WARWICKSHIRE POLICE AND CRIME PLAN 2016 - 2021 - A SAFER, MORE SECURE WARWICKSHIRE
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Philip Seccombe
Police and Crime
Commissioner
for Warwickshire
WARWICKSHIRE POLICE AND CRIME PLAN
2016 – 2021
A SAFER, MORE SECURE WARWICKSHIRE
Contents
1. Foreword ...................................................................................................................... 3
2. Executive Summary ...................................................................................................... 4
3. Warwickshire - An overview......................................................................................... 6
4. Working together........................................................................................................... 9
5. Understanding what is important to you...................................................................... 11
6. Creating a safer, more secure Warwickshire................................................................. 13
7. Putting victims and survivors first............................................................................... 14
8. Ensuring efficient and effective policing....................................................................... 16
9. Protecting people from harm....................................................................................... 21
10. Preventing and reducing crime.................................................................................... 24
11. Our resources ............................................................................................................. 27
12. Performance, assurance, accountability and transparency........................................... 28
13. Web links..................................................................................................................... 30
14. Signposting................................................................................................................. 31
2
1. Foreword
I am delighted to present my first Police and Crime Plan,
which aims to create “A safer, more secure Warwickshire”
for all our residents, communities, businesses and
Philip Seccombe TD
visitors.
Police and Crime
In creating this plan I have listened very carefully to the Commissioner for
views of the public and victims of crime, both during my Warwickshire
election campaign and through the comprehensive public
build upon these to deliver continuous improvements and
consultation I carried out upon taking office. I have also
a better service for the public. I look forward to working
met with police officers and staff to seek their opinions,
with Chief Constable Martin Jelley to make this a reality.
as well as the partner organisations involved with
While challenging, the plan is achievable and outlines how
community safety and the many voluntary and third sector
I will hold the Chief Constable to account in delivering it.
organisations who enhance the delivery of a fair policing
and judicial process. Another important part of my role is to ensure that
partnerships are effective and provide protection and
The nature of crime is changing and the way our
support for the most vulnerable in our society. This plan
communities are policed needs to reflect that, while also
will work alongside the Warwickshire Community Safety
recognising that the public rightly expects strong and
Agreement to achieve this and I will also ensure that public
visible community-based policing as its bedrock.
monies are targeted to encourage organisations to deliver
I have been extremely impressed by the professionalism outstanding services, especially to the victims of crime.
and dedication of the officers and staff of Warwickshire
No plan can ever be static, so I will ensure that it is
Police, who work tirelessly to protect our communities.
reviewed and updated regularly to take account of
Through this plan I will ensure that the officers and staff
changing circumstances and new developments. Your
of Warwickshire Police are properly recruited, trained
views will continue to be important in this process and I
and motivated to detect and deter crime and protect the
look forward to meeting many more residents, as well as
vulnerable, with the right technology in place to deliver an
Warwickshire Police officers and staff, during my four-
efficient and effective service to the public.
year term of office so that I can hear at first-hand what is
Strong foundations are already established and I want to important to you.
I am delighted to support this Police and Crime plan for
Warwickshire, which sets out the framework for how we will
police our county. I share its desire to deliver a policing service
which is fit-for-purpose and meets the needs of the communities
we serve, while ensuring that protecting people from harm is at
the core of everything that we do.
I am committed to working closely with the Police and Crime
Martin Jelley
Commissioner, Philip Seccombe, to deliver the best policing
Chief Constable,
services we can with the resources that we have, working with
Warwickshire Police
our partners to help keep people safe.
3
2. Executive Summary
As the newly elected Police and Crime Warwickshire and to ensure the Chief Constable
Commissioner (PCC) for Warwickshire one of and the force are accountable and responsible to
my first responsibilities is to publish a Police and the communities it serves.
Crime Plan which sets out how I will work with
I have prepared the plan after listening to what
the police and other statutory, third sector and
you have told me during my election campaign,
voluntary agencies to deliver my objectives for
through my consultation, and in the letters,
the next four years. Partnership working is strong
emails and comments that you have sent to me.
in Warwickshire despite growing pressure on
It has been prepared after careful consideration
resources and working together will be essential to
of the plans and priorities of all those agencies,
the delivery of this plan.
groups and people already working hard to keep
As Commissioner I have a statutory duty to Warwickshire safe.
secure an efficient and effective police service for The four key objectives of my plan are:-
Putting victims and
survivors first
Ensuring efficient
and effective policing
Protecting people
from harm
Preventing and
reducing crime
4
This is the first version of my Police and Crime information on any new governance arrangements
Plan which covers the period 2016 - 2021. The and potential future expansion of the PCC role.
Plan will be reviewed every two years to ensure my A separate Delivery Plan will detail the precise
objectives still reflect the needs of Warwickshire’s activity which will be undertaken to achieve my four
communities, to take account of new and emerging objectives.
issues for crime and policing, and to provide more
As Police and Crime Commissioner my duties are to:
• Hold the Chief Constable to account for the operation and
performance of the police force.
• Set the precept (the charge for policing services to be paid by
council tax payers) and the budget for Warwickshire Police.
• Listen to the public, including victims of crime, local communities
and businesses, to take account of their views and report back on
actions taken.
• Appoint and where necessary dismiss the Chief Constable.
• Publish, review and update the Police and Crime Plan.
• Work with and, where appropriate, hold to account local councils
and other statutory and non-statutory agencies to support
reductions in crime.
• Fulfil my statutory role to ensure the protection of the public and in
particular the safeguarding of vulnerable children and adults.
