Sussex
Police & Crime
Commissioner
Safer in Sussex
Police & Crime Plan 2014/2017
Contents
Section
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Foreword
Summary of Achievements to Date - One Year On
Roles & Responsibilities
Police & Crime Commissioner
Chief Constable
Police & Crime Panel
Priority Areas & Objectives
Priority Areas
Priority Objectives
Strategic Policing Requirement
Sussex & Surrey Collaboration
Police, Engagement & Partnership
Police
Engagement
Partnership
Crime & Community Safety
Victim Focus
Public Confidence
Value for Money
Policing Budget & Precept
2
Page
3
4
6
6
7
8
9
9
10
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
26
31
37
40
Foreword
performance in a time of austerity. My ambitions to continue
driving down crime and for Sussex to remain a safe place in
which to live remain unchanged.
This refreshed Police & Crime Plan
takes a look at the strategic aims and
objectives that were identified when I
was elected in 2012.
Further achievements include opening recruitment for the
first time in three and a half years, creating a 29-member
Youth Commission, unveiling a 5-year estates strategy for
Sussex Police, agreeing a joint collaborative vision with
Surrey Police and becoming the first police force in
England and Wales to gain White Ribbon Award status in
recognition of a commitment to reducing domestic abuse
& violence against women.
Over the last year, I have listened extensively to your concerns
and priorities and will continue to do so. I have really enjoyed
meeting local residents, community groups and organisations
across Sussex to gain a better understanding of the issues
impacting upon your lives and how things might be improved.
This two-way dialogue ensures that I am more aware of your
concerns and can respond accordingly.
I have sought to make additional investment in areas that
pose the greatest risk to the residents of Sussex and have
increased the policing precept by 1.95% for 2014/2015. This
investment will be used to strengthen and enhance the
capacity of Sussex Police in the fight against cyber crime, to
tackle serious sexual offences and child exploitation and to
increase the visibility of front-line policing.
My four priority areas that drive our Plan
remain unchanged:
• Crime & Community Safety
• Victim Focus
• Public Confidence
• Value for Money
The Plan continues to be a living document and will remain
under constant review. I am grateful for the support that the
members of the Police & Crime Panel have given me in
revising this Plan because they play a vital role in
scrutinising my decisions and performance against the Plan.
The measures and objectives within each of these areas have
been updated to ensure that they continue to reflect
accurately your expectations and remain focused on the
issues that you have told me are important to you. The
Chief Constable has also revised the Operational Delivery
Plan for Sussex Police which supports and delivers the
measures and objectives outlined in our Plan.
I look forward to building on last year’s achievements and
working with partners in 2014/15 to make us all Safer in Sussex.
I am pleased to confirm that crime has fallen
throughout my first year of office and for the
eighth successive year in Sussex. Credit must again
be given to Sussex Police and partners for their
determination and hard work to improve
Katy Bourne
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner
3
One Year On
Summary of Achievements
to Date – One Year On
The following performance has been
demonstrated against the priorities outlined in
the Plan throughout the Commissioner’s first
year of office (November 2012 to October 2013)
Crime & Community Safety
Victim Focus
• The Commissioner has launched the Safer in Sussex
Community Fund which provides financial support to
local projects that tackle crime and improve
community safety.
• The Commissioner has driven Sussex Police to become
the first police force in England and Wales to gain White
Ribbon Award status in recognition of a commitment to
reducing domestic abuse & violence.
• The Commissioner has been working with the uppertier authorities to develop a pan-Sussex performance
framework to monitor the ability of all individual
Community Safety Partnerships to reduce crime and
improve community safety against consistent criteria.
• The Commissioner has established a variety of methods
to communicate with victims of crime, witnesses affected
by crime, and service providers. A programme of work
has been commissioned through Portsmouth University
to prepare a needs analysis which will inform future
service provision in Sussex and Surrey.
Performance against Measure:
Recorded crimes per 1,000 population have reduced by 7%.
