Agenda item

Report of the Commissioner.

Members considered a report of the Commissioner regarding Policing Plan 2019/20 – Performance against measures for end Q4 and the following points were made.

·         The Commissioner noted that the increase in crime was disappointing although cautioned against direct comparison with national figures due to local variations. Members were asked to note that violent crime was static and that the crime trend immediately before COVID-19 had been plateauing. Increased crime figures were also due in part to the vacancy rate carried by the Force which were now being recruited to. Lastly, the Force’s detection rate was healthy.

·         A Lead Member commented that whilst offences for 2019/20 appeared to be down, this was due to specialist activity by the Force. In reply, the Commissioner noted that whilst the Force was in receipt of funding from Transport for London to undertake Roads Policing measures, it had lacked officers to undertake that activity due to the vacancy rate.

·         A Member expressed disappointment over the number of cycling incidents (65 in 2018/19 vs 102 in 2019/20) given the level of concerns raised by the public regarding cycling. The Commissioner again noted that this was an area that has been adversely affected by the vacancy rate.

·         The Chairman welcomed the ASB Highlight Report provided as an appendix.

RESOLVED, that the report be received.