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PCCNEWSISSUE 2 - AUTUMN 2014 EDITION

Working together for a safer Dorset@PCCDorset dorset.pcc.police.uk

WELCOMEWe’ve had a fantastic summer meetingmany thousands of residents, visitorsand police officers across the county.

Our Community Remedy consultationattracted well over 1,000 responses and isnow being developed by Dorset Police to offeran alternative to the court system. The mentalhealth street triage team we have funded isworking hard to support those in crisis andassist with around 15 incidents per shift.

I am happy to report that, since my lastnewsletter, Dorset Police is making steadyprogress with call waiting times to 101 andmost recent figures show average waitingtimes have reduced by 17%.

We’ve seen a lot of national press recently onthe issues faced by PCC’s in other countiesand I wanted to explain how we are differentin Dorset. My team and I don’t cost morethan the police authority that we replaced,but we deliver a lot more, particularly insecuring extra funding and strengthening thevoice of residents in setting policing priorities.

This newsletter will highlight some of the thingsmy team and I have been doing over the pastthree months and explain in a bit more detail thebreadth of our work, our summer engagementand youth conference, as well as a reflective blogon the PCC role.

MARTYNUNDERHILLDorset Police& CrimeCommissioner

ALSO INSIDE THIS ISSUE• PCC’s Blog - Reflections on the role• What does the OPCC do?• Summer engagement programme success• How the OPCC supports you

ENGAGINGTHE NEXTGENERATION INPOLICING & CRIME

We had a fantastic attendance at our ‘My Life, My Choice’youth conference which was opened by PCC MartynUnderhill and the Deputy Chief Constable, James Vaughan.Find out more and check out photos from the event inside.

@PCCDorsetdorset.pcc.police.uk

LOBBYINGLAWCHANGEIn the past few months, thePCC has campaigned onvarious issues including theTaxi Deregulation Bill, whichis currently going throughParliament.After concerted PCC and LGA lobbying,controversial plans to change who is allowedto drive private hire vehicles in Dorset havebeen dropped. Government ministersdecided to abandon plans to allow peoplewho don’t hold a private hire vehicle licenseto drive one when it’s off duty, afterconcerns were raised over passenger safety.PCC’s joined widespread opposition fromacross the country to parts of theDeregulation Bill, saying that it could putpassengers at risk of assault.

NEWS

PCC’S BLOG

“THIS IS A HUGE VICTORY FOR POLICE & CRIME COMMISSIONERSACROSS THE COUNTRY. I AM DELIGHTED THAT AFTERCONCERTED PCC LOBBYING, THE GOVERNMENT HAS LISTENEDTO OUR CONCERNS AND HAS BACKED DOWN ON CLAUSE 10OF THE DEREGULATION BILL. IT HAS BEEN A PRIORITY OF MINETO CAMPAIGN ON THIS ISSUE AS I COULD NOT BACK A BILLTHAT WOULD HAVE LED TO AN INCREASE IN ROGUE TAXIDRIVERS, THEREFORE PUTTING PASSENGERS’ SAFETY AT RISK,BOTH HERE IN DORSET AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.”

MARTYN UNDERHILL Dorset Police & Crime Commissioner

Two years ago we could nothave said the public in Dorsethad a strong voice or wereactively involved in shapingpolicing policy. Now, I believethey are and that mustcontinue. We have madedirect contact with thousandsof people through face-to-face and digital engagement.

I am really proud of the small team thatsupports me in this important electedexecutive role, and what they haveachieved. Earlier this year, we won anational CoPaCC award for Engagementand have also been commended in theCoPaCC ‘PCC’s and Innovation Awards’. Weare constantly developing and finding newways to engage and involve.

When I became Dorset Police & CrimeCommissioner in November 2012, I vowedto make the journey better for victims and Iam delighted to report that Dorset OPCChas secured over £2 million in additionalfunding so far this year over and above thecore policing budget. We are now at theforefront of helping victims to cope andrecover and in the championing ofinnovative ways to reduce demand on thepolice, and crime in our communities.

I am also passionately committed toimproving mental health care provision inDorset and across the country. Since myelection, I have campaigned for those inmental health crisis to get the right care, atthe right time and in the right place. I becameChair of the Mental Health PCC Working Partyto drive this agenda forward and we launchedthe Mental Health Concordat in February. Ifunded a mental health street triage project inDorset which has received repeated nationalrecognition from the Home Secretary.

I believe that PCCs and their offices aremaking a real difference to policing locally,in improving accountability, visibility anddriving change. It is important for people inDorset to be given a consistent voice onpolicing and crime.

