PCC Weekly Engagement Round Up
Last week (18th-24th November) was another busy week for the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Clare Moody. On top of her other business meetings, Clare engaged in four activities, ranging from meeting with elected officials, community groups and conferences.
APCC/NPCC Partnership Summit 2024
Clare attended a 2-day Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), and National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Partnership Summit 2024 held on 19th-20th November at QEII Conference, Westminster in London.
The Summit jointly organised by APCC and NPCC focused on exploring changes in crime over the next decade and how policing can prepare for these challenges whilst increasing public trust and confidence. Crime is changing and increasingly moving online. Alongside significant global, environmental, technological, and societal changes. Maintaining trust and confidence in policing is critical to its’ success and policing must be able to adapt rapidly to these changes.
The need for strong partnerships and collaborative working across and beyond the criminal justice sector is vital to prevent crime, reduce victimisation and make communities safer.
The summit also explored ways on how to encourage public, private and third sector organisations to work together to tackle societal issues such as knife crime, anti-social behaviour, Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and drugs, with appropriate accountability, responsibility, and leadership.
Secretary of State for Home Department, The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP spoke on Day 1 with a focus on a national crime prevention unit and the road map for reform, highlighting Neighbourhood Policing, Police Performance, Structures & Capabilities and Crime Prevention as top priorities.
In the margins of the Summit Clare met with Andy Cooke, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS). HMICFRS independently assesses the effectiveness and efficiency of police forces and fire & rescue services – in the public interest.
Drop-in Session for MPs at Westminster
Early evening on Wednesday 20th November, after the APCC/NPCC Summit, PCC Clare Moody and Chief Constable for Avon and Somerset Police Sarah Crew jointly hosted a drop-in session at Portcullis House in Westminster for MPs from the force area. Nine MPs attended session where they had the opportunity to meet with both Clare and Sarah and discuss policing concerns in their respective constituents.
Among the issues raised by the MPs was knife crime, anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, drugs, and the public fearing unsafe in some of the constituencies. Clare and Sarah gave the MPs a briefing on Clare’s Police and Crime Plan priorities and her vision for the future and Avon and Somerset Police’s news and innovation. There are 17 MPs in the Avon and Somerset force area.
WECA launches Office of Violence Prevention for the region
On Thursday (21st November) PCC Clare Moody attended a visit with Dan Norris MP, the current West of England Combined Authority Mayor launching new funding plans for an Office of Violence Prevention. The event was held at Empire Fighting Chance boxing gym in Bristol.
The WECA Mayor speaking alongside PCC Clare Moody and Solicitor General Sarah Sackman, confirmed new plans to provide funding to tackle knife crime and serious youth violence across the region. WECA are looking at supporting Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise organisations, key partners, and the connection with Violence Reduction Partnerships.
Commenting on WECA’s plans for an Office of Violence Prevention, PCC Clare Moody said:
“As your PCC, one of my five priorities within my new Police and Crime Plan is reducing serious violence – particularly youth violence and knife crime. This is not a policing issue alone and has to include partners working effectively to deliver prevention, intervention and long-term solutions that tackle root causes of knife crime.
“There is already great work being done here in Avon and Somerset in communities, supported by partner agencies including police and local authorities, so I really welcome the additional focus and investment that this West of England Office of Violence Prevention project would bring.”
Plans for investment in the Office of Violence Prevention are set to come to the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority’s Committee in January.
Road Safety Week
As part of raising awareness about road safety, on Friday (22nd Nov) PCC Clare Moody joined Community Speed Watch session in Bathford in Bath. Road Safety Week took place from 17th to 23rd November. Brake, the road safety charity which organises this annual road safety campaign to raise awareness of the devastating toll of road crashes and celebrate the work of the incredible people who support families after a road death or severe injury.