PCC asks your policing questions
PCC Giles Orpen-Smellie has held the first of his new public meetings holding Norfolk’s Chief Constable to account.
As the county’s elected representative for ensuring Norfolk has an efficient and effective policing service, Giles is responsible for scrutinising the performance of the force and how it is working to meet the priorities set out in Norfolk’s Police and Crime Plan.
The new PCC Accountability Meeting will take place quarterly and see Giles question senior officers about the force’s delivery against the priorities of the Police and Crime Plan, as well as putting to them questions that have been submitted by people across the county.
The first of these meetings was held on 29 July and heard that more than 30 questions had been sent in from Norfolk’s residents.
Topics ranging from how to contact local officers, dog thefts, E-Scooters, road safety and speeding were all covered in the questions, which Giles asked Temporary Chief Constable Paul Sanford and his team of senior officers to respond to.
Where some questions were submitted on topics outside of the scope of policing, Giles also committed to sharing these concerns with the Norfolk authorities able to respond to them.
Giles said: "I've got a statutory duty to hold the Chief Constable and, through the Chief Constable, the Constabulary to account for the policing service provided in Norfolk.
"The PCC Accountability Meeting enables me to carry out that duty so the public can see that their interests and concerns are being represented. I'm glad the public has this opportunity to put the things that concern them to the Constabulary in this way."
Other items on the agenda included reports on three priority areas set within Norfolk’s current Police and Crime Plan:
- Good stewardship of taxpayers’ money
- Supporting victims and protecting the vulnerable
- Delivering a modern and innovative service.
Following his election as PCC in May, Giles has launched a public consultation into the priorities for a new Police and Crime Plan for Norfolk. The plan set by the former PCC will remain in place until the consultation is finished and new plan is published.
A recording of the meeting is now available to watch on our PCC Accountability Meeting webpage. Full details of the questions and answers have also been published.
The next PCC Accountability Meeting will take place on 20 October. The July meeting took place in a virtual format while cautions remain about the transmission of Covid19 and a decision on the format of future meetings will be made in line with the most up-to-date guidance at the time.