To receive the report of the meeting of the West Mercia Police Authority held on 25 September 2007.  Councillor B Hunt has been nominated for the purpose of answering questions on the discharge of the functions of the Police Authority.

Councillor B Hunt presented the report of the West Mercia Police Authority held on 25 September and 18 December 2007.

Councillor ACR Chappell referred to page 99 of the Council agenda regarding the Community Engagement Strategy and stated that residents in the St Martins and Hinton ward did not have confidence in the Police and there was concern that investigations were not being carried out properly.  It was added that some residents were still awaiting a response from the Police to incidents that had been carried some weeks earlier, which it was felt was unacceptable.  Council was also informed of another incident where it took the Police 45 minutes to respond to a call out.  Councillor Chappell advised that he had written to the Police on the matter in December 2007 and was still awaiting a response to his letter.  Councillor Hunt, as a representative of the Council on the West Mercia Police Authority was requested to provide an answer to the queries by the end of the week. 

Councillor PE Edwards asked why the Police or Community Support Officers were not available after 10.00 pm at night when teenage children were still out on the streets.  Councillor RI Matthews asked how many officers quoted as being deployed locally were.  Councillor Matthews also asked about the opening of Leominster Police Station and the Community Engagement Strategy where he believed it was working well the Council and West Mercia Police particularly in relation to drugs, but did not feel that the issues of partnership working were covered in the reports of the West Mercia Police Authority.

Councillor Hunt responded to Councillor Chappell’s questions and stated they were operational matters which were not within his remit.  He requested that the issues were forwarded to him in writing and he undertook to follow up on the matters.  With regard to recruitment figures he stated that in Herefordshire there had been significant increases in staffing levels.  The authority was now up to establishment levels in the Herefordshire division with 290 officers, 130 civilian staff and 40 Community Support officers.  Councillor Hunt added that he understood the point raised on the partnership and stated that information on consultation was reported back to the authority.  He stated that he would report back to the questioners personally once he had received a full response from the authority on the questions raised.

The Leader of the Council referred to the Police Authority report of 18 December regarding the budget for the forthcoming year and the setting of the precept for Council tax.  He referred to paragraph 11 and the PCCG being phased out and different consultation groups being formed.  The Leader sought assurance that the Police Authority would not do their own thing on community consultation and also sought assurance that the Police Authority had looked at efficiency savings before setting the precept for Council tax.  Council discussed the issues of anti-social behaviour and the PACT (Partners and Communities Together) meetings and also the proposal that the Police Authority once again come under the local authority.  In referring to integrated performance figures there was concern that partner organisations were consistently in the red rather than the black, which posed a risk in itself.  It was proposed that the Police Authority be invited to come and speak to Council.

Councillor Hunt responded to the questions and with reference to the Police Authority coming under the local authority once again he stated he did support and the idea was being examined, with proposals to come to Council in the future.  He added that efficiency savings had been made prior to the setting of the precept.  With regard to the PCCG meetings these were being removed and replaced by policing groups.  Councillor Hunt confirmed that he would pass on the request for the Divisional Commander to come and speak to Council. 

RESOLVED:   That the report of the meetings of the West Mercia Police Authority held on 25 September and 18 December 2007 be received.