Issue - decisions

The Chair welcomed Rebecca Avery, the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Outreach Worker to the meeting.

 

Rebecca gave a presentation on her role and that of Sir Graham Bright in his capacity as the Police and Crime Commissioner, the Police and the Crime Plan and the work of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office.

 

The Committee were advised that Rebecca’s role was to listen to the public both individually and collectively and to work in partnership with local agencies to identify and deliver shared solutions to local crime and anti-social behaviour problems in Cambridge, Huntingdon, South and East Cambridgeshire priority areas.

 

Rebecca explained that the role of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Sir Graham Bright, was to set the budget, the amount of Council tax charged for the Police, the strategy for local Police whilst ensuring that Police were held accountable and to ensure needs of the community were met.

 

Rebecca reminded those present of the contact point details, where she would be present in order to meet members of the public who could ask questions and give feedback on the local policing and crime in the area.

 

Questions and Comments from the public

 

Richard Taylor: Would the Police and Crime Commissioner meet his commitment of attending each Area Committee meeting once a year as he had previously announced?

 

Rebecca Avery: The Police and Crime Commissioner did attend regular public forums and was visible in his role but Cambridgeshire was a large area to cover.

 

As the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Outreach Worker, the role warrants members of the public to hold the Police accountable and any issues reported directly with Sir Graham’s Office.

 

Richard Taylor: In the absence of the Police and Crime Commissioner could you explain what is it like to work in the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office and do you feel accountable to either members of the public, the Police or the Crime Commissioner?

 

Rebecca gave an explanation of the structure of the office, detailing the staff who worked there and the roles and responsibilities. Rebecca advised that she enjoyed her role very much, particularly meeting members of the public to investigate their needs and wants, reporting those back to the Police and Crime Commissioner on a daily basis while working alongside the Police and external organisations.

 

 

Questions from the Committee

 

Councillor Hipkin: Is it possible to give three examples of when the Police have been held to account?

 

Rebecca Avery: Following critical feedback on dealing with domestic violence, work had been carried out to improve how domestic abuse cases were dealt with.

 

The Police and Crime Commissioner had asked for Cambridgeshire Constabulary to look at how they worked with all external agencies and how those working relationships could be enriched and platforms of communication improved. 

 

In response to failings of the front line 101 service, the Police and Crime Commissioner agreed with Cambridgeshire Police to invest in new equipment to improve pick up times for the non-emergency number 101 and to recruit additional call handlers.

 

Councillor Holland: How is your role different to that of the Police and Community Officers who regularly attend West / Central Committee meetings? 

 

Rebecca Avery: Although the role was separate the function was to work with the Police and report back any issues and to advise the Police of initiatives that had been working well and those that had not received such positive feedback.

 

Councillor Bick: Could you explain what was missing before your appointment and what the role brings. As Councillors were are concerned with the quality of policing and the safety of residents and discuss these concerns directly with the Police.

 

Rebecca Avery: The demands on the role of the Outreach Worker were not as time consuming as that of the Police and Crime Commissioner. Therefore the Outreach Worker had the luxury of time to listen to members of the public from all social spectrums and ages.

 

There were a total of four Police and Crime Commissioners Out Reach Workers to divide this work across the County. Some members of the public did want to speak directly with the Police and the role broke down engagement barriers.