Minutes:
Question 1
National figures indicate that crime is at a 20-year high and arrests for serious offences are at an all-time low, this is coupled with unacceptable delays of up to three years before matters get to trial, particularly in relation to sexual offences on women and girls.
With numbers of warranted officers in Kent at an all-time high, can the Commissioner explain what he is doing to ensure that Kent Police are not following this national trend, and how Detectives are being trained to ensure that investigations meet a standard that the public expect, in that they are unlikely to be rejected by the Crown Prosecution Service?
(Cllr Ashley Clark, Canterbury City Council)
1. The Commissioner stated that Kent was bucking the national trend with regard to crime, arrests and charge rates. He explained that compared to 2019, the first full year since pandemic had seen a reduction in crime. He reassured the Panel that arrest rates had increased, especially regarding violence against women and girls (VAWG) and domestic violence, with 25% more charges compared to previous years. Concerning detective training, he confirmed that Kent Police had continued training programmes through the pandemic, adding that the detective programme included workplace skills and case file quality, with Kent Police the highest performing force in the country on the later. Members were informed that a quality policing manager role had been introduced to uphold standards. The Panel were reminder of the early advice line for investigations. Reassurance was given that the criminal justice system had been held to account at Kent’s Criminal Justice Board, ensuring that Kent Police’s case files were of a sufficient standard and that the Crown Prosecution Service were accountable for any files that were been passed back due to poor quality.
2. Cllr Clark replied, he asked whether there had been any efforts to pressure the Crown Prosecution Service to fastrack prosecutions, as had occurred recently in Leicester following inter-community confrontations. The Commissioner agreed to investigate prosecution fast tracking further.
Question 2
Can the Police and Crime Commissioner explain how he is holding the Chief Constable to account for his force’s failings in the investigation of crimes that are reported to his force, crime numbers are issued, and on occasions that video evidence is available but his force fails to gather the evidence or follow up on the reported crime?
(Cllr Richard Palmer, Swale Borough Council)
3. A written response to the question was provided by the Commissioner following the meeting, as Cllr Palmer was not present. The Commissioner’s response was as follows:
“I continue to hold the Chief Constable to account via my Performance & Delivery Board meetings, including the PEEL bespoke Board on 31 October, as well as through my regular weekly briefings. [It is] important to emphasise [that] the force is not failing in totality as the question tends to suggest; rather there are key areas on which the force is focusing activity through the PEEL Improvement Plan. The force responded promptly to concerns raised by HMICFRS in respect of the resourcing of the Vulnerability Investigation Teams (VITs) who investigate domestic abuse and detective capacity was increased with further growth generated by those on the detective pathway. The Domestic Abuse Hub went live on 18 May 2022. The team operate between 8am and 8pm, seven days a week and provide support to victims using video technology to virtually respond to specific calls. This allows victims to immediately speak with an officer, enabling fast-time crime recording, statement taking and capture of evidence including the scene of the incident and any visible injuries. By having instant contact with a victim an officer can also implement immediate safeguarding and referrals to partner agencies to provide protection to vulnerable people. It is a completely optional service for victims and is not a replacement for a traditional call back or officer visit. Officers will always attend an incident or victim when needed. Early data highlights a reduction in the volume of work allocated to Local Policing, VITs and Victim Based Crime Teams. Victim satisfaction levels for those engaged with via the Hub is high (92% for the rolling year to August 2022). The Domestic Abuse Hub is supported by newly established Proactive Domestic Abuse teams who work to identify, target and relentlessly pursue domestic abuse offenders. They are focused on those who pose the greatest harm, whilst supporting those who are repeatedly targeted. The Domestic Abuse Liaison Officer (DALO) role is also being piloted and will be assessed before further roll-out across Kent is considered. These officers provide consistent and coordinated support to safeguard victims most at risk, responding swiftly to incidents to secure vital evidence and provide a first-class service. A three-day supervisory investigative improvement course has been developed which provides bespoke investigative inputs across several key areas including those highlighted as part of the PEEL inspection. Investigative performance is reviewed each month at the Crime Management and Investigative Quality Board. Current performance (August 2022) continues to show improvements in the quality of allocation, investigation plans, supervisory reviews and evidence led prosecutions:
· 471 (93.4%) of crimes were allocated in a timely manner;
· 420 (83.3%) of supervisors had outlined an investigation plan;
· 381 (75.6%) evidenced effective supervision;
· 187 (37.1%) saw the victim decline to support the investigation; evidence the police tried to progress the case without the support of the victim in 115 (61.5%).
A quarterly Victim Justice Board has been introduced, chaired by the ACC for Crime to provide scrutiny. In terms of gathering video evidence, the force’s Digital Asset Management System (DAMS) went live on Wednesday 21 September. Recognising it is early days in its implementation, eventually DAMS will enable officers, staff and the public to upload, securely store, manage and share digital assets, including:
· body worn video footage
· recorded 999 calls
· recorded interviews
· CCTV footage
· dash cam footage
· mobile phone video footage
Whilst an officer or member of staff may not attend every reported crime, I expect every report to be investigated appropriately by Kent Police. Should any Member have an example where this was not the case, I would ask that they send details to my office so it can be looked into (contactyourpcc@kent.police.uk).”
Question 3
In his role in holding the Chief Constable to account can the PCC detail and explain the following for constituents across Kent, 1) how the Kent Police policy and application of Section 61 and other powers under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 has been reviewed and strengthened by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and 2) how he feels communications and requests between partners for this and other requests for action on such local issues such as drug dealing are being actioned by Kent Police?
(Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox, Gravesham Borough Council)
4. The Commissioner confirmed that Kent Police’s Unauthorised Encampments Policy had been updated inline with the new legislation and NPCC guidance. He agreed to share a copy of the Policy after the meeting. Regarding communications, he recognised that there was continued work to be done between Kent Police, local authorities and landowners, in order to ensure effective responses to unauthorised encampments.
RESOLVED that the answers provided by the Commissioner be noted.
POST MEETING NOTE: A copy of Kent Police’s updated Unauthorised Encampments Policy was shared with the Panel and can be accessed at www.kent.police.uk/foi-ai/kent-police/Policy/operational-partnerships/unauthorised-encampments-policy-o22/.