Agenda item

Briefing Note of the Director of Law and Governance

The Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee received a comprehensive presentation from Chief Superintendent Drover and Superintendent Tyrer, West Midlands (WM) Police, which provided detailed information on the Coventry Local Policing Area.

The presentation covered:-

·  The new Local Policing Model for the WM built on 7 Local  Policing Areas

·  The Coventry Local Policing Area

·  Resourcing levels

·  Area estate

·  Key Performance Indicators (KPI)

·  Reduction KPI

·  Outcome KPI

·  The HMIC Review of the West Midlands Police

·  The Force’s response to the Review

·  The following 4 causes of concern highlighted in the Review and the recommendations for improvement relating to those areas

§  Investigating Crime

§  Protecting Vulnerable People

§  Managing Offenders and Suspects

·  Responding to calls for service

·  Call demand for 999 and 101 calls

·  Demand and performance for call handling (including the significant reduction in call response times for 101 calls)

·  Response time to incidents

·  KPIs for Reduction Crime Figures

§  Total recorded crime (weekly)

§  Burglary dwelling

§  Vehicle crime

§  Robbery

§  Theft from the person

§  Arrest rates – all crimes

§  Positive outcomes – all crime

·  Performance – Positive Outcomes

·  Key Activity

·  Response to Serious Organised Crime and Exploitation

·  Aligning Community Priorities

·  Legitimacy and Scrutiny

·  City Centre Focus

·  Aligning Community Priorities – St Michaels (City Centre and Hillfields)

·  Activating Citizens and Communities – An ask of Elected Members for assistance with this

·  New Commanders Assessment – Quarter 3 Focus:-

§  Neighbourhood Policing

§  Proactive Policing

§  Crime

§  Response Policing

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

·  Resourcing levels in Coventry, the uplift compared to 2/3 years ago, and the number of Police Officers on duty at any one time. It was noted that Officers work to a number of different shift patterns and that there was a selection/range of officers on duty at any one time

·  An update in relation to the Canley site

·  An update in relation to the City Centre site, which will include the closure of the Little Park Street site

·  Arrangements in place at Police Stations for emergency assistance when the Station is closed

·  The use of nomad cameras

·  The turnover of staff and the difficulties this presents in terms of forging relationships with Councillors and the community. It was noted that this wasn’t always an operational decision but related to career choices available to Police Officers

·  Ensuring that all Councillors are informed and regularly updated in relation to Police contacts in their Wards and PACT meetings – In relation to this, Chief Superintendent Drover gave an undertaking that he would ensure this was done

·  The partnership working currently being undertaken between the Council and WM Police, which was acknowledged to be working successfully

·  Work being undertaken in relation to recruitment of new officers and the extensive training provided for those officers

·  Work being undertaken in relation to gang crime (both street and organised)

·  The need to encourage the reporting of crime by residents and work being taken by the WM Police to reach out to communities and regain their confidence and trust. The important role that Councillors can play in this work was acknowledged

·  The correlation between crime and unlit or poorly lit areas. The Committee noted the importance of the public’s perception in relation to this

·  The use of residents’ CCTV footage and the legal use of face recognition software by the Council and WM Police. It was noted that there was close working between the Council’s CCTV unit and the Police

·  Stop and search figures

·  The importance of the visibility of Police officers in  neighbourhoods and the positive impact that this has on public’s perception. It was noted that this was a Police operational matter but the point made by Members was acknowledged by Officers

·  Work being undertaken in relation to drug crime

In relation to questions asked about offender management it was acknowledged that this would need to be the subject of a separate meeting to ensure that all the relevant partners could be present.

The Officers were thanked for their attendance at the meeting and it was noted that an update on progress on the Recommendations contained in the HMIC Review report were considered monthly at meetings of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

RESOLVED:-

1.  That the update on Local Policing provided at the meeting be received and noted.

2.  That the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities be recommended to seek assurances from the Chief Constable for the West Midlands in relation to achieving a level of consistency in terms of regular Inspectors and Sergeants in the City. 

3.  That an item on offender management be added to the Committee’s Work Programme for 2024/25.