Agenda item

Presentation by Sara Thornton, Chief Constable, Thames Valley Police

Minutes:

Sarah Thornton, CBE, QPM, Chief Constable, Thames Valley Police (TVP), gave a presentation to the Committee, setting out the Strategy for Policing in the Thames Valley 2011-2014. Spt Richard Humphrey, Local Area Commander, Slough Local Police Area, also contributed to the discussion.

Ms Thornton discussed a number of issues including, reducing crimes that were of most concern to the community, the increase in the visible presence of the Police, protecting communities from the most serious harm and improving communication with the public in order to build trust and confidence in communities. The presentation also covered the issue of bureaucracy and the development of staff skills.  It was reported that the visibility of the police presence had been increased and the number of front line officers and PCSO numbers had risen by 6.4% demonstrating TVP’s continued commitment in this area.  The Committee noted that a budget saving of £55.5 m was required over the next 4 years which would be achieved through cost and efficiency savings, whilst continuing to reduce crime and protecting communities.

Ms Thornton highlighted that violent crimes had reduced and that a reduction in neighbourhood boundaries in Slough would be introduced after the Olympics (from 16 areas to 7),  giving a smaller number of larger areas.

 

The Committee was reminded that in November 2012, the public across England and Wales would elect a Police Commissioner who would be  accountable for how crime was tackled in their police force area.


Ms Thornton responded to a number of questions including those relating to  the recent newspaper report that 23 Police Officers in the Thames Valley area had a criminal record, and the likelihood that security guards would be used to carry out policing in some areas. Ms Thornton was unable to confirm the location of the 23 Officers but advised it was likely the offences were minor in nature as candidates would have been required to satisfy stringent vetting procedures. Existing Officers would have been dismissed had they committed an offence which undermined their position in the force. It was confirmed that in some areas of the country contracts were in place for security staff to carry out policing duties.  TVP would closely monitor the success of these schemes.

 

A Member questioned the high number of child referrals made by TVP to SBC, where only 7% resulted in action being required by children’s social care services, Ms Thornton acknowledged that this was a problem across the force and explained that when the police were called to a case of domestic violence, the police had to complete a form whenever children lived at the address and then notify the Council.  Measures were in place to review the procedure and it was likely that a triage system would be used to identify those cases where social care intervention was required.

 

Ms Thornton responded to further concerns regarding the disparity between parking enforcement arrangements across boundaries, e.g Wexham Park Hospital.  She advised that these offences had been decriminalised in some areas but not in others and her view was that this should happen across all areas.  She acknowledged however that obstruction by vehicles would never be a top priority in policing. 

 

Spt Humphrey responded to concerns regarding crime in the Colnbrook area and the change which would mean that the boundary would butt up to the Metropolitan (Met) Police area. There was a good liaison process in place with the Met and this would continue. The Committee was advised that many of the stolen vehicles abandoned in the Colnbrook area were from outside of the Borough. 

 

A number of further questions were raised regarding the role of the new Police Commissioner and local accountability. Ms Thornton advised that the Chief Constable would be held to account by the Commissioner but nothing was set down in statute to say how this would be done and there were a number of practical areas that would need to be addressed.

 

A Member in attendance under Rule 30 raised the issue of child trafficking and vulnerable children in Slough. Ms Thornton requested that the Member forward the full detail of the issue and questions to her in writing so that she could have the opportunity to provide a comprehensive written response to the Member.

 

Resolved-  That the Committee thank Sarah Thornton, Chief Constable, Thames Valley Police, and Supt Richard Humphrey, Local Police Area Commander, Slough, for their attendance, the presentation regarding the Strategy for Policing in the Thames Valley 2011-14 and their responses to submitted questions.