• Ensure that principles of equality and recognising diversity
underpin all of this work.
In the same way that I hold to account the work Although as detailed above, I have a number of
of our Chief Constable, it is right that someone significant duties, it is important to note that the
monitors how I am performing. This duty is carried role of Police and Crime Commissioner does not
out by the Warwickshire Police and Crime Panel, extend to operational policing. In swearing my oath
made up of county, district and borough councillors of office I have declared that I will respect and not
and independent members, who at regular public interfere with the operational independence of police
meetings scrutinise, support or challenge my officers.
actions and decisions.
5
3. Warwickshire – An overview
Accurately understanding the needs and vulnerabilities of the community
and how best to police the area is vitally important and among the main North
considerations of any Police and Crime Plan. Warwickshire
Nuneaton &
Bedworth
There are a number of key assessments and strategies that assist the police
and partners to understand these needs, which include the Alliance Strategic
Assessment, the Alliance Control Strategy, the Office of National Rugby
Statistics Crime Survey for England and Wales and the Community
Safety Partnership Strategic Assessments. Warwick
I have taken into account the findings of all of these assessments
to formulate this plan to ensure the needs of the communities in
Warwickshire are fully recognised. Stratford-on-Avon
People and Communities:
Warwickshire has a growing and diversifying continues to move towards
population of 554,002 and consists of 763 square being more representative of the
miles, bordered by seven neighbouring authorities. communities within the county.
It is a two-tier authority area, with a County
Council and five District and Borough Councils. The county has a mix of urban and large rural areas,
Warwickshire Police shares the same overall county with a range of differing issues in each. Such a
boundary. diverse area requires a variety of approaches to
policing and Warwickshire Police must manage the
No community ever stands still and as the challenges that this presents,with increased levels of
population of Warwickshire continues to diversify, trust, confidence and understanding.
I will work to foster continued cohesion amongst
all sections of society. In the current political Approximately 68,500 new homes are proposed to
climate following the EU referendum result and the be built in Warwickshire by 2026, so it is important
pending ‘Brexit’, it is more important than ever that to recognise the future challenges this will bring.
we promote communities that are fair, tolerant and In addition, the first phase of development of High
respectful while also celebrating difference, offering Speed 2 (HS2), the high speed rail line between
protection to the most vulnerable and observing and London and Birmingham, is likely to commence
respecting the law. during the life of this plan. This will have a
significant impact on the whole of Warwickshire, in
Policing is delivered by consent and forces should particular on the arterial roads. Both issues will need
reflect and be drawn from the diverse populations close scrutiny to ensure that the impact of future
they serve. I will support the Chief Constable in demand continues to be planned for and monitored
ensuring the workforce of Warwickshire Police effectively.
6
Policing Our Area:
Warwickshire Police’s vision is ‘Protecting People changing the nature of crime, with cyber-related
from Harm’, an aspiration which I share, along with offences continuing to grow and the global nature
the Chief Constable’s desire for the force to become of the threat posing real challenges for how such
‘Great at Protecting the Most Vulnerable’. Together criminality is policed.
they underpin the content of this plan.
To deal with this new landscape, the police response
Warwickshire is a fundamentally safe place to live, is now based on an approach called THRIVE, which
work and visit but as the nature of crime changes, helps them to assess how best to respond to a report
policing needs to change with it. While traditional of a crime or problem. (It stands for Threat, Harm,
acquisitive crime has shown year-on-year reductions, Risk, Investigation opportunities, Vulnerability of the
new threats and challenges have emerged. As the victim and the Engagement level required to resolve
revelations of recent years have shown, there can be the issue.) This means that Warwickshire Police
no complacency in ensuring children are protected makes an individual assessment of every incident,
from the risk of sexual exploitation, while the threat so they can fit the action they take to the particular
of increased terrorism also brings new dangers. circumstances.
Advances in technology are also fundamentally
To provide our communities with the best possible service, I have agreed with Chief Officers
and my counterpart in West Mercia a set of core values. We will:
• Listen and engage The nine policing
Supporting these core
• Take pride in our values is the College of principles are:
professionalism and standards Policing Code of Ethics,
of behaviour • Accountability
which sets the standards of
professional behaviour that • Integrity
• Use professional judgement
and be courageous in making are expected of every member • Openness
decisions of the workforce. Ethical • Fairness
behaviour comes from the • Leadership
• Seek out better ways of working
values, beliefs, attitudes and
• Respect
• Lead with confidence and do the knowledge that guide the
right thing xsjudgements of each individual • Honesty
police officer, member of • Objectivity
• Work in partnership to provide
the best service we can police staff or volunteer. • Selflessness
These principles, along with the core values and the Standards in Public Life, should be embedded within
the organisation, and my office, to underpin every decision and action across policing which in turn will
support the delivery of my Police and Crime Plan.
7
Warwickshire
WarwickshirePolice
Policeininnumbers:
numbers:
Police Officers Student Officers Special Police Community Police Staff Police Support
(less than two Constables Support Officers (excluding PCSOs) Volunteers
years’ service) (PCSOs)
831 12 176 103 637 49
813.55 12 n/a 96.47 588.23 n/a
Actual number
Figures correct as of March 31, 2016
Full time equivalent (FTE)
8
4. Working together
Local partnerships:
Effective partnership working is essential to achieving the county vision of ‘Protecting our Communities
the objectives set out in this plan: most of the key Together’. It is for this reason that, jointly with the Safer
areas cannot be tackled effectively by one agency alone Warwickshire Partnership Board, we have aligned the
especially due to the continued growing pressure Police and Crime Plan with the Community Safety
on resources. I am fully committed to working in Agreement to demonstrate the firm commitment we
partnership with Warwickshire County Council and the share to address the priorities and objectives set.
Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) to achieve
National and regional collaboration:
All Police and Crime Commissioners are independently There are opportunities to further develop our
responsible for ensuring that policing services are operational collaboration with other police forces,
efficient and effective in their own force area. I recognise, particularly our neighbouring regional forces. I will
however, that there are threats and areas of policing that work with the other Police and Crime Commissioners in
go beyond the resources we are able to commit at a local our region to explore how we can deepen and broaden
policing level. These include the national threats that are our collaborative working, building on the existing
set out in the Home Secretary’s Strategic Policing response to organised crime, as well as ensuring that
Requirement (SPR), of terrorism, civil emergencies, there is effective regional and national oversight of
organised crime, threats to public order and large scale counter-terrorism policing.
cyber incidents and child sexual abuse.
Beyond this, I will look to work with my regional
I will work with my regional counterparts in West partners to develop collaborative approaches to
Mercia, West Midlands and Staffordshire and wider other policing activity, such as uniformed operations
national counterparts to ensure we have the capability (including armed policing) and other specialist
to support the SPR and hold the Chief Constable to functions. While ensuring continued responsiveness
account for responding to these national challenges. and preserving local accountability, these steps can
I will also monitor the National Special Capabilities deliver cost effectiveness, increased capability and
Programme and ensure the Chief Constable responds to greater resilience.
any changes arising from it.
Blue light emergency services collaboration:
It is clear that the Government wishes to see blue the collaborating partners and for which there is
light emergency services work much more closely strong community support. I will explore options for
together and to share resources where appropriate. collaboration between the police and other public sector
I am supportive of any moves which can deliver organisations in the future as the legislative picture
improved services for the public, provided there is becomes clearer.
a robust business case which has the consent of
9Working in alliance with West Mercia Police
Warwickshire Police is in a formal strategic alliance maximise the protection that the public receive, with
with West Mercia Police. This means that below the a focus on maintaining frontline policing services.
rank of Deputy Chief Constable all the functions of For example, significant savings are possible in terms
both police forces are combined. of the provision of Information Communications
and Technology (ICT), buildings and vehicles by
Both Warwickshire and West Mercia are led by a the economies of scale possible across the two
Chief Constable and a Deputy Chief Constable and organisations.
retain their own identities. Two Assistant Chief
Constables (Local Policing and Protective Services) It is unlikely that Warwickshire Police would have been
and two Directors (Finance and Enabling Services) are able to make the scale of savings necessary in the
responsible for the delivery of policing services across past few years had it chosen to stand on its own. I am
both force areas. therefore very supportive of the Alliance and believe
the current arrangements serve both Warwickshire and
our partners in West Mercia Police very well. Both
In 2015/16 the Alliance had a combined workforce of
forces benefit from greater resilience as well as the
5,266 officers and staff, to deliver protection across
combined skills, experience and cultures that the wider
West Mercia and Warwickshire, further supported
workforce can bring. A programme of work is being
by Special Constables and other police support
undertaken to strengthen and deepen the Alliance
volunteers.
further.
Policing is delivered across policing areas based on I do however think it is vitally important that the people
county boundaries. In Warwickshire it is led by a local of Warwickshire continue to have a strong voice within
Chief Superintendent responsible for local policing the Alliance to represent their interests and ensure
- including Safer Neighbourhood Teams, response they are acted upon. That, in my view, is best achieved
teams, local investigation and harm reduction. I am through the retention of separate Police and Crime
pleased that this new model places an increased focus Commissioners and Chief Constables for each force.
on Warwickshire. I do not believe a full merger would be in the best
interests of Warwickshire. I will however continue to
By working together, streamlining processes and seek other opportunities to collaborate across policing
reducing duplication in service provision, both forces and other parts of the public sector, where it makes
are able to deliver high quality, value for money sense to do so for each partner and there is strong
policing within the available resources. We are better local support for change.
able to protect officer and staff numbers and thereby
105. Understanding what is important
to you
A fundamental part of my role as Police and Crime Commissioner is to give a voice to the public and work
with other services to ensure the safety of the community and deliver effective criminal justice. As such I
will seek throughout my term of office to fully understand the issues that are important to you.
Prior to putting this plan together, I ran an eight-week consultation to give members of the public, partner
agencies and victims of crime the chance to tell me the priorities which are most important to them. I am
pleased to report that the consultation showed very broad support for the priorities and objectives which are
contained within this Police and Crime Plan.
In the discussions I have had with the public during my election campaign and since taking office, a number
of key concerns have emerged. In particular, you have told me you would like to see:
• Greater police visibility and accessibility
• A continued focus on investigating crimes which have a high impact on victims and cause the
greatest harm to communities
• Improved roads policing with a focus on poor and dangerous driving and speeding
• An improved 101 service and better police response times
• A continued focus on crime in rural areas
• Greater youth engagement and programmes to educate and divert young people from crime
• Continued support for victims of crime and anti-social behaviour
• Improvements in the way firearms licences are issued, with reduced waiting times for the
processing of first time applications and renewals.
This Police and Crime Plan has been formulated to take account of
this feedback.
Other issues of nuisance behaviour are also frequently raised with me
and in correspondence to my office, such as inconsiderate parking,
noise nuisance, dog fouling and fly-tipping. In many situations it is
not the role of the police to address these issues, as the powers to deal
with them are held by other agencies. It is however my expectation
that when these issues are raised with police, you are correctly and
courteously signposted to the agencies who can help to resolve
them. I will also work closely with partner agencies to seek continued
improvements in community safety.