Performance against Measure:
Victim satisfaction has remained constant at 83%.
4
One Year On
Public Confidence
Value for Money
• As part of the Commissioner’s pledge to increase police
visibility, Mrs Bourne has opened recruitment for 120
police officers, 30 PCSOs, 160 Special Constables and 32
civilian investigators to be in post by April 2015.
• The Commissioner has unveiled plans for a £20m
investment programme in the Sussex Police estate
to improve the accessibility and visibility of
neighbourhood policing.
• The Commissioner has launched a Youth Commission
to engage with and gather the views of young people
from across the county. Their findings and conclusions
will be presented to the Commissioner with the aim
of informing, supporting and challenging the
priorities set out in the Plan.
• The Commissioner has worked with Sussex Police
to review the Private Finance Initiative Custody
contract which has achieved savings of £0.98m.
Performance against Measure:
There has been a 2% increase in the reporting of
domestic abuse & violence and serious sexual offences
and a 33% increase in recorded number of hate crimes.
Performance against Measure:
An additional £2.2m of savings have been identified
against the measure of £9.6m. In total, £11.8m of
savings have been found.
5
Responsibilities
Roles & Responsibilities
Police & Crime
Commissioner
The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act
(2011) established the role of the Police & Crime
Commissioner. The Act set provisions for the
replacement of police authorities with directly
elected Police & Crime Commissioners, with the
aim of improving police accountability by
‘reconnecting’ the public with policing.
The Commissioner will expect the Chief Constable to direct
the resources at his disposal to meet the measures outlined
in the Plan as reflected in the Operational Delivery Plan.
Complaints
The Sussex Police & Crime Panel has a duty to consider
any complaints made against the Sussex Police & Crime
Commissioner.
The Commissioner has a number of statutory
responsibilities which include:
• Setting the strategic direction for policing in Sussex
and holding the Chief Constable to account for the
delivery of this policing;
• Publishing a Police & Crime Plan (in consultation with
the Chief Constable);
• Setting the budget for the policing of Sussex and
setting the amount of Council Tax collected for
policing purposes (the precept);
• Holding the Chief Constable to account for delivering
policing that is efficient, effective and responsive to
the needs of the public as set out in the Police &
Crime Plan;
• Appointing, and if necessary, dismissing the Chief
Constable of Sussex Police.
6
Responsibilities
Chief Constable
Complaints
The Chief Constable is responsible for keeping
the communities of Sussex safe and secure.
The Commissioner has a statutory duty to consider
and investigate any complaints or conduct matters
against the Chief Constable of Sussex Police, where
he has been personally and directly involved.
The Act protects the operational independence of the
police by making it clear that the Chief Constable retains
direction and control of the force’s officers and staff.
The Chief Constable is responsible for investigating
complaints and conduct matters against police officers and
staff and on operational and policy matters.
The Chief Constable is accountable in law for the
exercise of police powers, and to the Commissioner
for the delivery of efficient and effective policing, and
management of resources and expenditure by the
police force.
Any complaints received by the Commissioner against
Sussex Police will be forwarded to the Professional
Standards Department within Sussex Police for them to
respond directly.
7
Responsibilities
Police & Crime Panel
The Panel has a number of powers and
responsibilities, including:
The Police & Crime Panel scrutinise the
performance of the Police & Crime
Commissioner on behalf of local people and
provide a ‘check and balance’ in terms of
transparency.
• reviewing and endorsing the Police & Crime Plan together
with reporting and making recommendations on the
policing precept;
• scrutinising and reporting on the Commissioner’s Annual
Report;
The Panel is made up of representatives from each of
the 15 local authorities within Sussex, plus two
independent members. There is a requirement for
political and geographical balance amongst the elected
members of the Panel.
