- Gloucestershire’s PCC says he’s “encouraged” to see many of the issues in his election manifesto are also being prioritised by Government
- The Government’s ‘Beating Crime Plan’ was released today (27 July)
- It includes improving digital contact with the police; improving 101 and 999; and the use of electronic monitoring for prolific offenders.
Gloucestershire’s new Police and Crime Commissioner has offered his strong support to the Government’s ‘Beating Crime Plan’, which has been released by the Prime Minister today.
Chris Nelson has commended the Government’s aims in the new report, which will support the commitments he has made to drive down crime in Gloucestershire and will be included in his Police and Crime Plan.
The national plan states it will:
- Ensure every person living in England and Wales has access to the police digitally through the police.uk platform.
- Improve the effectiveness of both the 101 and 999 service, by working alongside the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to develop league tables for answering calls.
- Build on the success of a trial in Gloucestershire and expand the use of electronic monitoring (‘tagging’) for serious acquisitive offenders to a further 13 police force areas.
- Trial the use of alcohol tags – which detect alcohol in the sweat of offenders guilty of drink-fuelled crime.
- Encourage prison leavers to turn their backs on crime by securing employment. The Government aims to recruit 1,000 prison leavers into Civil Service roles by the end of 2023
- Empower the police to take more knives off the streets and to prevent serious violence by permanently relaxing conditions on the use of section 60 stop and search powers
- Expand the role for Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) – The Government will launch the second part of the PCC Review to equip PCCs with the tools they need to drive down crime and anti-social behaviour in their local areas.
Speaking about the plan, Chris Nelson said: “It’s encouraging to see the measures contained in the Beating Crime Plan chime so strongly with the issues that Gloucestershire residents have told me they are most worried about. My Police and Crime Plan will outline how we will take local action to make our County safer, and these new measures announced by the Government will give us more weapons in our arsenal.
“It shows how, by working together, we can tackle persistent offenders, drive down anti-social behaviour and give the law-abiding majority the respect and support they need if they become a victim of crime.
“No-where is that respect more important than in ensuring people can effectively contact the police in a way which works for them. The problems with the 101 service in Gloucestershire are well- known and I hope that having Government support will help us fix this vital link between our communities and the police.”
Other areas which Mr Nelson hopes to highlight in his Police and Crime Plan include taking a ‘zero-tolerance approach’ to anti-social behaviour; tackling issues including dog theft, rural crime, violence against women and girls; and the recruitment of 300 police officers and staff.
The Government’s Beating Crime Plan is available to view here