11Having your say
I want to ensure that Warwickshire communities have and a monthly email newsletter, being open and
a strong voice on policing. Listening to the views of accessible to the local media, producing an annual
local people provides me with valuable information report, as well as attending community events. I
about what works, what does not work and how we can will also ensure that my office adheres to statutory
do better. I am committed to consulting local people, publication scheme requirements and maintains a
through meaningful and targeted engagement, in the Freedom of Information disclosure log on my website.
planning, delivery and ongoing enhancement of all
areas of policing. It is also important that I listen to the workforce
of Warwickshire Police and the views of our key
My approach to engaging with the public will stakeholders, whose job it will be to embed and deliver
include: this plan on my behalf.
• Face to face dialogue
My approach to engaging with the
• Attendance at community events, meetings,
stakeholders and the police will include:
conferences and workshops
• Regular visits to police stations engaging with all
• Use of surveys and online polls
teams
• Formal public consultations on a variety of topics,
• Attending and influencing strategic police meetings
including the Police and Crime plan and setting the
policing precept • Making best use of internal force communication
channels
• Use of online media and social media applications
• Reviewing the force annual staff survey to
• Using our network of elected members, including
understand what the workforce are saying and their
our Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs)
concerns
• Listening to Independent groups such as the Trust,
• Meeting with key local partnerships
Integrity and Ethics Committee (TIE), Independent
Custody Visitors (ICVs) and Independent Advisory • Providing a grants scheme to address the priorities
Groups (IAGs) of this Police and Crime Plan.
Communication should be two-way and I will ensure I want to ensure everybody who wants to get involved
I provide you with information to help you participate in influencing current and future service provision
in the conversation. I will be open and transparent in and enhancing the quality of life for people across
the way that I conduct my work and I will also keep Warwickshire has an opportunity to express their views.
you informed about what I am doing and the progress
towards delivering this plan and tackling the issues you Warwickshire Police must also be easily accessible to
have raised, with further detail on how I will achieve this you so I am committed to work with the Chief Constable
to be published in my Consultation and Engagement to improve the range of options you have to contact
Strategy. Warwickshire Police, through better use of technology
to provide an enhanced and more efficient service and a
I will achieve this by publishing updates on my website stronger customer focus.
126. Creating a safer, more secure
Warwickshire
Putting victims
In this plan I aim to ensure that Warwickshire Police is transformed to meet the changing nature ofand
crime and
survivors
is fit-for-purpose for the challenges of the next five years and beyond. By working first
closely and effectively
with partners we can create a safer, more secure Warwickshire for everyone.
Ensuring efficient
The plan is organised into four main objectives:
and effective policing
Putting victims and Protecting people
survivors first from harm
Ensuring efficient Preventing and
and effective policing reducing crime
Protecting people
fromclear
In each objective I have been harm on what my The Delivery Plan will be published on my website
approach will be, what I will hold the Chief Constable and updated on a quarterly basis to show the
and others to account for, and what outcomes I am progress being made against each of the objectives.
seeking to achieve. Preventing and It will also be reviewed externally by the Police and
reducing crime Crime Panel.
A separate Delivery Plan will detail the precise activity
which will be undertaken to achieve these objectives, You can read more about each of the objectives on
as well as stating who will deliver each element, how the following pages.
progress will be monitored and what success will
look like.
I want to ensure that outcomes are based on what
works best, with my office and the force using
evidence-based policies to support the delivery of
the objectives in this plan. I will look to work with
research experts to ensure that the Delivery Plan is
clear, rigorous and has meaningful outcomes that can
be measured effectively. Within this work I recognise
the need for robust equality analysis to inform our
decision making.
137. ‘Putting Victims and
Survivors First’
No one asks to become a victim of crime and it is therefore vital that they receive the right
level of service and support when they do. As Commissioner I also recognise that some people
see themselves as victims, others as survivors of crime, be they individuals or businesses. I
will put them at the heart of the criminal justice system and make them the central focus for
Warwickshire Police and partner agencies at all stages, to assist victims and survivors of crime
to cope, recover and achieve justice.
I have a statutory duty to consult with victims of must be provided to victims of crime by organisations
crime on my Police and Crime Plan. I have found this in England and Wales. I will be working closely with
extremely valuable and it has enabled me to gain an the multi-agency Local Criminal Justice Board (LCJB)
understanding of what works well in the county and to monitor and improve compliance with this code.
where there is room for improvement along a victim’s
journey. The code also sets out that every victim is entitled to
receive information about restorative justice and how
Often victims have never been in this situation before, they can take part. Restorative justice is a process that
and therefore do not know where to turn to for help can bring closure to a victim by engaging with the
and advice. There are a number of agencies and offender to explain the impact the crime has had on
services across Warwickshire supporting victims of them and seek to find ways of making amends. It is an
crime. As Commissioner I have responsibility for the opportunity many victims are unaware of, but is known
commissioning and funding of a range of support to prove beneficial both for victims and offenders. I am
services, including for those victims who do not wish committed to improve the awareness and application
to formally report their crime. It is important that all of this form of resolution, when it is appropriate for the
agencies and support services within the criminal victim.
justice arena are joined up and offer a consistent
approach to victim care. People who have witnessed a crime also need help
and support. As a witness, you are helping to ensure
Some victims are more vulnerable than others which justice is done and you should be treated by all
can be as a consequence of their age, gender and those in the criminal justice system in a respectful,
gender reassignment, ethnicity, religion, disability, sensitive and professional manner, without any kind of
health or sexual orientation. For this reason it is discrimination. The Ministry of Justice Witness
important to ensure that every victim receives support Charter 2013 sets out the standards of care you
tailored to their individual needs to aid their recovery. can expect if you are a witness to a crime or incident
in England and Wales. I will be working closely with
The Ministry of Justice Code of Practice for Warwickshire Police and the Local Criminal Justice
Victims of Crime 2015 sets out the services that Board (LCJB) to ensure compliance with this charter.
