Transcript Katie Benton, Scrutiny Officer, Hampshire County Council

'You have reached
your destination’:
scrutiny's role on the
road to better places
10 June 2014
PCPs – TO 2015 AND BEYOND
Katie Benton
Scrutiny Officer
Mike Chard
Policy Officer
Overview…
 National context of Police and Crime Panels: upcoming
general election and the future of PCCs
 Local context of Police and Crime Panels: sharing the burden
of work
 Facilitated session on successes and challenges of policing
scrutiny post-reform, including a review of the Home Affairs SC
recommendations
 Facilitated session on proactive scrutiny
 Feel free to ask questions throughout!
National Context…
 Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011
 Police and Crime Commissioners
 Police and Crime Panels
 Government policy to ‘hold police
forces to account’ and ‘strengthen
the bond between the police and
the public’
 Elections held 22 November 2012,
PCCs in post until May 2016
Looking to 2015…
 Less than a year to go
 Party Conferences October 2014
 Now seen as four-party race
 Is Police and Crime a topic at
the fore of the public’s mind?
 Pro-PCCs: Conservatives and Liberal Democrats
 Anti-PCCs: Labour and UKIP
 Likely that PCCs will serve out their term until May
2016, so important that PCPs ensure statutory
functions remain fulfilled
Local Context…
 Hampshire Police and Crime Panel
 20 Members
 PCC: Independent Simon Hayes
 Main Successes: complaints, confirmation hearings, enthusiastic
Panel, improving relationship
 Main Challenges: access to timely and detailed information,
public engagement, complaints
 Thames Valley Police and Crime Panel
 20 members
 PCC: Anthony Stansfeld (Conservative)
 Main Successes: High quality engaged independent cooptees, PCP conference, rapporteur reports
 Main Challenges: access to performance information,
geography, strategic vs. local
Successes and Challenges
 CfPS report – Police and
crime panels: the first year
 Home Affairs Select
Committee interim findings
Facilitated Session
Activity One
• Ten minute discussion on the first two years that Panels have
existed. Identify:
-
-
one challenge on your table that you haven’t been able to overcome
and potential resolution (what is the obstacle?)
one area where a Panel has had real success locally (how did you
do it?)
• Use flipcharts to record discussions – will write these up post-
conference and share learning.
• Ten minutes to share with the room key thoughts from each
table, and to open up to the floor to alternative resolutions to
challenges.
Proactive Scrutiny
- Hampshire model: afternoon sessions following
formal meeting, scrutiny review model
- Thames Valley model: two task and finish
groups per year, themed meetings
- Are some issues re this:
- Are Panels overstepping the line? (HASC evidence)
- How engaged are the public and partners?
- Should Panels stick only to statutory elements?
- How else can Members fulfil their ‘support’ role?
Facilitated Session
Activity Two
• Twenty minute discussion on proactive scrutiny.
• Key Question: What has worked in your area – either
through PCPs or in your authorities generally – that
can be applied to this area of Police and Crime
Panel scrutiny and support?
• How can PCPs increase visibility?
• Should PCPs engage with public and partners?
• Use flipcharts to record discussions – will write
these up post-conference and share learning.