In September 2014, Dorset Policeannounced that counter serviceprovision would be reduced from15 to nine locations, with four fulltime enquiry offices remaining inBournemouth, Poole, Weymouthand Bridport.

Initial proposals by Dorset Police in October2013 were to close 12 out of the 15 frontcounter services. Following intervention by thePCC, a further extensive public consultationexercise was undertaken to ensure that thepublic had the opportunity to shape theseproposals and make their own suggestionswith regard to future service provision.

This clearly had a significant impact on thefinal decisions that were taken andannounced recently.

Blandford, Gillingham and Sherborne willalternate opening two days each per week,with Swanage and Winfrith operating a ‘sign

posting’ facility whereby staff help membersof the public with their enquiries bydirecting them to relevant services.

SAVING FRONT COUNTERSNEWS

“IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THIS TIME LAST YEAR DORSETPOLICE ANNOUNCED THE PROPOSAL TO CLOSE 12 OUT OF THE 15FRONT OFFICE COUNTERS. AS A RESULT OF MY INTERVENTIONRESPONDING TO PUBLIC CONCERN, A YEAR-LONG CONSULTATIONTOOK PLACE WHICH LED TO REVISED PLANS BEING PUT IN PLACE.I KNOW THAT LOSING SIX FRONT OFFICE COUNTERS IS SIX TOO MANY,BUT WE HAVE TO MEET OUR CUTS SOMEWHERE WHEN WE ARE LOSING20% OF OUR BUDGET. I BELIEVE THIS ALTERNATIVE PROVISION MEETSTHE BALANCE OF SERVICE DELIVERY AND BUDGET RESPONSIBILITY. ”

MARTYN UNDERHILL Dorset Police & Crime Commissioner

@PCCDorsetdorset.pcc.police.uk

SUMMERENGAGEMENTPROGRAMME

This summer we attended the Bournemouth FamilyFun Festival,the Bournemouth Air Show and theDorset County Show, meeting many thousands

of residents and visitors.

“THE EVENT WAS A GREATSUCCESS. IT WAS ANEXCITING ANDIMPORTANTOPPORTUNITY TO LISTENAND RESPOND TOYOUNG PEOPLE ANDWORK WITH THEM TODEVELOP SOLUTIONS TOSOME OF THE ISSUES THEYFACE. IT IS IMPORTANTTHAT WE CONTINUE TOENGAGE WITH YOUNGPEOPLE ACROSS DORSET.”MARTYN UNDERHILLDorset Police & Crime Commissioner

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Over 100 secondary schoolpupils from across Dorset tookpart in a conference to discusspolicing and safety. Hosted bythe PCC, the ‘My Life, My Choice’conference was opened byMartyn Underhill and DeputyChief Constable, James Vaughan.

Young people took part in five workshopsspanning cyber-bullying, safe relationships,mental health, the law and young people,legal highs and recreational drugs. Thesessions were led by the Dorset Safe Schoolsand Communities Team (SSCT), Child andAdolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)and Shadows. Former drug and alcohol usersfrom Vita Nova were there to talk abouttheir first-hand experience of addiction.

After the conference one young person said:“I found the whole event really useful. It’simportant to realise that whatever lifethrows at you, you can always pick yourselfup and move on. I’ve learnt how to spot thesigns of mental trouble, alcoholism and drugabuse and it’s great to know the police arebehind young people.”

Alongside the Dorset OPCC, there were alsostalls from 17 other organisations givingpeople advice on topics such as drugs,online safety and healthy living.

OVER 100 YOUNGPEOPLE ATTEND OURYOUTH CONFERENCE

CONFERENCE

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WHAT DOES THE OPCC DO?THE OFFICE

The PCC has two statutory officers; Chief Executive and Treasureralong with a small team of officers who are known as the Officeof the Police & Crime Commissioner (OPCC). They support thePCC in delivery of his statutory duties to residents in Dorset.

The graphic below gives you an idea of the breadth of work the teamdelivers. The work covers the four key areas of Partnerships &Resources, Programme & Project Delivery, Executive Support &Governance and Communications & Engagement.

PROGRAMME & PROJECTDELIVERY TEAM UPDATE:• We made history this summer by becoming the first OPCC tocommission a local service for victims. This new contract with VictimSupport will include a 24 hour helpline and will provide additionalsupport to victims of anti-social behaviour and business crime.

• We are entering the second phase of the Dorset VictimsBureau project which will become the first multi-agency victims’ service in the country.

• We have awarded seven ‘Safer DorsetFund’ grants to Weymouth StreetPastors, Routes to Roots, theHorse course, Read EasyBlandford, SLAP, Rendezvousand Dorset Relate.