14My approach will be to: -
• Publish a Victims’ Charter which will set out my • Monitor and improve through the Local Criminal
personal commitment to victims and survivors of Justice Board multi-agency compliance with the Code
crime. of Practice for Victims of Crime and the Ministry of
• W
ork with and influence partners to ensure that victims Justice Witness Charter.
are placed at the heart of the criminal justice process. • Work with and influence key partners via the Alliance
They should experience high quality, joined-up support Restorative Justice Strategic Board to embed
which is tailored to their needs. restorative justice with all key agencies.
• E nsure all the services I commission or fund through • Support the Chief Constable to implement an online
my grant scheme to support victims are working crime progress update facility for victims.
effectively and helping victims to cope and recover • Support the new West Mercia Victims Board to
from what they have experienced. promote best practice across the two force areas.
I will hold the Chief Constable to account for delivering the
following objectives:-
• Delivering the policing elements of my Victims’ Justice Witness Charter.
Charter by providing a consistent approach to victim • Ensuring the police provide a consistent approach to
care, ensuring officers and staff demonstrate the right offering and providing access to restorative justice
attitude, skills and knowledge to support victims of services.
crime and anti-social behaviour. • Providing victims the ability to track the progress of
• Providing a tailored response to the most vulnerable the investigation into their crime online and ensuring
and intimidated victims in society. that updates are regular, timely and accurate.
• Continuous improvement of compliance with the Code • Support the new West Mercia Victims Board to
of Practice for Victims of Crime and the Ministry of promote best practice across the two force areas.
As a result of this plan I aim to:-
• Improve satisfaction of victims with the service they • Embed restorative justice across the county. This
receive from Warwickshire Police and other agencies will be measured through the development of a
involved in criminal justice. multiagency performance framework and via my
• Improve the quality and consistency of support annual survey.
services for victims and survivors of crime. • Use the results of surveys of victims and survivors of
• Tailor the support the force and funded services offer crime to influence partners to improve victim-focused
to our most vulnerable and intimidated victims to services.
reduce the risk of them becoming repeat victims. • Enable victims to track the progress of their crime
• Improve compliance with the Code of Practice for online.
Victims of Crime and Ministry of Justice Witness • Develop a more coordinated approach to sharing best
Charter. practice across the Alliance.
158. ‘Ensuring Efficient
and Effective Policing’
Residents and businesses have made it repeatedly clear to me that they want to feel the police
are a visible part of their community. A key part of my police and crime plan is a commitment
to increasing the numbers of police officers, special constables, and Police Community
Support Officers (PCSOs). Warwickshire Police is however one workforce and it is important to
recognise that none of the work of our frontline staff would be possible without the support of
police staff, who may appear less obviously visible to the public but are nonetheless vital to an
effective and efficient service.
The financial climate remains an important part of the
context within which the force operates. Getting the
Along with the Chief Constable I want
greatest impact for every pound spent is crucial and
the future of policing for Warwickshire
Warwickshire taxpayers deserve to know their money
and the Alliance to be:
is being well spent. The pressure to deliver policing
1. Agile, intelligence-led, preventative and
as efficiently and effectively as possible remains –
pro-active.
alongside the need to adapt and evolve to meet the
2. Diverse, resilient and people focused.
needs of our communities and the changing nature of
3. Innovative; including working with our
crime. I will ensure that Warwickshire Police is ahead
partners.
of the game in responding to these changes, while
4. Able to predict and respond rapidly to
also recognising the public’s desire to see locally-
changing demand; taking into account
focused officers on the beat in communities across
local and national policing priorities.
Warwickshire, enabling people to feel safer and more
secure.
To enable this to happen a transformation programme As Commissioner I will ensure our police are
is required to ensure the force has the right expertise properly equipped, trained and motivated with the
and innovative thinking it requires to embrace latest tools and technology to make our policing more
the future. I will support the Chief Constable in efficient. This will help to reduce the time officers
implementing the Alliance ‘Looking to 2020’ spend in police stations and more time out in the
programme and will encourage the continued communities. Equally we need to invest in the health
development of new and innovative ways of working, and wellbeing of officers and staff so they feel valued
with a focus on wider collaboration with other public and respected, and are motivated and able to protect
services. This will in turn offer value for money on local communities.
revenue and procurement.
16For any member of the public contacting the police it Spa and Nuneaton. Significant strides have been made
is of vital importance that they receive the right service in recent years to rationalise the property portfolio,
first time. Warwickshire’s control room handles around with collaboration with other public sector bodies a
255,000 telephone calls for service each year, of which key part. I am keen to ensure that the buildings I am
over 60,500 are 999 calls. Residents have expressed responsible for continue to be fit-for-purpose, fully
frustrations to me about the timeliness of responses to occupied and are professionally managed.
101 calls and police response times. While the speed
with which calls are answered and responded to is Under the last Commissioner the decision was made
a key indicator, the quality of the response is just as to sell the former police headquarters at Leek Wootton.
important. I will monitor call-handling performance in This sale will result in the Operational Command and
conjunction with user satisfaction data for continued Control room relocating to Neville House in Warwick
improvements, while also encouraging the force to but, importantly, ensures a call-handling service
develop further alternative methods of contact which remains in Warwickshire. It will be my job to ensure
embrace the new technology increasingly being that the sale of the building and land progresses and
adopted by the public, including making it easier for realises its maximum potential.
people with disabilities.
