding for funding  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

11.45am

To consider the report of the Budget Task and Finish Group which meets on 19 January 2024.

As in previous years, the Thames Valley Police & Crime Panel formed a Budget Task & Finish Group to assist in discharging its statutory duty to scrutinise the Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Thames Valley’s proposed Council Tax precept for 2024/25.

On 10 November 2023, the Budget Task and Finish Group met with the Director of Finance of Thames Valley Police (TVP) and the Chief Finance Officer of the Office of the PCC to look at draft budget proposals. Summary of that meeting is attached as appendix C to the report.

Members of the PCP Budget Task and Finish Group attended the Performance and Accountability meeting between the PCC and the Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police (TVP) on 18 January 2024, and then held their Budget Task and Finish Group the following day on 19 January 2024 to scrutinise the budget proposals.

Councillor Bradburn, the Chair of the Budget Task and Finish Group presented the report. He thanked Martin Thornley, Chief Finance Officer, Office of PCC and Linda Waters, Director of Finance, TVP for attending the Task and Finish Group meetings and outlining the PCC’s draft budget proposals and the implications of this on the Police Precept.

The recommendation of the Budget Task and Finish Group was to approve the Police and Crime Commissioner’s police precept for 2024/25, to increase the Council Tax police precept by £13 (Band D), as set out in the OPCC budget report.

11.50am

To consider a report of the PCC which provides an update on Thames Valley Police call handling performance. It includes current positioning, challenges the department are currently facing, and measures being put in place to mitigate future risk and improve performance.

The Panel considered a report of the PCC which provided an update on Thames Valley Police call handling performance. It included current positioning, challenges the department are currently facing, and measures being put in place to mitigate future risk and improve performance.

Reference was made to Call handling performance being impacted by three main influencing factors:- the volume of incoming demand, the stability of IT and telephony systems used, and resourcing.

The PCC reported that in the last 12 months there have seen fluctuations in IT reliability and call demand, particularly in relation to the ‘android’ upgrade to mobile phones which saw a spike in 999 calls in error during the summer months (pocket calls). However, the greatest challenge has come from resourcing availability.

In response to a question regarding a recent outage, the PCC reported that 999 calls to TVP were down for 3 ½ hours. The outage was down to human error and a kit failure. Contingency was that calls were diverted to Hampshire Constabulary, and this worked very well.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted, and it was agreed that a further update report be programmed into the Panel’s work programme.   

12.05pm

This report provides a detailed overview of the tools and strategies employed by Thames Valley Police (TVP) to address Domestic Abuse (DA).

The PCC submitted a report which provided a detailed overview of the tools and strategies employed by Thames Valley Police (TVP) to address Domestic Abuse (DA).

Reference was made to the data on repeated cases and that there was no data for Milton Keynes, Bracknell, Slough and Windsor and Maidenhead. The PCC said he would have a look at this and provide the information to the Panel. [ACTION: PCC]

RESOLVED – That the report be noted, and it was agreed that Domestic Abuse be added to the Panel’s work programme and revisited at a future meeting.

12.15pm

At the Police and Crime Panel’s meeting of 15 September 2023, approval was given to the formation of a Task and Finish Group to enable the Panel to scrutinise how the PCC holds the Chief Constable to account in relation to Road Safety.

The Panel is asked to approve the final report and the recommendations of the Task and Finish Group on Road Safety.

The Panel was provided with the final report of the Task and Finish Group on Road Safety.

The Chair of the Panel, Cllr Brazier introduced the report and thanked witnesses and the Panel’s Scrutiny Officer for the work carried out.

Reference was made to three areas of the review which had not been completed: pavement parking / obstruction, car cruising / meets and the enforcement of 20 mph. The Panel agreed that, where possible another meeting of the Task and Finish Group take place to consider these outstanding areas.

The PCC referred to pavement parking and pointed out that this was the responsibility of local authorities although it was acknowledged that the balance had to be got right in terms of responsibility as obstruction of pavements was a police issue.  

A discussion took place on the enforcement of 20 mph speed limits / zones and Panel Members believed that these should be enforced by the police.  

Discussion took place on the Road Safety Strategy and the Panel asked that the PCC defer the finalisation of the strategy until the Panel had completed its review. It was agreed that the outstanding issues be reported back to the Panel in June. 

