Agenda item

Briefing Note of Head of Environmental Services

 The Committee received a Briefing Note, together with a comprehensive presentation at the meeting, which provided an update on local policing in Coventry.

Chief Superintendent Peter Henrick and Superintendent Ronan Tyrer and Anant Patel, West Midlands Police (WMP), attended the meeting for consideration of this item.

The presentation outlined in detail:-

•  The new Local Policing Model introduced by the Chief Constable of the West Midlands in March 2023 and the impact that this will have in Coventry, including early indicators of success in relation to responding to calls for service and violence

•  A strategic oversight of the WMP

•  The WMP Crime Plan 2021-2025

•  Details of the Coventry Local Policing Area, including an organisational chart, operational teams and specialist capabilities

•  Work being undertaken to make WMP an “Employer of Choice”

•  An update of crime statistics in Coventry from a local policing perspective

•  Priorities and pressure facing the Local Policing Unit (LPU) and WMP and how this affects Coventry

•  Ambitions for Coventry Investigations 2023-24

•  Coventry performance headlines

•  Targeting Activity

•  Areas highlighted for focus:-

o  City Centre

o  Ride Out

•  Engagement with Community Groups

The Committee asked questions, made comments and sought assurances on a number of issues including:-

•  The new policing model and synergy with the One Coventry Plan was noted and welcomed

•  The recruitment process for WM Police, including the different levels of entry available to entrants

•  Public perception of safety and action being taken to improve this

•  Stability of the Coventry police workforce and how the new policing model will mean that WMP officers will be locality based, enabling them to build better understanding and connections with the city they are based in

•  Existing excellent working relationships with community- based Police were noted and welcomed

•  Work currently being undertaken nationally via the Police national database to vet and carry out checks on existing Police officers was noted and welcomed

•  Clarification in relation to the data provided and availability of performance management data was noted

•  Concerns regarding graffiti in the City was expressed by both Members and WMP and action being undertaken in this regard to apprehend the individual (s) was noted and welcomed

•  Improvements to the 101 service in terms of response times were welcomed and supported

•  A request for WMP support for the night-time economy in areas outside of the City Centre, particularly Whoberley, was made

•  Work being undertaken in relation to identifying and closing down cannabis farms in the City was noted and welcomed

•  Collaborative work being undertaken with the City Council in relation to

domestic violence was supported by the Committee and it was noted that an evaluation of work in this regard would be shred in the near future

•  Information was sought in relation to traffic management work being carried  out in the City

•  Thanks were expressed by the Committee in relation to community policing activity and speed watches undertaken

•  A narrative regarding data was provided, particularly in relation to comparing Coventry with other cities. It was acknowledged that the data could be better articulated in the future

•  Focus on the City Centre and Ride out was welcomed and supported

•  It was noted that, due to its requirement for a specialist team, cyber crime was dealt with at a national level.

The Committee expressed support for the new policing model as outlined at the meeting and noted that an evaluation of the new model would be submitted to the Committee for consideration in due course. The Committee extended their sincere thanks to Chief Superintendent Peter Henrick and Superintendent Ronan Tyrer for their attendance at the meeting and for the detailed and informative presentation.

RESOLVED:-

1)  That the update on Local Policing be noted and welcomed.

2)  That the evaluation of the new policing model be added to the Work

Programme for 2023/24.