To receive an update from the Council’s representative on matters considered at the last meeting (8 September 2023). 

31.1          Attention was drawn to the report from the Council’s representative on the Gloucestershire Police and Crime Panel, circulated separately, which gave an update on matters discussed at the last meeting held on 8 September 2023.

31.2          The Council’s representative on the Gloucestershire Police and Crime Panel indicated that he wished to draw particular attention to the increase in shoplifting across the county and advised that the Police and Crime Commissioner would be speaking to local shopkeepers and interested parties to work out what to do.  He also highlighted the antisocial use of e-scooters and advised that the policy was that if a Police Officer saw an illegal scooter they must take action; however, this relied on a Police Officer being present. 

31.3          A Member asked what level of interaction the Police and Crime Panel had with the Police and Crime Commissioner and whether they were able to ask questions and the Council’s representative confirmed that was the case.  With regard to violence against women, the Member asked whether Gloucestershire Constabulary intended to visit youth clubs as raising awareness amongst young people was key in terms of prevention and was something a number of Parish Councils across the county tried to facilitate.  The Council’s representative advised that the Police and Crime Commissioner was looking at going to schools and youth clubs to discuss his priorities with a specific focus on violence against women and girls although he was not aware of the timeframe for that.  Another Member noted that rural crime cost had reduced by 29% and she asked whether that was the cost of theft/damage or the cost to the Police.  The Council’s representative explained that the Minutes of the meeting included a breakdown of how much was spent on crime in Gloucestershire; the cost of crime in rural areas related to cost to society.  The Member asked how it compared to the actual crime rate as rural crime seemed to be increasing in her area.  In response, the Council’s representative undertook to seek a response to this question.  In response to a query regarding the establishment of new Police community hubs, the Council’s representative confirmed that more areas would be receiving a Police station but, for operational reasons, the locations had not been disclosed – it was hoped that all of the previous Police stations would be reopened with more established.

31.4          A Member asked what the Council could actually do in terms of addressing crime at a borough level and the Council’s representative advised that the Community Safety Partnership was the mechanism for tackling crime at a district level.  The Director: Corporate Governance advised that a presentation in relation to the Community Safety Partnership and whether it was delivering against its Terms of Reference was included in the pending items section of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme and he undertook to establish when this could be delivered following the meeting.  Another Member noted that this item was also intended to cover the Aston Project which was very important for Tewkesbury Borough.

31.5          The Chair asked whether the Council’s representative could be given authority by the Committee to invite the Police and Crime Commissioner to attend a future meeting and the Director: Corporate Resources advised that this had been included on the Committee’s Work Programme but was felt it would be better suited to an all Member seminar and Officers were liaising with the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office with regard to dates.

31.6          It was

RESOLVED           That the Police and Crime Panel update be NOTED.