Prior to my term of office additional funding had
Similarly, it has been regularly raised with me that been agreed for Operation Devonport until 2017/18.
the current arrangements for processing firearms This gives Warwickshire Police significant additional
applications in a timely manner are inadequate. I will resources in a number of business areas and at
support the Chief Constable in making improvements locations across the county, providing additional
to the firearms and explosives licensing processes to stability and flexibility to meet operational challenges,
ensure they are fit for purpose and that wait times are delivering greater protection for the public. Although
brought in line with national averages. I recognise the benefits this provides Warwickshire,
with the change in the policing model that has taken
Warwickshire has a portfolio of buildings for which place I believe it is now the right time to review the
I am responsible, including the two state-of-the-art, operation and look at how, in the long term, funding
multi-agency Justice Centres situated in Leamington can be mainstreamed into police budgets.
My approach will be to: -
• Work with my counterpart in West Mercia, John • Scrutinise the police budget to ensure it is managed
Campion, to provide governance and oversight of all effectively and efficiently to enable officer, specials
the modernisation and transformation programmes and PCSO numbers to be increased.
taking place across the Alliance. • In partnership with the Chief Constable, invest to
• Fund over my term of office a significant programme save, so the force can be more adaptable and make
of technology modernisation. This will include best use of its resources.
a rollout of mobile devices for frontline officers, • Support the Chief Constable to ensure our police are
enabling them to easily and quickly access and properly equipped, trained and motivated with the
process the information they require without having latest tools and technology to make policing more
to return to a police station, increasing the time they efficient.
can be visible within communities.
17• Support the Chief Constable to increase data quality • Promote the benefits of the Special Constabulary
in particular around compliance with national ensuring people with a broad mix of skills and
incident and crime recording standards. backgrounds are encouraged to offer their time, with
• Ensure the force is focused on solving crimes and a view to increasing the impact and effectiveness
providing positive outcomes for victims. these roles have in supporting regular officers.
• Support the internal Alliance Health and Wellbeing • Support the Warwickshire Police Cadet, Citizens’
agenda for officers and staff, recognising the Academy and Police Support Volunteers schemes.
direct link between a fit and healthy workforce and • Support the Chief Constable to review the current
achieving high levels of service for the public. processes and performance of firearms and
• Ensure the public can contact Warwickshire Police explosives licensing and identify improved ways of
easily when they need to and, when they do, that working.
they can be confident that they will receive a good • Review Operation Devonport and work with the Chief
service in a reasonable time. Constable to look at how in the long term funding
• Scrutinise the estate strategy to ensure that we can be mainstreamed into regular police budgets.
spend less on buildings overall, while ensuring that • Oversee the Independent Custody Visitor scheme,
those we do hold or make use of are cost-effective whose role it is to visit police cells to check on the
and fit-for-purpose. welfare of people held in custody.
• Give credence to the Home Office Best Use of Stop • Give credence to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of
and Search scheme assessment of the force. Constabulary (HMIC) inspection findings.
• Support the Chief Constable in ensuring the force • Scrutinise the performance of the force to ensure that
is more reflective of the communities it serves and complaints to the police are recorded and responded
understands and responds to the different needs of to within nationally-determined timescales.
society.
I will hold the Chief Constable to account for delivering the
following objectives:-
• Ensuring a transformation programme for • Increasing data quality and compliance with national
Warwickshire Police and the wider Alliance is incident and crime recording standards.
implemented. This includes embedding into the force • Improving the outcomes of reported crimes.
the ICT and telecommunication specialists required • Continuing to promote the Alliance Health and
to deliver business practice and customer service Wellbeing agenda and where necessary provide the
improvements, remove duplication of effort and resources to do so.
facilitate easier sharing of information.
• Improving the performance of the 101 service
• Maintaining a visible policing presence across and making available other appropriate alternative
Warwickshire. methods for the public to easily contact the
• Increasing the number of police officers, special police, which reflect the changing ways the
constables and PCSOs. public increasingly wish to communicate with
• Ensuring the force is properly equipped, trained and organisations.
motivated with the latest tools and technology to
make policing more efficient.
18• Ensuring Warwickshire Police complies with the • Ensuring that those detained in custody are treated
Home Office Best Use of Stop and Search scheme. fairly. Responding to any concerns raised by the
• Maintaining and improving the workforce’s Independent Custody Visitors.
composition so it is truly reflective of the • Achieving a minimum of a ‘good’ rating in Her
communities in Warwickshire. Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary PEEL
• Developing a performance framework to identify Legitimacy inspection and continuing to sustain or
the benefits of the Special Constabulary and the improve this further.
outcomes it delivers. • Ensuring that complaints to the police are
• Promoting and delivering the Police Cadet and appropriately recorded and responded to within
Citizens’ Academy schemes to all sectors of the nationally-determined timescales.
community and encouraging the appropriate use of • Developing the skills of the workforce to reflect
volunteers within policing. the changing nature of crime and risk they are
• Delivering efficient and effective processes for investigating.
firearms and explosives licensing. • Making sure all communities, individuals and staff
• Reviewing Operation Devonport and looking at the are treated equally, fairly and respectfully by the
long term funding arrangements. force.
