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Avon & Somerset Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner (“OPCC”)

Business Plan 2013/2014 Final April2013

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  1. Introduction

This Business Plan sits alongside the Umbrella Police & Crime Plan for Avon and Somersetand the 6 District Police and Crime Plans published in March 2013, the Constabulary’s related delivery plan and the Community Safety Partnerships’ and other partners’ delivery plans. It sets out the vision, role and priorities of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in carrying out its work to support the delivery of the manifesto and fulfilment of the statutory duties and responsibilities of the Police & Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset (“the Commissioner”). It is intended that the Business Plan will be refreshed annually and delivery against the plan will be reported to the Commissioner.

  1. Joint vision of the Commissioner and the Chief Constable

The Commissioner and Chief Constable for Avon and Somerset share a joint vision and a commitment:

  • “to make the communities of Avon and Somerset safe, and ensure that they feel safe”

The Commissioner and Chief Constable have agreed a joint vision document for their work together which is attached at Appendix 1. At the core of this vision is a mutual understanding of and respect for each other’s roles and a commitment to an open and constructive relationship.

  1. Vision for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (“OPCC”)
    To be (and be seen as) a top performing OPCC , leading best practice and delivering real improvements in policing and criminal justice for local people - by making most effective and efficient use of resources to:
  2. improve the “customer experience” and policing service for all who interact with the policing service in the region;
  3. be an “effective voice”(as explained in Appendix 2) for the communities of Avon and Somerset to ensure the needs of local people are heard and understood and that police, community safety andcriminal justice services are responsive to local priorities;
  4. ensure that changes to the configuration of policing numbers and deployment and configuration are designed to improve service as well as save money and in accordance with the agreed guiding principles;
  5. have best practice as our benchmark across our key areas of work and also learn from best practice in other regions and other sectors. In addition, identify, encourage and build on pockets of best practice in the police force locally;
  6. create an environment where the Office of the PCC is seen as a great place for staff to work in terms of: job satisfaction and interest;values; own sense of personal value and achievement - so that the OPCC attracts, motivates and retains the best people;
  7. increase awareness of the role of PCC and of Sue Mountstevens as the office holder 2012-2016;
  8. Use the profile and influence of the new PCC role to lobby effectively on key issues relevant to Avon & Somerset,

hence, by 2016, achieve demonstrable improvement in the priority areas set out in the Police and Crime Plan across Avon and Somerset.

  1. Values for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner

The following cultural and behavioural values will underpin how the PCC and OPCC work to deliver the Vision:

  • Lead and enable innovation
  • Develop and deliverbest practice in all key areas of work; “be the best”
  • Flexibility and openness to change
  • Shared success internally and externally (team working and partnership working)
  • Efficiency, “working smart” and focus on priorities
  1. Role of the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner

Relationship with the Chief Constable - The Commissioner is a prominent, visible representative voice of the community and will use her position to hold the Chief Constable of Avon and Somersetto account for delivery of efficient and effective policing services. The PCC will never seek to influence decisions on who to investigate or how to deploy police resources on a day to day basis and will otherwise respect the operational independence of the Chief Constable.

The PCC will use public meetings held in conjunction with the Chief Constable to allow public access and debate on key police and crime issues and if required to hold the Chief Constable to account in public for aspects of the policing service delivery and performance.

Role of the OPCC - The role of the OPCC is to deliver best value and best outcomes from the total Police Fund ensuring value for money, commissioning the best possible police, crime and community safety services in Avon and Somerset; setting the Police budget and oversight of the delivery of policing services by the Constabulary and other partners in accordance with the Police and Crime Plans.

Single Commissioning team - The ambition is for the OPCC to function as a single commissioning team in support of the aims and objectives of the Commissioner, in accordance with the vision and values of the OPCC. The OPCC will apply the principles of commissioning to the whole of the Commissioner’s budget including that for commissioning of police services. The Constabulary as the largest single provider of police and crime services will have the status of the first among equals of service providers.

Commissioning Approach - In overseeing delivery of the Police and Crime Plans and fulfilling the statutory functions of a Police & Crime Commissioner the OPCC will: encourage early intervention and prevention activity; encourage better co-ordination and integration of local services; seek to identify best practice within Avon and Somerset and beyond; and encourage the adoption of such best practice and the embedding of this across Avon and Somerset.

The Commissioning Strategy will also be based on the principles of the Understand; Plan; Do; Review cycle and a commissioning approach which is outcomes focused; evidence based building on the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Needs Assessment and using appropriate business cases; and puts service users at the heart of the commissioning approach. The OPCC will seek to work with partners wherever possible, utilise existing commissioning capacity and skills in the area and seek co-commissioning opportunities wherever possible.

  1. Priorities

The Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner will agree measurable outcomes that support the delivery of the key priorities set out from time to time in the Police & Crime Plan and will hold the Constabulary and other partners to account to achieve these outcomes. The work of the PCC and her OPCC will support and enable this work by: understanding public priorities and concerns through public engagement, consultation and awareness; setting priorities with the Constabulary and other partners; providing funding, governance & oversight; tracking outcomes and public satisfaction.

