Video clips - Police & Crime Panel - February 2026
February 2, 2026•511 words
I represent Stroud District Council on the Gloucestershire Police & Crime Panel. Today the Panel supported my Green recommendation which will now accompany the Constabulary's budget:-
To request more information be brought to the panel that preventative work is undertaken in Gloucestershire by the OPCC and the Constabulary to tackle inequity which includes stop & search, arrests, charging decision & use of force through genuine community engagement to improve trust in policing, building on the police and crime prevention plan.
This meeting was focused on the budget and the precept being increased to the max, plus some. As the precept is collected by the Council Tax ,which is regressive, I was wanting to point out the impact..........
The PCC's response missed the mark, but T/CC Maggie Blyth was more on target.
To the Chair's annoyance a long rambling build up to the impact on excellent community engagement initiatives because of overtime cuts. I wanted to highlight that the Peel Inspectors thought we were a leading force in terms of Community Legitimacy. Things seem to have drifted from there. This is difficult work.
T/CC again on target, explanation of PRAP Maturity Plan and the Legitimacy Panel has a new name! OK I could detect issues and this is news! Actually, this was the answer to another question I'd noted from the backing papers. I need to follow up on this response in the community.
If you vote not to accept the budget as is and vote only to approve it with conditions, you find yourself in a position where it suddenly dawns on you that have to work out what to say as that recommendation! I'm not good at thinking on the hoof like this... :( Trust in Policing in tatters flowing from community meetings following a racial attack in Stroud.
We quickly drafted a more concise text version and ran around the room to seek consensus. We actually checked wording with the PCC too! The monitoring officer was on hand to make sure it ticked the legal boxes. Then it went to the vote. Only two voted against it, so approved.
The full webcast of the Panel meeting is available at the Gloucestershire County council portal.