As a result of this plan we aim to:-
• See increased levels of public confidence in service and shorten waiting times for calls to be
Warwickshire Police, as measured by the Office of answered, with the primary focus being delivering
National Statistics Crime Survey for England and the right service at the right time.
Wales, my own annual survey and the force quarterly • Have improved and viable alternatives to 101.
performance reports. • Have strong estate management which maximises
• Equip and train officers with appropriate modern opportunities for co-location with partners and
technology to enable mobile working, resulting in reduces the number of vacant and inefficient
them spending more time in the community and in buildings.
turn increasing police visibility and efficiency. • Provide the community with an opportunity to
• Increase police officer, special constable and PCSO engage and support the force to add value.
numbers. • Have a workforce whose composition is reflective of
• Record incidents and crimes accurately and the demographic makeup of Warwickshire.
appropriately according to national standards. • Use Stop and Search in accordance with national
• Improve outcome rates for reported crimes. best practice and maintain compliance with the
• Have a strong and healthy workforce with reduced Home Office ‘Best Use’ scheme.
officer and staff sickness levels. • Reduce the number of temporary firearms licences
• Have an efficient and effective Special Constabulary being issued and for applications and renewals
which can evidence its added value and benefits to of licences and certificates to be processed in
Warwickshire residents. the timescales recommended within the national
• Reduce the numbers of abandoned calls to the 101 guidelines.
19• Align the additional resources provided by Operation • Ensure Warwickshire Police is rated at a minimum
Devonport with the new county policing model and as a ‘good’ force in Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of
agree a long-term decision on funding with the Chief Constabulary PEEL Legitimacy inspections, and can
Constable. sustain or improve this rating in future.
• Maintain an effective Independent Custody Visitor • See complaints recorded appropriately and
scheme which provides reassurance that those responded to within nationally-determined
detained in custody are treated fairly. timescales.
209. ‘Protecting People
From Harm’
Protecting people from harm and keeping communities safe is the essence of policing and
community safety in Warwickshire. I want our communities and neighbourhoods to be safe
and feel safe. It is important to recognise that some individuals and communities are more
vulnerable than others and for this reason the Chief Constable has set a long term aspiration
for the force which is ‘to be great at protecting the most vulnerable’, an aspiration I strongly
support.
In recent years, locally and nationally, we have seen and resources are in place to safeguard our most
an increase in both the volume and complexity of vulnerable.
crimes being bought to the attention of the police and
other safeguarding agencies.The increased awareness It is nationally and locally recognised that hate crime
around child sexual exploitation is typical of this incidents are under-reported to the police. Clearly any
change, as is the need to develop our understanding hate crime is unacceptable and I am keen to encourage
of the emerging threat of modern slavery. A large more victims to come forward to report such incidents
percentage of crime is hidden from public view but is so the police can take effective action against those
also responsible for causing the greatest harm. These responsible. The UK’s exit from the European Union,
types of crime are identified within the Alliance international conflict and media reporting over the
Control Strategy and require many agencies to work next few years could give rise to increased community
together to support victims and ensure their safety, tensions and I will continue to monitor the situation
health and wellbeing. closely.
Mental health, disability and other factors including Road safety and the policing of our roads remains a
drug and alcohol addiction or being in local authority key concern when I speak with local people across
care can make someone more vulnerable to criminal Warwickshire. Warwickshire has 143 miles of major
behaviour, either as perpetrator or a victim. I want to motorway and A roads. Our roads need to be safe
make sure that the police, local authorities and health for those who use them. Policing and enforcement
and support providers are able to jointly address these is only one aspect of road safety; the engineering of
underlying problems and ensure that all agencies are road layouts and education of road users are also vital
properly fulfilling their respective responsibilities. partnership responsibilities.
As Commissioner I have a statutory responsibility The Warwickshire Serious and Organised Crime Joint
for safeguarding. With the recent implementation Action Group (SOCJAG) is a multi-agency group
of the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) in which works at a local level to reduce the harm caused
Warwickshire I will be monitoring its effectiveness by serious and organised crime within Warwickshire
and working with partners to ensure the services
21and to put in place measures to disrupt criminal activity. In 2015, local authorities, schools, colleges,
My role is to oversee, influence and organise the meetings universities, health and social care, criminal justice
attended by a wide range of authorities including the police, and police, acquired a new duty to have ‘due regard
local authorities, national probation services, UK Visas and to the need to prevent people from being drawn
Immigration and the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU). into terrorism’ in the exercise of their functions. In
Warwickshire, agencies responded by developing
Warwickshire Police must also deliver the Strategic Policing a new partnership Prevent action plan to ensure the
Requirement (SPR) which sets out the Home Secretary’s view requirements of the duty were implemented. I will
of the national threats that the police must address and the continue to support the delivery of the action plan.
appropriate national policing capabilities that are required to
counter those threats.
The threats that are included within the current SPR are:
• Terrorism
• Serious & Organised Crime
• A national cyber incident
• Public disorder
• Civil emergencies
• Child sexual abuse
My approach will be to: -
• Ensure services dealing with domestic abuse activity to improve road safety for all road users in
and sexual violence are a priority and funded Warwickshire, particularly through evidence-led
appropriately. approaches to enforcement, education and road
• Give credence to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of engineering.
Constabulary inspection findings. • Oversee, influence and organise the Warwickshire
• Work with the force and partner agencies to ensure Serious and Organised Crime Joint Action Group
that vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded (SOCJAG)
via the MASH. • Actively contribute to the strong local partnerships
• Encourage victims to report offences to the police, that deliver our shared outcomes.
in particular in relation to high harm ‘hidden’ crimes • Continue to develop awareness and understanding
and ensure victims have access to support. of people suffering mental health difficulties and
• Continue to support and influence the Violence the subsequent impact on policing and the wider
against Women and Girls county strategy. criminal justice arena.
