More than 3,000 residents have shared their views on policing and community safety issues with Leicestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Lord Willy Bach as he draws up his strategy for future policing services.
The county’s PCC said public feedback has been pivotal to the creation of his draft Police and Crime Plan, which is set to be presented to Leicestershire’s Police and Crime Panel on Monday (5 Dec).
Unveiling the results of an extensive public consultation project, he said future community safety would be driven by “public need, expectation and priorities”.
“The way in which policing is delivered will be guided by the very people it is here to protect,” he added.
The PCC collected the views of 3,026 people via telephone and web-based surveys and has also considered feedback from hundreds more during face-to-face meetings before and after his election.
Results show nine out of 10 residents believe reducing and preventing crime and increasing reporting of hidden crimes such as Hate Crime, Domestic Violence, Sexual Offences and Cyber Crime should be the Police’s primary priorities, while ensuring that neighbourhood policing teams continued to receive support came out as the third most important focus for residents.
Making it easy for the public to report crime and ASB and to contact the Police and other agencies was considered the fourth most important duty for Leicestershire Police while maintaining police visibility was the fifth highest priority.
Elsewhere, the results showed strong support (80% in the web survey) for a “one stop shop” of support provision for victims of crime.
There was also overwhelming support (nine in 10 people in the telephone survey) for raising additional revenue through an increased policing precept. This was seen as an acceptable means of generating the income needed to secure future police services.
Commenting on the findings, Willy Bach said: “Listening to the public is my number one priority and this is the fundamental purpose behind all of my engagement work, whether formal or informal.
“Local people can be very proud of the part they have played in shaping community safety priorities and I am very grateful for their support in this complex process.
“My Police and Crime Plan not only steers policing decisions but influences the work of a multitude of partners whose goal is to create a safer environment for local people. Together we can support one another to deliver lasting change.
“The insight I’ve gained over the past few months means I’m now able to leverage resources in support of the public’s top three priorities and identify a path forward that delivers value for money services and helps build trust and satisfaction in what we do.”
The PCC will present the draft of his Police and Crime Plan for the Police and Crime Panel’s feedback after which he will develop the final version to be published in the new year.
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Posted on Sunday 4th December 2016