• handling and resolving complaints against the
Commissioner;
• reviewing and scrutinising key strategic decisions;
• making and publishing reports or recommendations to
the Commissioner on the discharge of her functions;
• holding confirmation hearings for the proposed
appointments of Chief Constable, Chief Executive and
Chief Finance Officer;
• the power to suspend the Commissioner if charged with
an imprisonable offence or appoint an acting
Commissioner where the incumbent Commissioner is
incapacitated, resigns or is disqualified.
8
Priorities
Priority Areas & Objectives
Priority Areas
The Commissioner’s priorities are informed by what local
people say is important to them and the issues that cause
the most harm or distress. The four priority areas that the
Commissioner will work with Sussex Police, engage with
communities and work in partnership to address are:
Crime &
Community
Safety
Victim
Focus
Sussex PCC
Public
Confidence
Value
for Money
9
The priorities are graphically represented as
overlapping, equal and interrelated circles because
they are equally important and intrinsically linked
to each other.
Priorities
Crime &
Community
Safety
Priority Objectives
Victim
Focus
For each of these priorities the Commissioner’s
local objectives are shown below. These are of
course not an exhaustive list but do reflect the
expectations of the public.
Public
Confidence
Sussex PCC
Value
for Money
Crime & Community Safety
Victim Focus
• Keeping Sussex a low crime area
• Improve the experience that victims and witnesses have
of the criminal justice system
• Commissioning new and lasting initiatives to
reduce re-offending
• Enhance, develop and commission initiatives to bring
justice for victims
• Taking account of community priorities and their
contributing factors (such as alcohol and drugs)
• Effective policing, responsive to the needs of victims and
the vulnerable
MEASURE
MEASURE
Reduce the recorded crimes per 1,000 population.
Support improvements to victim satisfaction in their
overall experience of the criminal justice system.
10
Priorities
Crime &
Community
Safety
Victim
Focus
Sussex PCC
Value for
Money
Public
Confidence
Public Confidence
Value for Money
• Build trust in the police and the criminal justice system
• Improve efficiency across the criminal justice system
• Remove proceeds of crime from criminals and
reinvest that money in our communities
• Further collaboration & partnership working
• Effective and innovative commissioning of services and
procurement of assets
• Encourage the development of volunteering to make
us Safer in Sussex
MEASURE
MEASURE
Increase the reporting of domestic abuse and
violence, serious sexual offences, anti-social
behaviour and hate crimes.
Working with Sussex Police and partners to meet the
financial challenges ahead whilst delivering Crime &
Community Safety, Victim Focus and Public Confidence
objectives and identifying opportunities to improve.
11
Strategic Policing
Requirement
Strategic Policing
Requirement
The Strategic Policing Requirement (SPR) has
been defined by the Home Secretary and
identifies the national threats that police forces
must address and ensure they are prepared for.
As part of the response to the SPR, the National Policing
Requirement (NPR) has been developed to detail the capacity
and contribution, capability, consistency and connectivity
required by individual police forces to counter the threats.
The threats have been assessed and selected from the
National Security Risk Assessment on the basis that
they either affect multiple police force areas or may
require action from multiple forces, resulting in a
national response. These threats are identified as:
The Commissioner and the Chief Constable must have “due
regard” to the NPR and ensure that their police force is in a
state of readiness to deal with any of the national threats.
The Commissioner must ensure that sufficient funds are set
aside to maintain their force’s contribution under the SPR.
This would include ensuring sufficient resilience and capacity
to cover Sussex’s contribution.
• public disorder
• civil emergencies
The Commissioner will hold the Chief Constable to account
for the delivery of this high-risk element of the business,
which the public expects to be of the highest calibre, through
an effective accountability framework.
• organised crime
• terrorism
• large-scale cyber incidents
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) will also
continue to seek assurances that the preparation and delivery
of the requirements set out in the SPR have been subject to a
proportionate and risk-based testing and inspection regime.
12
Collaboration
Both forces already successfully collaborate on Major
Crime, Forensics, Firearms, Fleet, Procurement and
Insurance. The areas of Operational Dogs and Surveillance
are currently being implemented, with Intelligence and
Tasking and Digital Forensics currently being worked on.
