PCC wants your questions to hold police to account
Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Giles Orpen-Smellie is giving Norfolk residents the chance to put their policing and crime questions to the county’s new temporary Chief Constable during his first accountability meeting.
As the newly-elected PCC prepares to hold his first public meeting with Norfolk Police, Giles Orpen-Smellie is inviting people to submit their questions about crime and policing in their local area.
Giles is responsible as the public's elected representative for ensuring Norfolk has an efficient and effective policing service which is responsive to the needs of the county’s communities. A key part of that duty is scrutinising the performance of the force and how it is working to meet the priorities set out in Norfolk’s Police and Crime Plan.
Committed to being open and transparent in carrying out his duties, PCC Accountability Meetings will be held quarterly to allow Giles to publicly question, challenge and hold the Chief Constable to account.
The first PCC Accountability Meeting will take place on Thursday 29 July and include a public Q&A segment where Giles will put questions submitted by Norfolk residents to Temporary Chief Constable Paul Sanford and other senior officers.
Paul Sanford took over temporary leadership of Norfolk’s policing service on 1 July following the retirement of former Chief Constable Simon Bailey. As PCC, Giles will shortly be launching the recruitment process for a new permanent Chief Constable.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Giles said: “I’m the new kid on the block and, as such, I’ve got a lot of questions I’m keen to put to our policing leaders. And, while definitely not new to policing in Norfolk, Paul is new to the Chief Constable role so this first meeting is a key milestone for us both.
“Just as I’ve got questions for Paul and his senior officers, so I’m sure have local people and that’s why I want to give them the opportunity to have those questions asked and answered.
“Together we can ensure the right questions are asked of our policing leaders to help identify what we’re doing well in Norfolk and where and how we could improve further, as well as hopefully increasing public understanding of the way policing works.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of questions we receive.”
The PCC is encouraging people to share their questions with him no later than Thursday 15 July via the Norfolk PCC website, by email or by post. Due to national Covid restrictions impacting on public meetings, the PCC Accountability Meeting on 29 July will be held virtually. A recording of the meeting will be published after the event, along with answers to the questions asked.
Other items on the agenda for the meeting include reports on three priority areas set within Norfolk’s current Police and Crime Plan (link to PCP page):
- Good stewardship of taxpayers’ money
- Supporting victims and protecting the vulnerable
- Delivering a modern and innovative service.
As Norfolk’s new PCC, Giles will set his own Police and Crime Plan for Norfolk and will launch a consultation on his crime and policing priorities later this month. The priorities set by his predecessor remain in place until that plan is published.
Submit your questions by Thursday 15 July in the following ways:
- Complete our website contact form selecting PCC Accountability Meeting Questions as the nature of your enquiry
- Email opccn@norfolk.police.uk using PCC Accountability Meeting Questions as your subject
- Write to PCC Accountability Meeting Questions, OPCCN, Jubilee House, Falconers Chase, Wymondham, Norfolk NR18 0WW.
Questions must relate to policing priorities in your area or within the county and you must provide your name, address and contact telephone number.