• Support the countywide Hate Crime strategy and • Work with my counterparts in the West Midlands
ensure the action plan continues to develop to meet region to ensure there are robust governance
the changing landscape following the vote to leave arrangements surrounding the existing regional
the European Union. collaboration agreements which help to deliver the
• Support and influence the Warwickshire Safer Strategic Policing Requirement (SPR).
Roads Partnership in leading multi-agency • Continue to support the Warwickshire partnership
Prevent action plan.
22I will hold the Chief Constable to account for delivering the
following objectives:-
• Continuing to implement the vulnerability awareness response when they do so.
training delivered to all front line police officers, to • Ensuring that Warwickshire roads are appropriately
promote a changed culture which sees enhanced policed and the necessary agency resources are
‘professional curiosity’ to ensure vulnerable victims allocated to them via the Warwickshire Safer Roads
are identified at an early stage and given appropriate Partnership.
help. • Ensuring appropriate police input at the Warwickshire
• Improving the Warwickshire Police’s current rating Serious and Organised Crime Joint Action Group
in Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary PEEL (SOCJAG)
Effectiveness (Vulnerability) inspection. • Ensuring Warwickshire Police is represented at
• Continuing to work in partnership with the MASH and engages appropriately with local partnerships,
to ensure that vulnerable children and adults are supporting and influencing their activity.
safeguarded. • Maintaining governance of the Mental Health
• Ensuring victims of crime are encouraged to report Concordat.
incidents and are provided with an appropriate • Ensuring Warwickshire Police has the capability
response when they do so. and capacity to support the Strategic Policing
• Continuing to support the Violence against Women Requirement, with a focus on regional collaboration.
and Girls county strategy. • Ensuring the police requirements of the Prevent
• Ensuring victims of hate crime are encouraged to action plan are implemented.
report incidents and are provided with an appropriate
As a result of this plan we aim to:-
• Make Warwickshire Police great at protecting the report is dealt with.
most vulnerable from harm. • Make our roads safer, with fewer people killed or
• Have Warwickshire Police rated by Her Majesty’s seriously injured in collisions.
Inspectorate of Constabulary as ‘good’ (as a • Reduce the threat score of each serious and
minimum) in its PEEL Effectiveness (Vulnerability) organised crime group managed through the Joint
inspections. The force will be able to sustain or Action Group (SOCJAG) process.
continue to improve this rating. • Influence partners to ensure they can evidence
• Vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded. how their activities impact on reducing crime and
• Encourage increased reporting of offences which disorder.
cause the greatest harm, such as rape, serious • Provide a better service for those with mental health
sexual offences, hate crime, child sexual exploitation, conditions at their first contact with the police.
female genital mutilation and domestic abuse. • Meet the Strategic Policing Requirements (SPR) and
• See improved satisfaction amongst victims and strengthen the regional governance arrangements.
survivors. • Have a strong and coordinated community and
• See increased reporting of hate crime incidents and partnership Prevent action plan.
improved satisfaction among victims in the way their
2310. Preventing and
Reducing Crime
Crime and anti-social behaviour incidents can have a significant impact on people’s lives.
Tackling and preventing the underlying issues will in the long term reduce crime and anti-social
behaviour and in turn reduce the number of victims and offenders we have in the county. The
Criminal Justice System needs to have a clear emphasis on reducing crime, and I will ensure
that agencies focus on the areas of preventing offending and reoffending alongside reducing
harm and risk to the public.
Cyber crime is identified as a Tier 1 national threat and alcohol implementation plans.
while the latest Crime Survey for England and Wales
only serves to emphasise how the nature of crime is It is also important that we manage the most
changing. The most common type of crime people dangerous and prolific offenders to reduce the risk
and businesses suffer is now fraud and other internet- of them causing further harm to our communities.
related offences, as criminals have increasingly shifted The Integrated Offender Management team manages
their focus to an online digital world. Our response such offenders, adopting a three strand approach;
needs to change accordingly – both in terms of law rehabilitate and resettle, prevent and deter, and catch
enforcement and as users of digital services. and control for those who are unwilling to alter their
offending behaviour. I am strongly supportive of this
A priority for me is to ensure Warwickshire Police approach.
and partner agencies are ready to prevent and tackle
cybercrime head on. We know that cybercrime works Warwickshire is a largely rural county interspersed
across territories, borders, even continents, and is not with several larger urban areas. There are 25,360
confined to one force area. This is a problem which businesses in the county, with 22,640 of those (89%)
cannot be solved solely by enforcement action. The employing less than 9 people. It is important therefore
best defence is for people and businesses to be aware that crime is taken seriously wherever it occurs and
of the simple steps they can take which can prevent is resourced accordingly. Rural communities must
the majority of offences taking place and increasing not be seen as soft targets for criminals, while local
awareness of these will remain a high priority during businesses also deserve to be adequately protected
my term of office. from criminality. Warwickshire Police works with
a range of partners under the “Rural Matters” and
Alcohol and drug misuse are significant contributory “Business Matters” banners to address these crime
factors towards crime and antisocial behaviour but are types. I welcome the large amount of work that is
another area where enforcement activity on its own will already being undertaken across the county and I will
not solve the more complex underlying issues. I will ensure this continues. At a national level I will also put
seek to continue to support partners to reduce the harm forward Warwickshire’s case for a fairer slice of funding
caused by drugs and alcohol via the countywide drug to tackle crime.
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