Sussex & Surrey
Collaboration
Sussex Police and Surrey Police have collaborated
in a number of areas since 2010. With budget
reductions facing both forces this approach will
help to protect and even enhance front-line
policing by reducing duplication, rationalising
processes and streamlining management and
support services. As a result the public of Sussex
and Surrey, wherever they live, will receive the
best possible service from the police.
Consultative services have been used by both forces to
develop how support services (Human Resources, Finance and
Information Technology) should be delivered in the future
and support the delivery of operational policing options.
Future Commissioning & Collaboration
The Commissioner will continue to work closely with the
Surrey Police & Crime Commissioner to oversee collaborative
work to ensure an effective service to the public.
In October 2013, the Commissioner and Chief
Constable agreed a joint collaborative vision with the
Surrey Police & Crime Commissioner and Chief
Constable of Surrey Police for how the two forces will
work together. The vision commits to a future of:
The Commissioner will be seeking opportunities in 2014/2015
to commission in an innovative way and collaborate where
it is in the best interest of Sussex residents to do so.
This will involve further collaborative work with Surrey Police
and other partners within the police service but also with
partners from other sectors in Sussex and beyond, including
the further exploration of shared premises with partners and
seeking the most effective use of the limited resources
available to us all.
“Surrey and Sussex Police working as one,
operationally and organisationally, to enhance and
improve services for the public whilst reducing costs
and responding to local needs”.
13
Our Approach
Police, Engagement & Partnership
Co
ll a b o r a t i o n
20
15
Fut
u
munity WVictims &
itness
Com
es Bu
sin
p
Engage
m
14
Police
& Crime
Plan
YOS
= Strategic Policing Requirement
= Keeping People Safe
= Neighbourhood Policing
= Best Use of Resources
= Serving Sussex 2015
= Community Safety Partnerships
= Local Authorities
= Sussex Criminal Justice Board
= Youth Offending Services
= Health & Wellbeing Boards and National Health Service
Commissio
re
Op
KP
S
e ra
t io n
SCJB
SPR
KPS
NP
BUR
SS2015
CSPs
LAs
SCJB
YOS
Health
s
LA
Key
CS
Ps
NP
t n e r s hi
y & Health
untar
Vol aritable
s
h
se C Sector
es
g
nin
P
ar
ge me
The diagram demonstrates how the Commissioner will
approach the opportunities and challenges ahead, with
three distinct elements: Engagement (engaging with
communities), Partnership working and Police (holding
the Chief Constable to account for the effectiveness of
policing in Sussex).
Pa
t
n
e
SS
SPR
l an
P
ry
B UR
al Delive
p
ershi
rtn
En
ga
nt
P o li c e
This Police & Crime Plan defines the
Commissioner’s approach to her responsibilities
in 2013/2017 and will be reviewed regularly.
P o li c e
Police
Police
P
ar
ge me
t n e r s hi
p
En
ga
nt
P o li c e
Sussex Police play a significant role in tackling
and reducing crime, and the Chief Constable’s
Operational Delivery Plan sets out how
operational policing will be delivered in Sussex,
against the priorities, measures and budget set
by the Commissioner, taking into account
regional and national responsibilities and the
needs of communities Sussex-wide.
The Commissioner will hold the Chief Constable to
account on behalf of the public in an open and
transparent way at her monthly Performance &
Accountability Meetings which are webcast. During the
meetings the Commissioner questions the Chief
Constable on Sussex Police’s performance against the
priorities and objectives set out in the Police & Crime Plan.
The Commissioner will uphold standards in policing
through the oversight of complaints handling, the
investigation of complaints against the Chief Constable, the
management of an effective Independent Custody Visiting
Scheme and an Independent CCTV Monitoring Scheme.