Priority 1–Police and Crime Plan Priorities - Provide a real difference for local communities in the delivery of the services in the priorities identified in the umbrella Police and Crime Plan. The current four priorities are:-

  • Reduce the impact that Anti-Social Behaviour has in our communities;
  • Prevent and reduce burglary and fear of burglary in your area;
  • Tackle domestic and sexual violence, particularly violence towards women and children;
  • Ensure victims are at the heart of the Criminal Justice System.

The delivery of the Police and Crime Plan will ensure there are robust measures in place to hold the Constabulary to account for efficient and effective delivery in these areas. The OPCC will also commission community safety services in accordance with the Commissioning Strategy and ensure an efficient and effective Criminal Justice System in Avon and Somersetthrough the work with the Criminal Justice Board.

Priority 2 –Effective Voice of the Community – the PCC will be the prominent, visible and representative voice of the community in relation to crime, community safety and police services – in delivering this priority the OPCC will:-

  • ensure an efficient and effective system for members of the public to raise contacts, queries and casework with the PCC;
  • enable a consultation process in relation to the PCC’s budget, council tax decision, delivery of effective policing services and priorities for the Police and Crime Plan;
  • continue to run regular weekly sessions in the community where the PCC will travel the Avon and Somersetarea meeting the local community and attending community safety service delivery;
  • commission a review of engagement activity including Neighbourhood watch, PACT and Community Speed Watch;
  • establish a volunteer panel to look at complaints;
  • establish an enhanced approach to youth engagement to facilitate engagement with Young People;
  • run an effective Independent Custody Visiting scheme;
  • ensure regular public facing meetings presenting on local issues across Avon and Somerset which will enable members of the public to make their views known to the Commissioner and the Constabulary;
  • ensure that the views and concerns of the communities of Avon & Somerset are factored into the Police & Crime Plan and are taken into account when considering policing priorities; and
  • ensure that the Chief Constable and his senior officers are made aware of the views and concerns of communities of Avon & Somerset and ensure the Chief Constable is held to account as required for the delivery of any consequential policing actions and outcomes arising.

Priority 3 – scrutiny -The OPCC will facilitate oversight and scrutiny of the other areas (in addition to the Police & Crime Plan priorities and community concerns above) of police, crime and community safety services on a risk based approach, including:-

  • Overseeing delivery of the response to the Comprehensive Spending Review and the requirement to achieve further savings in the Police budget;
  • Overseeing the value for money and effective delivery of the accommodation programme including the delivery of the centralised custody facilities;
  • Running a robust custody visiting scheme that is and is regarded as national best practice
  • Overseeing the delivery of an effective IT strategy that is value for money;
  • Public Protection and Safeguarding;
  • Delivery of effective support services through South West One;
  • Effective delivery of the Strategic Policing Requirement;
  • Overseeing Integrity within the OPCC and the Constabulary;
  • Effectiveness of Partnership Working.

Priority 4 – compliance - in all other respects ensure the fulfilment of the statutory duties and responsibilities of the PCC and OPCC including carrying out a full audit function; effective risk management; effective liaison with the Police and Crime Panel; and complying with the requirements of transparency of information and decision making.

  1. Police and Crime Plan Priority deliverables

The following are the key Priority area OPCC deliverables

Deliverables / Outcome/priority / Timetable / Lead Officer
  1. Anti-social Behaviour

  • Commission a review of PACT and other engagement opportunities;
/ ASB Satisfaction and public engagement / By January 2014 / MH
  • Improve the way that agencies work together in relation to ASB
/ ASB Satisfaction and resolution / Ongoing / MH
  • Establish a strategic ASB review group
/ Identify best practice / By January 2013 / MH
  • Oversee the delivery of the other aspects of the ASB Police and Crime Plan
/ ASB Satisfaction and resolution / Ongoing / MH
  1. Tackling Domestic and Sexual violence particularly against women and children

  • Support initiatives to build reporting of offences
/ Improved reporting and satisfaction / Ongoing / AJ
  • Support stable funding for critical services including ISVA and SARC
/ Increased OBTJ and reporting / Ongoing / AJ
  • Ensure the voice of victims is listened to and understood and
  • Oversee delivery of the rest of the Plan relating to this activity
/ Improved reporting and satisfaction / Ongoing / AJ
  1. Prevent and reducing burglary and fear of burglary in your area:

  • Support the further embedding of Integrated Offender Management
/ Reduce levels, increase detections reduce repeat victimisation / Ongoing / DH
  • Promote and support crime prevention activity
/ Reduce levels, increase detections reduce repeat victimisation / Ongoing / DH
  • Support the access of any relevant crime information
/ Reduce levels, increase detections reduce repeat victimisation / Ongoing / DH
  • Oversee the delivery of the other elements of the burglary plan
/ Reduce levels, increase detections reduce repeat victimisation / Ongoing / DH
  1. Putting victims at the heart of the Criminal Justice System

