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PCC outlines challenges ahead at Police and Crime Panel

Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Giles Orpen-Smellie, was at County Hall on Monday (14 January) to answer questions from the Norfolk Police and Crime Panel.  As Giles holds the Chief Constable to account, so councillors and independent members of the Panel scrutinize the PCC’s actions and decisions.

Among the key topics for discussion were:

·        Improving public confidence in policing

·        The Independent Custody Visitor (ICV) Scheme

·        The Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk’s draft annual report 2021-22

·        The Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk’s 2023/24 Precept Consultation

Improving public confidence in policing

The Panel was invited to find out more about The Independent Advisory Group (IAG) and the Youth Commission to understand their roles and how they help to improve public confidence in policing.

Giles explained: “IAG offers advice from various communities across Norfolk.  IAGs were created explicitly to build confidence across communities with their police force, basically by opening up communication networks and by acting as the Constabulary’s critical friend. Amongst all that very good work, I would like to highlight that the chair of the IAG also chairs the Constabulary’s Ethics Communities because a lot of that work is hand in glove.

The Working for Women Group

In response to the national and local concerns regarding violence against woman and girls, earlier this year the PCC set up a subgroup from IAG. Events such as the Sarah Everard case have emphasised the need to broaden and further the conversation about the safety of women and girls and how the police best strengthen their response and improve outcomes in this priority policy area; meaning reduced risk and harm to women and girls in Norfolk.

Youth Commission

The Youth Commission (YC) was set up in 2017.  Giles said: “It is significant that 17% of Norfolk’s public, and that’s based on the 2011 Census, are under the age of 18, so they represent the future of our society and that’s important in our fast-changing world but if we want to build public confidence in policing it is important that the police maintain a dialogue with the future generations of young people.”

“The most important piece of work that the Youth Commission has contributed to recently is their work on ‘Stop and Search’ powers.” The report can be read using the link below.

Precept consultation

Following the delay of the Autumn Statement by the Government, the budget consultation will now be launched in January 2023. Giles Orpen-Smellie explained to the panel the responsibility he has to provide a balanced budget for Norfolk Constabulary.

 

The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, 2 February 2023 

Full details of the meeting, including the agenda and reports can be found on the Norfolk County Council website.

To watch the meeting on YouTube click here