The Commissioner will scrutinise police performance
across all areas of front-line and support function
delivery, achieving the ambitions of current (including
Serving Sussex 2015) and future change programmes
and the effectiveness with which Sussex Police delivers
partnership working.
15
Engagement
Engagement
P
ar
ge me
t n e r s hi
p
En
ga
nt
P o li c e
The Commissioner’s vision for community
engagement is a local approach that is
accessible, adaptable and reflects local need.
The Commissioner has already developed effective
working relationships and will continue to engage with
communities, partners and Sussex Police to help shape
service delivery across the community safety and
criminal justice sectors.
The Commissioner will also engage with external
scrutineers such as Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of
Constabulary, the Independent Police Complaints
Commissioner and external auditors.
To ensure that all communities feel that their particular
needs are understood, the Office of the Sussex Police &
Crime Commissioner (OSPCC) will listen to, engage and
work in partnership with organisations that represent
local authorities, rural communities, businesses and
the voluntary and charitable sector.
16
Partnership
Partnership
En
ga
nt
P o li c e
ge me
The Commissioner is uniquely placed to work
closely with partnerships across Sussex to
identify areas of success and to look for
improvements where needed in order to prevent
crime, reduce re-offending and improve public
confidence.
Through effective scrutiny, the Commissioner will work to
ensure that policing in Sussex continues to be of a
consistently high quality, accessible to all and that people
are treated with fairness, respect and dignity.
t n e r s hi
p
P
ar
Successful partnership working means more can often be
achieved together rather than working in isolation. There
are many established and committed partnerships across
Sussex striving to make our communities safer. The
Commissioner will have regular dialogue with partners
regarding a shared contribution to shared outcomes.
17
Priorities
Crime & Community Safety
Crime &
Community
Safety
MEASURE
Reduce the recorded crimes per 1,000 population.
Victim
Focus
Sussex PCC
Public
Confidence
Value for
Money
Keeping Sussex a low crime area
The Commissioner will work with police, partners and the
Police
public to keep the risk of being a victim of crime in Sussex
Sussex is a low crime area and has seen year on year
reductions in the overall levels of recorded crime for the past
eight years, in line with national trends. This is as a result of
police efforts and the close and effective partnerships across
the county. However, it is only by working hard together
with the public that Sussex can be made even safer.
low, prioritising those crimes that cause the most harm to
communities and individuals.
The Commissioner will support the effective and successful
model of Neighbourhood Policing that is now well
established in Sussex. The Commissioner would like to see
an expansion of community involvement in community
safety and policing, through the encouragement and
ownership of police and crime related community budgets.
The chart below highlights the risk of being a victim of
crime in Sussex in comparison to the Most Similar Group
(MSG) of forces, based upon recorded crime data from
iQuanta. The MSG average is 54.795 recorded crimes.
The Commissioner acknowledges that assuring the safety
and security of the communities across Sussex starts with
Neighbourhood Policing but also recognises that Organised
Crime Groups (OCGs), terrorism and domestic extremism
have the potential to cause serious threats, harms and risks
to local people across neighbourhoods and communities.
The Commissioner will ensure that this protective services
element of policing (which is often invisible) is not forgotten,
and will hold the Chief Constable to account for identifying
these OCGs and the criminals who belong to them, disrupting
their activities, enforcing the law and confiscating their profits.
60
iQuanta – Sussex 52.858
recorded crimes per 1,000
population
1 November 2012 to 31
October 2013
Number of crimes
per 1000 population
50
40
30
20
10
0
Hertfordshire
Sussex
Staffordshire Hampshire
Essex
Thames
Avon &
Valley Leicestershire Somerset
Recorded Crimes per 1000 population
18
Priorities
Crime &
Community
Safety
Victim
Focus
Sussex PCC
Value for
Money
Public
Confidence
Engagement
Partnership
Victim care is an important aspect of the way that crime
is tackled. The Commissioner will engage with victims
and witnesses to ensure they get the support they need
from the point of the crime through to its resolution.