RESOLVED – (1) That approval be given to final report and the following recommendations contained in the report and that the PCC be asked to take forward the relevant recommendations to his office:

(i)                 The Road Safety Strategy be shared with the Police and Crime Panel. That better coordination and communication take place on the strategy to the different local authority tiers in Thames Valley, to Highways / Road Safety Teams within local authorities and National Highways.

(ii)               That better coordination and partnership work take place between Roads Policing and local authorities on sites chosen for Police attention.

(iii)        That all speed data from local authorities, CSW volunteers and SIDS be fed into the Roads Policing Unit.

(iv)        That West Berkshire Community Speedwatch Scheme should be considered as good practice by other local authorities to support local volunteer groups. As such ensuring all stakeholders are fully on board with community concerns around speeding.

(v)         It was agreed that there was potential for more consistent monitoring and follow-up to improve the CSW system’s effectiveness and the PCC was asked to implement this with TVP.

(vi)        That the PCC be asked to investigate linking DVLA data with CSW data and using police staff with calibrated cameras alongside the Community Speedwatch volunteers to improve the scheme.

(vii)      That the PCC be asked to look at the use of data sharing (postcode data) between TVP and local authorities and CSW schemes.

(viii)     That consideration be given to the creation of a forum for Community Speedwatch volunteers to enable them to give feedback, to share current good practice and to receive refresher training on the full functionality of the on-line system.

(ix)        The PCC be asked to explore the use of funding from the Road Safety Fund for training officers to use TruCAMS and update the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

12.25pm

This report offers a brief overview of the progress made regarding the PCC’s Road Safety Strategy 2024-28.

The PCC submitted a report which provided an overview of the progress made regarding the PCC’s Road Safety Strategy 2024-28.

The strategy aimed to outline PCC commitments contributing to the Safe System approach, making Thames Valley roads safer through partnership, evidence-led methods, and a focus on education and enforcement.

The report was noted.

12.35pm

A request was made for additional information regarding the October 2023 County Lines Intensification Week, specifically seeking a detailed breakdown of the 98 arrests made by Thames Valley Police (TVP) during this period.

The Panel was reminded that a request had been made at a previous meeting for additional information regarding the October 2023 County Lines Intensification Week, specifically seeking a detailed breakdown of the 98 arrests made by Thames Valley Police (TVP) during this period.

The PCC explained that in October 2023, TVP carried out extensive 4P (Prevent, Pursue, Protect, Prepare) activity during the Intensification Week. Collaborative efforts across the force led to numerous arrests and the disruption of various drug lines.

A summary of arrests and a brief overview of offenses per Local Policing Area was provided.

The Panel noted the report.

12.45pm

To receive and update on PCSO recruitment as requested at a previous Panel meeting.

The PCC provided the Panel with an update on Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) recruitment as requested at a previous Panel meeting.

The PCC informed the Panel that PCSO recruitment this year had continued to be a challenge despite a significant number of applications and targeted recruitment activity. There had been an increase in the number of applications, however, there was a lower conversion rate of applications to appointable candidates.

The Panel noted that 43 PCSOs had been recruited in the last 12 months, however, there had been 51 leaving, with 15 of those becoming police officers.

Details of the recruitment activities were reported and reference was made to the possibility of offering a non-apprenticeship entry route as this had been cited as a barrier to potential candidates.

The Panel noted the report and the efforts and initiatives which were taking place to improve recruitment and retention of PCSOs.

12.55pm

To be provided with a performance update on SOC disruptions.

The Panel received and noted a performance update on Serious Organised Crime disruptions.

13.00pm

To receive a report for information on complaints against the PCC considered by the Complaints Sub-Committee since the last meeting of the Panel.  

The Panel received and noted a report on non-serious complaints made against the PCC considered by the Complaints Sub-Committee since the last meeting of the Panel. 

13.05pm

To note and ask questions on the topical issues report and to receive updates from the PCC and the Chair of the Panel if required.

The Panel was provided with a report which provided details of policing and crime news.

13.15pm

For Panel Members to put forward items for the Work Programme including ideas for themed meetings.

The Panel’s work programme was noted.

It was agreed that an update on the Force Review and the reduction of LPAs to five be added to the work programme for a future meeting.