SDC Report - Police & Crime Panel - November 2025

Joint Independent Audit Committee Annual Report

The Joint Independent Audit Committee (JIAC) Annual Report. Effective supervision of external audit transition to Bishop Fleming, resulting in an unmodified audit opinion and a few recommendations. Completion of eight internal‑audit engagements by SWAP, with overall “reasonable” assurance and 30+ corrective actions logged. Challenges included persistent delays in receiving detailed financial‑savings data, limiting the committee’s ability to verify that mandated cost‑saving targets are being met. Also, an incomplete formal performance review of the committee itself.

Local Policing Update

We then had a presentation by the Collaboration and Partnership manager.

Strategic priority: Creating safer communities by reducing crime and anti‑social behaviour (ASB) and improving public confidence. ASB case‑review programme: A formal process that lets victims (or their representatives) request a multi‑agency review when repeated ASB incidents occur. The scheme works with local councils, health services, housing providers, Solace, fire‑and‑rescue, probation and other partners.

Hotspot Action Fund: Funded by the Home Office, this programme deploys additional patrols and visibility in identified “hotspot” grids across Gloucester, Cheltenham and Stroud. While serious‑violence and knife‑crime rates have fallen, ASB levels remain a challenge, prompting targeted officer deployment in the hardest‑hit areas.

Safer Streets initiatives: Summer (June‑Sept 2025): A PCC‑led, unfunded campaign across six town centres that leveraged existing patrol resources and hotspot funding to tackle retail crime, ASB and general safety. Winter of Action (Dec 2025‑Jan 2026): Continuation of the summer effort, focusing on drink‑driving, shop‑lifting, violence against women and girls, ASB, night‑time economy issues and illegal e‑vehicles, again using hotspot resources.

Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee:  23 officers delivering front‑line services, supported by dashboards, resource panels and a designated ASB lead. Enhanced community engagement includes regular social‑media updates, dedicated neighbourhood contacts on the constabulary website and close collaboration with local businesses and councils.

Constabulary’s Technical Transformation

Then we had an excellent and technical overview of the programme to deal with the constabularies entrenched legacy systems and fragmented infrastructure, which together constrain service delivery and expose the force to heightened cyber risk. Emphasising collaboration, standardisation, and value for money.

Brief talk of WAN roll-out to most sites, deployment of modern analytics and productivity tools (Microsoft leveraging its monopoly with O365 and Power Bi), and the launch of new digital services such as a citizen portal and expanded ANPR coverage.

Needless to say I was concerned and asked questions about data sovereignty.

Update from the PCC

A major policy change announced by the Policing and Crime Minister will abolish the PCC model by 2028, transferring governance to mayoral or local‑authority policing boards, with provisions for staff transition and continuity of victim services.

These new boards will consist of upper‑tier council leaders, appointed experts with a policing and crime lead. Westminster claims these boards won’t revert to the old “bureaucratic and invisible” committee‑based oversight that existed before PCCs. But, as Chris Nelson said the 'back of a fag packet' detail offered to date suggests that claim doesn't stack up.

A number of councillors were worried about the lack of consultation regarding the announcement, the command and control approach and worry about future merging constabularies. The PCC insists that he will work to hand over a stronger structure to these new boards. Increasing scrutiny.

Chief Executive Report

Much detail and outlines governance structures and the six strategic priorities.

Financially, the OPCC has largely met its savings target but faces an overspend for the current year. Council Tax precept increase in early 2026 and a medium‑term financial plan that anticipates a larger gap by 2029/30.

Performance highlights include strong emergency‑call response times and rising public confidence, alongside ongoing challenges with anti‑social behaviour and serious violence. Communications activities feature news releases, surveys, social‑media updates, and partnerships on initiatives such as Operation Shield, the Glass Jar fraud portal, and VAWG programmes.

PCC Complaint

Discussion about the Panel's Complaints Subcommittee protocol. There had been a complaint (18 months or more ago) made about the PCC which had been heard by the subcommittee. Not certain what i can say about this but it's been widely leaked to the press. ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