Agenda item

To consider the Police and Crime Commissioner’s new Police and Crime Plan, Precept proposal for 2025-26 and supporting financial information.

          The report was presented by the Police Crime and Commissioner, Mr Matthew Scott. 

2.      Mr Scott took the Panel through the draft Police and Crime Plan and expanded on the key areas of focus, as well as the survey responses from members of the community.  In answer to questions and comments, the following was said:

          a)      Mr Scott confirmed that he would look to include more free text analysis in next year’s survey. The statistics gathered from the surveys would enable data to be pulled out from each question. 

          b)      The Panel noted that the Commissioner’s new plan set out a framework for delivering his manifesto commitments. The priorities centred around four key areas:

·         Protecting People

·         Protecting Places

·         Protecting Property

·         Productive Partnerships

          c)      The individual areas included in the Police and Crime Plan maintained a focus on national and local policing issues, including knife crime. The County Lines Team were working to issue warrants to tackle gangs and violent crime.  Other teams continued to use Stop and Search powers with positive outcomes. The Violence Reduction Unit had played a key role in reducing violent crime.

          d)      Other successful strategies which had been utilised to reduce knife crime in the community included ongoing talks with local schools through the St Giles Trust, and engagement with Pupil Referral Units.

          e)      The Panel considered that the Plan could be amended and suggested adding more emphasis to the issue of knife crime.  It was also suggested that collaborative work with the voluntary sector and faith organisations could be made more explicit.

          f)       It was confirmed that the Chief Constable would work with Corporate Communications to develop a social media strategy to publicise good practice initiatives which had taken place within the community.

          g)      Mr Scott highlighted the inconsistencies around decision making between Police forces. Delays with the Criminal Courts and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) were also issues outside the Police remit; this was an aspect that some members of the community were not aware of.

          h)      Several organisations and services, such as the Business Improvement District, Street Ambassadors, the Maidstone Task Force and the local Community Safety Partnership, were working to improve residents’ safety in Maidstone. Although they were achieving positive results, it was acknowledged that further work was required.

          j)       In response to the Panel’s questions about the proposed precept, the Commissioner advised of his intention to increase the precept by £14 a year - or 5.5% for an average Band D property. This was the maximum allowed under the Referendum principles.

          k)      The Commissioner explained that he was aware of current cost-of-living pressures on Kent residents. However, the increase was essential in order to mitigate the Force’s funding pressures. Without it, significant additional savings would be required; this would risk jeopardising the strong performance achieved by Kent Police.

3.      The Kent and Medway Police and Crime Panel supported the Commissioner’s Cut Crime, Support Victims, Build Trust: Kent Police and Crime Plan 2025-2029, and asked that the Commissioner consider the comments and suggestions made.

4.         The Panel unanimously approved the Police and Crime Plan, and the Commissioner’s proposal to increase the police precept for 2025/26 by £14 per year (or 5.5%) to £270.15 for an average Band D property