• We are expanding ourRestorative Justiceprogramme toWeymouth and Poolein 2015. Researchshows that RestorativeJustice is associatedwith high levels ofvictim satisfaction andcan also help reducere-offending.

EXECUTIVESUPPORT &GOVERNANCETEAM UPDATE:• We are leading the way in ensuring independent oversight of care incustody with our Dorset Independent Custody Visiting (ICV)volunteers. Martyn was elected as the national Chair of the ICVAssociation at their Annual General Meeting in October 2014.

• We facilitate the public access to the PCC. In October, we answered745 direct telephone calls and responded to over 1,000 emails.

• The PCC is holding Dorset Police to account over many issues,including 101 and counter service provision. We received many callsand emails relating to 101 over the summer and, following the PCC’sintervention, performance is steadily improving and public concernseems to have reduced.

PARTNERSHIPS &RESOURCES

TEAMUPDATE:• As a team we have secured over £2 million of additional funding. As aresult, the PCC has introduced new initiatives, such as recruiting amental health coordinator and a multi-agency project is underway toenhance mental health provision within the criminal justice system.

• We are funding Freedom Courses for victims of domestic abuse,including for the first time ever a course for male victims whichstarts in January.

• A victim identification worker has now joined the Paedophile OnlineInvestigation Team (POLIT) in order to identify young people whoare risk of child sexual exploitation.

COMMUNICATIONS &ENGAGEMENT TEAM UPDATE:

• The PCC and the OPCC have spoken to hundreds of residents andvisitors to get their views on policing and crime over the last fewmonths, at major summer events and at PCC Community Days inWeymouth and Poole.

• With the strongest response in the South West,over 1,000 people shared their views in our

Community Remedy consultation. Thatdata is now being evaluated and willhelp shape future policing policyon Anti-Social Behaviour.

• We have had a busyconference season withhundreds attending ourYouth, Domestic Abuseand Business Crimeevents. Each event sawhigh profile speakers, arange of workshopsand lively debate ontopical issues.

@PCCDorsetdorset.pcc.police.uk

CONTACTING USWe are always looking to hear fromresidents about their experiencewith policing in Dorset and whattheir priorities are. Please get intouch via the details below.

Office of the DorsetPolice & Crime CommissionerForce HeadquartersWinfrithDorchesterDorset DT2 8DZ

T 01202 229084E pcc@dorset.pnn.police.ukor in confidence at:E contactpcc@pccdorset.org.ukE @PCCDorsetE Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner

All content © Dorset Police & Crime Commissioner Designed by Proworx :: www.proworx.co.uk

IF A CRIME IS IN PROGRESS OR IFTHERE IS DANGER TO LIFE CALL 999FOR ANY OTHERPOLICING ISSUECALL 101 ATANY TIME

DORSET PCC

WE HAVE… secured anextra £2.1m in fundingso far this year overand above the corepolicing budget.

WE HAVE… enhancedservices in support of

victims of domestic abuse,sexual violence, mental

health, drugs & alcohol andyoung people.

WE RESPOND… to over12,000 direct contact

emails and letters per year.

WE HAVE… responded toapproximately 9,000 directphone calls to the mainOPCC office number frommembers of the public.

WE HAVE… engaged manythousands of people

through our website, whichhas had 144,200 pageviews from just under

26,000 people who visitedthe site twice on average.

WE HAVE… consultedwith over 3,500 people

from across Dorset, to helpinform the Police & Crime

Plan priorities.

WE HAVE… surveyed over2,700 victims of crime, to

understand theirexperience.

WE HAVE… 2,300 Twitterfollowers and 233 Facebookfans with our posts oftenreaching many hundreds ofpeople in Dorset, throughfollowers sharing &

retweeting our content.

WE HOST… 25 publicforums and surgeries peryear across Dorset.

WE HAVE… spoken withseveral thousand residents,visitors and victims of crimeduring our engagement

programme.

WE HAVE… consulted withresidents on bespoke issuessuch as the policing elementof the council tax, new anti-social behaviour legislationand business crime.

WE HAVE… been recognisednationally for our efforts,being named as the winnerof the 2014 CoPaCC Awardsfor PCC’s public engagement.

12k

“I AM DELIGHTEDTO ANNOUNCEDORSET OPCCAS THE WINNEROF THE 2014COPACCAWARDS FORPCC’S PUBLICENGAGEMENT.IT IS ANEXCELLENTEXAMPLE OFHOW PCC’SCAN ENGAGEWITH THEPUBLIC.”

BERNARD RIXChief Executive ofCoPaCC

HOW ARE WE SUPPORTING YOU?