Agenda item

The Police & Crime Commissioner, Mr Winston Roddick, CB QC, has been invited to the meeting to discuss with the Council the role, impact and operation of the PCC and how the PCC and police and crime plan work with/for Flintshire in partnership.

(a)      That the presentation be received; and

(b)       That Mr. Roddick be asked to provide a written response to any further

            supplementary questions submitted by Members.

The Chief Executive welcomed and  introduced Mr. Winston Roddick, CB QC, who had been invited to the meeting to discuss the role, impact and operation of the Police and Crime Commissioner and how the Police and Crime Commissioner, and the Police and Crime Plan work with/for Flintshire in partnership.

Mr. Roddick thanked Members for their invitation and introduced Julian Sandham, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Sharon McCairn, County Chief Inspector for Flintshire, and Rhian Roberts, Policy Officer.

Mr. Roddick gave an overview of his role, powers, and responsibilities as Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales.  He advised that he was the link between the professionals who delivered policing services and the public who received those  services. He explained that the role of the Police and Crime Commissioner was unprecedented and that he had been elected to office two and half years ago.  He said that he worked full-time and that his performance was scrutinised by the independent Police and Crime Panel.   He had an overarching duty to secure an efficient and effective police force which demonstrated value for money and reduced crime. He referred to his four main duties which were to:

·         Set out the priorities for policing in North Wales

·         Decide the budget for North Wales Police

·         Hold the Chief Constable to account; and

·         Listen and respond to the public’s views on policing 

Mr. Roddick commented on his wish to nurture a solid partnership with Flintshire County Council and expressed particular appreciation for the support of the Chief Executive on community safety work.   He commented on the need to work closely with partners to secure long term solutions to crime and disorder and referred to the many different types of organisations he worked with to ensure improved services to the people of North Wales. He advised that his role specifically involved working in partnership with the four Community Safety Partnerships in North Wales, the North Wales Safer Communities Board and the North Wales Regional Leadership Board.

            Mr. Roddick reported on his vision and priorities for the future and the outcomes he sought to achieve which were security in the home, safety in public places, and a visible and accessible policing service. He referred to the Police and Crime Plan which sets out the police and crime objectives, performance and accountability to deliver the required outcomes.  He said the Plan must have regard for the national strategic policing requirements.  The four police and crime objectives were:

·         To prevent crime

·         To deliver an effective response

·         To reduce harm and the risk of harm

·         To build effective partnerships

Mr. Roddick commented that in the current period of severe financial austerity North Wales Police faced significant financial challenges and delivery of the  above objectives and the achievement of the outcomes were challenging.  

Mr. Roddick commented on the consultation undertaken on the Police and Crime Plan and the Commissioner’s expenditure plans.  He reported that he had developed an integrated victims’ strategy incorporating the key themes of domestic abuse, sexual violence, hate crime, and anti-social behaviour, with the emphasis on providing a comprehensive service to victims.   

Addressing the question of funding for North Wales Police, Mr. Roddick explained that one of his main responsibilities was to set the annual precept and gave an outline of the process and the matters which were taken into account.  He advised that to enable the Chief Constable to work effectively towards the above objectives he had proposed that the precept for 2015/16 was increased; this had meant a rise in council tax by 3.44%.  He reported that North Wales Police was facing a 5.1% reduction in government funding for 2015/16 which was the fifth year of substantial cuts.  The increase in the precept allowed the force to set up a new specialist team to address terrorism, child sexual exploitation, and cyber-crime. 

Mr. Roddick explained that whilst there had been a reduction in most types of crime in North Wales, some victim based crimes remained unreported and he cited domestic abuse and sexual exploitation as examples.  He reported that he had established a Victim Help Centre to help victims of crime and invited his deputy Mr. Julian Sandham to report on the  Centre.   Mr. Sandham added that the fully bilingual Victim Help Centre went live on 1 July 2015 from its base at police divisional headquarters in St. Asaph.  It covered the whole of North Wales and aimed to improve the way victims of crime were looked after in the region.  The Centre was a one-stop service for victims and replaced the former Victim Support owned arrangements and brought together the support services of North Wales Police and the Crown Prosecution Service.  Victims were either given direct help and support or were signposted to specialist services according to need.

            In conclusion, Mr. Roddick reported on some of his main achievements since taking up office and cited as examples a reduction in crime, the alignment of strategic objectives and strategic plans, setting up of a dedicated team to address crime in rural areas, and the protection of children at risk and victims of domestic abuse and hate crime.  He referred to the positive data provided by the England and Wales Crime Survey and reiterated his comments that North Wales was a safe place to live, work and visit.    Mr. Roddick also gave an assurance that the precept was being “spent appropriately and spent to good effect”. 

            The Chairman thanked Mr. Roddick for his detailed presentation and Mr. Sandham for his presentation on the Victim Help Centre.  He invited Members to ask questions.

Councillor Chris Bithell referred to the recovery of proceeds of crime from criminals and asked if North Wales Police was proactively pursuing this. In his response Mr. Roddick explained that the statutory responsibility for enforcing an order made by the Court was the responsibility of the prosecuting authority not the Police, however, it was his view that money recovered from those who committed crimes in North Wales should go back to the local communities to help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.    

Councillor Paul Shotton raised concerns around the reduction in the number of police constables and commented on the use of police community support officers (PCSOs).  He also referred to the under-reporting of some crimes and asked what measures would be taken to improve the situation.  Mr. Roddick responded to the concerns raised and referred to data published by the Police Federation.  He reported on the number of staff lost between 2010-2014 for North Wales Police which was the least in England and  Wales and the fourth least for police officers.  This has been achieved in the main through natural wastage .  He referred to the effective role of the PCSOs which was highly valued by the general public and provided a valuable point of liaison with the Police force.  On the issue of reporting of crime, Mr. Roddick said he was pleased that instances of reported crime were rising as he positively encouraged victims of crime to make a complaint. 

Referring to the role of PCSOs, Councillor Nancy Matthews said that their  attendance at Community Council meetings was invaluable and cited an example where there had been no attendance to the disappointment amongst Community Council members.  

            Councillor Ian Roberts expressed his regret that the timing of the presentation had not afforded Members sufficient opportunity to raise the further questions they would like to have asked.  It was agreed that Mr. Roddick would be asked to provide a written response to any further supplementary questions submitted by Members.

RESOLVED:

(a)      That the presentation be received; and

(b)       That Mr. Roddick be asked to provide a written response to any further

            supplementary questions submitted by Members.