Agenda item

5.1

The Committee received a verbal update from Dr Alan Billings, South Yorkshire Police Crime Commissioner, on the Police and Crime Plan for South Yorkshire (2023-2025).

5.2

Dr Billings explained that he had reached his third and final term of his elective post as Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire. This was due to end in May 2024, after having been in post for ten years. During this time, he had appointed two Chief Constables, one of which was Stephen Watson, who was appointed at a time when public trust and confidence in South Yorkshire Police had ebbed as a result of being accused of ‘turning a blind eye’ to reports of child sexual exploitation in Rotherham, and due to the findings of the Hillsborough disaster inquest. Dr Billings stated that Chief Constable Watson had ‘turned the force around’ during his time at South Yorkshire Police, before leaving to carry out a similar role at Greater Manchester Police. Lauren Poultney was appointed as his successor, to maintain this progress and ensure that South Yorkshire Police was a modern force, staying ahead of criminal gangs. Dr Billings added that the Force was able to attract and retain staff, and cared about the wellbeing of its staff.

5.3

Dr Billings noted that his role also included the production each year of the Police and Crime Plan for South Yorkshire, that set out priorities for South Yorkshire Police. He advised that he was able to hold the Force to account on the priorities, and held regular meetings to check progress on plan implementation. He noted the following three priorities contained within the Plan:

1.       Protecting Vulnerable People

2.       Tackling Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour

3.       Treating People Fairly

5.4

Dr Billings advised that he set the budget for South Yorkshire Police, and that this was a challenge due to tighter budgets. Further information was available within the Plan itself.

5.5

Members of the Committee and members of the public present raised questions and the following responses were provided:-

• The number of unsolved crimes was currently quite high, and this was due to a national and local shortage of detectives due to difficulties in attracting people to the role, due to criminals becoming more cunning and not always being able to be linked to all of the crimes they have committed. Detectives were adapting their skills to deal with these issues.

• The current Chief Constable had reviewed the Neighbourhood Police Teams to ensure South Yorkshire Police structures lined up with local authority ward boundaries, utilising Council Tax pre-set money. This aimed to restore partnership working and building up relationships with local communities. There were four Neighbourhood Police Teams: South West, South East, North West and North East. The South West Local Area Committee incorporated both the North West and South West Police Teams.

• Dr Billings explained that he had implemented a number of changes since being elected to the role of Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire. This included setting up a panel for victims of child sexual exploitation, to better understand their survival experiences and ensure they received the right support from South Yorkshire Police. He had also set up an independent ethics panel, with an independent chair, which looked at difficult challenges facing South Yorkshire Police, and ensuring that these were addressed.

• The Operation Park Safe pilot in the north west area had been successful, and Inspector Kevin Smith had put forward a case to senior officers for the pilot to be extended.

• In response to a question from a representative of Sheffield Rotary Club about working together on prevention, Dr Billings advised the questioner to contact his office, who could proved more information on neighbourhood watch schemes.

5.6

The Chair thanked Dr Billings for attending the meeting.