Victims clearly state that they wish to be regularly
updated regarding the progress of their cases with
information that is both accurate and understandable
(which includes being advised that there has been no
change since the last update). The Commissioner will
monitor the performance of Sussex Police in this regard.
The Commissioner is represented at all of the Community
Safety Partnerships (CSPs) by members of the Office of the
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner. This ensures that the
Commissioner is kept informed of the progress, outcomes
and decisions made by the CSPs.
A Performance Framework is currently being developed for
the CSPs which will enable the Commissioner to hold each of
the individual partnerships to account for the delivery of the
priorities outlined in this Plan.
19
Priorities
Commissioning new and lasting initiatives
to reduce re-offending
Crime &
Community
Safety
Victim
Focus
Sussex PCC
Value for
Money
Public
Confidence
Police
Partnership
The Commissioner is committed to ensuring
that Sussex Police and its partners tackle crime
and reduce re-offending.
The Commissioner also acknowledges that Early
Intervention is fundamental to reducing criminality
and the ability to identify those most at risk is a
significant tool in crime prevention.
The Commissioner will look for innovation and expects
Sussex to lead the way with new and lasting initiatives
and effective offender management.
The Commissioner will support early intervention policies,
such as the Government’s Troubled Families Programme, by
working with partners to commission services and share data.
Preventative initiatives can often be more effective in
the longer term in reducing crime than shorter term
enforcement activity, but by definition take a longer
time to begin to show results. The Commissioner will
work with police and partners to ensure that, over the
term of her office, new and lasting initiatives to
prevent crime and re-offending are encouraged.
Every offender who becomes an ex-offender means safer
streets and fewer victims. Turning people away from crime,
through Integrated Offender Management, also means less
pressure on the stretched resources of the criminal justice
system. To achieve this we must all work together in order to
not only punish offenders but also to help provide them with an
opportunity for successful reintegration into the community.
“I believe that the future of crime reduction lies
in prevention and partnership work. I want to
place a much greater emphasis on this during
my term of office, thereby benefiting Sussex
for years to come”
The Commissioner will support and champion initiatives
which positively contribute towards changes in offender
behaviour and strengthen public confidence. An example
is the Community Payback Scheme, where offenders
perform unpaid work that benefits the community.
Katy Bourne
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner
20
Priorities
Taking account of community priorities and their
contributing factors (such as alcohol & drugs)
Crime &
Community
Safety
Victim
Focus
Sussex PCC
Value for
Money
Public
Confidence
Police
Partnership
The Commissioner acknowledges that drugs and
alcohol can have a significant and negative
impact on communities, families and individuals.
The Commissioner recognises that a high
proportion of crimes are committed by individuals
under the influence of drugs or alcohol, in order to
fund an addiction or to profit from the illegal
distribution of drugs.
The Commissioner will ensure that Sussex Police
continues to work effectively with others to tackle both
supply and demand.
The Commissioner will seek opportunities to work with
partners to develop and coordinate work to reduce the
harm to individuals, their families and the community
caused by the misuse of drugs and alcohol, including the
Drug & Alcohol Action Teams.
The Commissioner has identified four community priorities
that she would like to tackle including Anti-Social
Behaviour, Domestic Abuse & Violence, Road Safety and
Cyber Crime.
21
Priorities
Community Priority 1:
Anti-Social Behaviour
Crime &
Community
Safety
Victim
Focus
Sussex PCC
Value for
Money
Public
Confidence
Anti-social behaviour damages quality of life,
erodes confidence and blights residents,
communities and businesses. Responding to and
tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority
for the public and the Commissioner.
The Community Remedy will also assist the Commissioner
in making the approach towards low-level crime and antisocial behaviour more responsive and accountable to the
victims and public in Sussex. This approach also ensures
that victims get justice swiftly and the offender has to face
immediate consequences for their actions, which could
make them less likely to reoffend in the future.
