Agenda item

The Council received a presentation by the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Mr Shaun Wright on the work he had undertaken during his first year in office and the plans for the future. The presentation included an outline of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s role and priorities and governance and accountability structures. A summary was given of budget and resources, including savings required as a result of a reduction in Government funding to South Yorkshire Police. The number of Police Community Support Officers was being protected and additional Special Constables were being recruited. Crime statistics for various categories of crime were outlined for both South Yorkshire and Sheffield which showed reduced levels of crime overall. Particular issues were examined, including increases in domestic violence and hate crime, child sexual exploitation and the effect of mental health on the likelihood of becoming a victim of crime. Mr Wright also outlined initiatives such as in relation to tackling child sexual exploitation, victim and witness support, restorative justice, public engagement and the introduction of a living wage for South Yorkshire Police.

Members of the Council asked questions of the Police Crime Commissioner and responses were given, as summarised below:

With regard to community activities for which the Police made a charge for their services, which might put an event at risk on the grounds of cost and may not help community cohesion, Mr Wright stated that the South Yorkshire Police charging policy had been reviewed and the Police would not charge for the ‘Fright Night’ event. The Home Secretary had been written to with regard to a related grant and, unfortunately, the South Yorkshire Police did not meet the required threshold.

Online harassment, grooming, stalking and bullying affected adults, children and young people and significant additional resources were being applied in South Yorkshire and Yorkshire and Humber, linking into national initiatives.

The contract for the Police Helicopter was being renegotiated with the National Police Air Service and the Police Commissioner stated that he was a member of the working party which was examining value for money with regard to the helicopter service.

In relation to the morale of personnel in South Yorkshire Police and the effect of increased attention on past major incidents, including Hillsborough and Orgreave, the Police were sometimes subject to criticism, and the Police Crime Commissioner did sometimes also criticise the Police, which might affect morale. However, there was a strategy to help support morale and a small morale fund had been established, which could be bid into to fund particular projects. The Commissioner also went on walkabouts and there was a post box initiative in each police station.

The existing 43 police forces across the country were considered to be too many, given that there was one police force for the whole of Scotland. Some of the existing forces were large enough to stand alone, including South Yorkshire, whereas for other smaller forces, this might not be the case.  Issues and choices around the number of forces included the desired level of accountability and the governance model. Reference was made to the recommendations of the Independent Commission into the future of policing, chaired by Lord Stevens. 

£40K was given to the South Yorkshire Community Foundation from which bids could be made by groups for up to £2K. The Police Commissioner also made larger grants for projects and small grants were available of up to £10K.

Neighbourhood policing was an issue of ongoing challenge and Commissioner Wright stated that he would like the District Commander to contact Councillor Midgley to look at what may have happened specifically in relation to the Manor Castle Ward. South Yorkshire Police had not removed any resources away from neighbourhood policing.

The Council noted the information reported by the Police Commissioner, Mr Shaun Wright and thanked him for his presentation.