Final police accountability meeting of current PCC term provides opportunity 'to take stock'

Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Lorne Green was joined by Norfolk’s Chief Constable and other senior officers on Tuesday 9 March 2021 for one of his regular virtual accountability meetings.

Since March 2020, due to the Covid pandemic, these meetings to monitor and oversee the work of the Constabulary in delivering the county’s Police and Crime Plan have moved to a virtual format. 

The meeting, which was the final Police Accountability Forum of Lorne’s term as PCC, focused on three priorities within the Police and Crime Plan:

• Good stewardship of taxpayers’ money
• Increasing visible policing
• Preventing offending.

The agenda and reports for the March Police Accountability Forum have been published, along with a video of the meeting.

 

Agenda and reports for Police Accountability Forum – 9 March 2021

Items on the agenda included an update on the 2020/21 Norfolk policing budget, along with the policing response to COVID-19 and its impacts and challenges for the Force.

The meeting also looked at the impact of investment in police officer numbers, facilities and available technology on Norfolk’s policing service, as well as activity aimed at reducing the harm caused by domestic abuse by targeting perpetrators.

Speaking after the meeting, PCC Lorne Green said: “As we are coming to the end of another financial year, and indeed my term as Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner, today’s meeting provided an opportunity to take stock. 

“I’ve heard from the Chief Constable and other senior officers that, despite the challenges of the pandemic, the Norfolk policing budget for the current year is on track to land within 0.09% of the total set budget. Against a £186 million budget that is an impressive turnout and testament to the quality of the financial stewardship in place. 

“To also hear that performance in really vital areas, such as attendance at emergencies, and 999 and 101 call response times, has been maintained over the last 12 months speaks to the success of our Constabulary in prioritising services and resources to cope with demand during what has been a really challenging year for policing. 

“As lockdown eases over the course of the months to come, the challenges being faced will change but they certainly won’t diminish. I was reassured to hear that the Force is already planning for anticipated increases in demand towards the summer and proud that the investment I have supported in key policing areas has helped ensure they are best placed to cope with that demand. 

“More resources are going into responding to calls coming into the control room – thanks to the increase in police officer numbers made possible by the rise in the policing element of council tax. In addition, Norfolk’s police officer numbers have been further bolstered by the 67 additional officers recruited during year one of the Government’s uplift scheme.  

“Investment in 21st century technology, such as the newly announced Optik fingerprint application, means officers are working more efficiently, supporting them to be more mobile, accessible and visible. 

“And the new police investigation and training facilities in the county are ensuring officers have the knowledge, skills and specialist resources they need to be effective in their roles and deliver the best possible service to communities.” 

“Protecting the protectors is something that has been really important to me as PCC and, with my term as Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner coming to an end in May, I will be proud to leave our policing service in such a strong position.”