Agenda item

1.

Question from Councillor Payne

In light of the recent heightened terrorist threat, could you explain how the £1 million you allocate to community projects contributes to public safety.  Have you considered to option of redistributing this money to combating the terrorist threat?

The £1m allocation equated to only 1% of the P&CCs overall budget and was set up after he was first elected in 2012.  He assured members that the counter terrorism network was very well funded by the Government and suggested that what was severely lacking was neighbourhood policing, which resulted in the loss of contact with communities and the intelligence that came with these community links, as well as the reduction in crime.  The funding had supported over 300 successful projects across the county, including the Street Pastors project in Cheltenham and he highlighted that these projects had been able to draw in funding from other areas.  He felt that these projects represented his most successful achievements.  

2.

Question from Councillor Payne

I take the view that a good working relationship between the local police and councillors benefits the whole community. At a recent meeting with your deputy, he stated that Neighbourhood Policing had significantly improved. There appears to be little or no evidence to support that statement. Could you please give your assessment of the current state of Neighbourhood Policing?

Crime rates in Cheltenham were rising, meaning increasing pressure on ever reducing resources and funding.  The Constabulary were committed to neighbourhood policing and were in the process of reintroducing neighbourhood teams but this required the relocation of officers and would take time.  He was confident that these changes would have been implemented by the Autumn and felt that the public understood the challenges facing the constabulary.   

3.

Question from Councillor Baker

How many full time front line police officers are there in Cheltenham, how has this number changed in the last 5 years, is the Cheltenham contingent up to compliment?

He was not able to give an exact figure as all response vehicles now operated from Bamfurlong, covering Cheltenham and Gloucester and therefore responded to demand and whilst he could ask the Chief Constable for a figure, this would not necessarily be representative of the true figure as this would not include firearms officers, etc.  

4.

Question from Councillor Baker

How do you envisage the number of front line officers in Cheltenham changing in the next 5 years? Do you believe we have enough front line officers?

Staff costs equated to 80% of his budget, with the rest being spent on buildings, vehicles, insurance, petrol, etc.  Crime was on the rise, housing numbers would be increasing and both at a time when police numbers and funding were reducing and he was unsure as to how these issues could be reconciled. 

5.

Question from Councillor Baker

I believe that police officers who know their areas, engage with local people of all age groups and ethnicity help build up trust and therefore help the police do their job, do you agree and if so what is being done to improve community policing in our town?

As he had already explained, the reintroduction of neighbourhood teams was a priority but this would take some time to organise.   

6.

Question from Councillor Baker

What percentage of crimes are solved? Is crime reducing?

As he had mentioned, crime was increasing and not only in terms of volume but in terms of complexity.   

7.

Question from Councillor Baker

What are your main concerns which will impact upon your ability to maintain law and order in our town and reduce incidents of crime?

He had already covered this in previous responses.

8.

Question from Councillor Baker

Is the use of police horses relevant in 2017, how much is spent on this resource?

The 12-18 month trial had cost £194k and was proving very effective, even if it did evoke mixed feelings with the public.  The University of Oxford had evaluated the benefits and had shown that levels of public engagement with officers was six times higher when on horseback compared to those in vehicles.  He noted that the running costs of this resource would be much lower than the initial set-up costs, which had included a second-hand horse box for £60k, the cost of a fully equipped vehicle.  Ultimately the Chief Constable would make the final decision but a deal with South Wales, who had 8 horses, could see Gloucestershire move to 4 and combined would in effect be a unit (of 12).  

9.

Question from Councillor Harman

Will the Police and Crime Commissioner seek to use the Powers contained in the Police and Criminal Justice Act 1994 to move on Travelers from locations such as Arle Court Park and Ride?

Operational decisions were for the Chief Constable and not the P&CC.  he would ask that the Chief Constable respond directly to Councillor Harman.

 10.

Question from Councillor McCloskey

A few weeks ago, I was unable to contact the police on the 101 number despite hanging on for more than half an hour. The reason for my call was urgent although not requiring a 999 response. I resorted to calling the OPCC who arranged for the police to call me. Subsequently I made an official complaint to the Constabulary. In a telephone conversation with the temporary Chief Inspector in charge of the Control Room, I proposed changes to the automated "system busy" message which were accepted. Last week, I was contacted by a member of the public who held on for one hour before giving up. How difficult is it to change a simple automated message? The 101 number is the main point of contact with the police now that police stations and officers are thin on the ground. How can the police gain local intelligence without an effective 101 service? The public deserve better.

It was important to note that the 101 service was one of the only 24hr services remaining in Gloucestershire.  He reported that last week 1311 ‘999’ calls had been received with an average waiting time of 16 seconds, compared to 10 seconds the week prior.  4361 calls had been received to the 101 service and had an average waiting time of 2 minutes and 20 seconds compared to 1 minute and 24 seconds the week before.  The maximum waiting time was 35 minutes and he accepted that the 101 service was not perfect.  He explained that there had been a 20% increase in the number of calls to this service since 2014, currently averaging 23,000 calls a month, compared to 6500 ‘999’ calls.  In addition to this, calls were taking longer, with call handlers attempting to resolve the issue over the phone, without the need to send an officer.  He stressed that the ‘999’ service took precedent and the service, as it stood at the moment, could not be diverted, or a recorded message given.  This was currently under review and ten new call handlers were in the process of being recruited.