  • Support initiatives to ensure high quality, joined up support tailored to need
/ Victim satisfaction, CJ Outcomes and reduce repeat offending / Ongoing / JC
  • Seize opportunities to reshape services in line with the new victim code of practice
/ Victim satisfaction, CJ Outcomes and reduce repeat offending / By July2013 / JC
  • Commission victim services from point new national arrangements take effect
/ Victim satisfaction, CJ Outcomes and reduce repeat offending / April2013 - 2014 / JC
  • Oversee the effectiveness of any of the other elements of the victims Police and Crime Plan
/ Victim satisfaction, CJ Outcomes and reduce repeat offending / Ongoing / JC
  1. Other key deliverables/projects

The following are the other key deliverables/projects which will be delivered by the OPCC:-

Deliverables / Outcome/priority / Timetable / Lead Officer
The commissioning of holistic victims services from point national arrangements take effect / Victim satisfaction, CJ Outcomes and reduce repeat / By 2014 (Timetable to be determined by Ministry of Justice) / JC
Exploring the potential for Avon and Somerset commissioning of criminal justice and drugs referral services from 2014 / CJ Outcomes / By March 2014 / MH
Balanced budget and corresponding Precept plan for 2014/15 to 2016/17 / Precept plan needed for 14/15 budget / By January 2014 / MOS
Home Office approved Stage 2 plan / Plan to HO by September 2013 / Complete by 1 April 2014 / MOS/JS
Review Bobby vans commissioning arrangements / CJ Outcomes / January 2014 / DH
Volunteer panel / Satisfactionand Confidence / By September 2013 / LM/KP
Public forum meetings / Satisfaction and Confidence / By April 2013 / KW
Business Crime forum / Satisfaction and Confidence / September 2013 / MOS
Needs assessment and strategic planning process including joined up needs assessment and strategic planning with partners / Criminal Justice Outcomes / Ongoing / DH
Engagement and consultation process including consultation in relation to 2014/15 precept / Satisfaction and Confidence / Ongoing / MH
Out and about days / Satisfaction and Confidence / Ongoing / All
Effective and well publicised contacts and casework system / Satisfaction and Confidence / Ongoing / KP
Commission review of engagement including PACT, Neighbourhood Watch and Community Speedwatch / Satisfaction and Confidence / By January 2014 / Team
Commission review of the use of specials and volunteers and extension of community contacts / Satisfaction and Confidence / By January 2014 / Team
Response to the Comprehensive Spending Review Process / Effective and efficient force / Ongoing / MOS
Commissioner’s community action fund / Satisfaction and confidence and CJ Outcomes / July 2013 / AJ
Establish an enhanced youth engagement process / Satisfaction and Confidence / Ongoing / Lead Officer
VFM deliverables / Effective and efficient force / Ongoing / MOS
PCC Pride Awards and Avon and Somerset and district based police and volunteer awards / Satisfaction and Confidence / Ongoing / RH
Commission review of out of Court Disposals including independent review of their use / CJ Outputs and Victim Satisfaction / Ongoing / JS
  1. Reporting Transparency

The OPCC is committed to transparency in terms of its work – there will be regular performance reports provided to the Police and Crime Panel; an annual report will be provided in June; performance reports and information will be made available regularly through the year on the OPCC website;there will be public forum meetings every two months covering the districts of Avon and Somerset which will enable members of the public to ask questions about the delivery of the Police and Crime Plan and the Business Plan. The OPCC will monitor commissioning for community safety activity through their work with the Community Safety Partnerships and Health and Wellbeing Boards.

APPENDIX 1

4th March 2013

JOINT VISION AVON & SOMERSET POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER

AND CHIEF CONSTABLE

The PCC and Chief Constable share a vision and commitment to make the communities of Avon and Somerset safe, and ensure that they feel safe.

They will work together to achieve this, understanding that their roles are distinct yet complementary. As the Policing Protocol puts it, “mutual understanding of, and respect for, each other’s statutory functions will serve to enhance policing for local communities”.

The Police and Crime Commissioner is responsible for the totality of policing in Avon and Somerset and is accountable to the electorate and to the Police and Crime Panel. The Commissioner will be a prominent, visible, representative voice of the community and will use that position to hold the Chief Constable to account for the actions and performance of the force. It is the Commissioner’s role to take an interest in all areas of Constabulary business, respecting the operational independence of the Chief Constable and his responsibility for direction and control of the force.

The Chief Constable is accountable to the law for the exercise of police powers and to the Police and Crime Commissioner for the delivery of an effective and efficient policing service. The Chief Constable and the officers under his command are operationally independent: the decision on who to investigate or how to deploy police resources on a day to day basis are things that the Commissioner should never seek to influence.

The Commissioner and Chief Constable are committed to establishing and maintaining an open and constructive relationship, built on straight and honest dealing. Everything that we do should be informed by our joint vision. Although the Commissioner’s primary relationship with the Constabulary is via the Chief Constable she will have cause to communicate regularly with all parts of the organisation. The Constabulary will support the Commissioner in discharging her responsibilities by providing information, arranging access to Districts and Departments and contributing to relevant boards and meetings.