The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014
introduced two new measures to tackle anti-social
behaviour: the Community Remedy and the
Community Trigger. The Commissioner will play a key
role in convening agencies to build these measures
locally, and in designing what they may include.
Community Trigger – This will give victims and
communities the right to require that action is taken where
an ongoing anti-social behaviour problem has not been
addressed. It helps ensure that no-one suffering the
harmful effects of anti-social behaviour and hate crime falls
through the net. The trigger has been successfully piloted
in Brighton & Hove and the Commissioner will be reviewing
the thresholds and response time for victims.
Community Remedy – This will provide victims of low
level crime and anti-social behaviour with a say
regarding the out-of-court punishment of offenders.
These new powers will be agreed locally by the
Commissioner following a consultation process with
victims, partners and Sussex Police to define remedies
that are more consistent, proportionate and locally
relevant to Sussex.
22
Priorities
Victim
Focus
Sussex PCC
Value for
Money
Sussex Police, partners and voluntary organisations have a
shared objective to increase the reporting of domestic abuse
and violence and the Commissioner will play a very active and
high profile role in supporting that objective. Victims must
have trust that they will be respected and protected and be
aware of the help and support that is available to them.
Community Priority 2:
Domestic Abuse & Violence
Crime &
Community
Safety
Public
Confidence
Domestic abuse & violence is an under-reported
crime that is still largely hidden, occurring
behind closed doors, across all communities, all
age groups and all types of relationship.
The Commissioner is determined to ensure that the
approach taken by Sussex Police and criminal justice
partners to tackle domestic abuse and violence does not just
remain a well-intentioned statement. The Commissioner will
ensure that improvements in the way that victims are
supported are driven by Sussex Police and partners and that
offenders are vigorously pursued and brought to justice.
There were 6,412 recorded crimes of domestic abuse
and violence in 2013. However, many more of these
crimes do not get reported at all or are not reported
early enough in the cycle of abuse. The impact is far
reaching, impacting on children, relationships and
society. All partners in Sussex are determined to help
beat this vicious cycle and to change attitudes and
behaviour and increase the confidence of victims to
report crimes and incidents when they happen.
The Commissioner is also aware that Sussex Police is actively
looking to improve its service and share information with
partner agencies that provide the Independent Domestic
Violence Adviser service, including RISE (Brighton & Hove), CRI
(East Sussex) and WORTH (West Sussex). The Commissioner
will continue to oversee the work to understand the victim
experience across the criminal justice system.
The Commissioner has worked with Sussex Police to
become the first police force in England and Wales to
gain White Ribbon Award status. This is in recognition
of their commitment to the global White Ribbon
Campaign to ensure that men take more responsibility
for reducing the level of violence against women.
The Commissioner will be closely scrutinising the
contribution of Sussex Police to this objective and will be
taking a keen interest in feedback from victims and
witnesses about their experience of the police, the criminal
justice system and other partners in order to help shape and
improve services for the victims of this horrendous crime.
23
Priorities
Victim
Focus
Sussex PCC
Value for
Money
Operation Crackdown is a joint initiative run by Sussex Police
and the SSRP which provides the communities of Sussex
with an opportunity to report specific instances of anti-social
driving and enables Sussex Police to develop intelligence
regarding repeat offenders, vehicles, times and locations which
can then be used to plan, target and deploy police resources.
Community Priority 3:
Road Safety
Crime &
Community
Safety
Public
Confidence
The Commissioner understands the importance
that the residents of Sussex place on road
safety, particularly around anti-social driving,
speeding and parking. The Commissioner also
acknowledges that the responsibility for road
safety is shared by every road user in Sussex.
Operation Crackdown was relaunched in 2013 to make it
quicker and easier for members of the public to report incidents
of anti-social driving through an online, self-service facility.
Each report has a unique reference number which enables
individuals to check the progress of any submitted reports.
The Commissioner is fully supportive of the work
carried out by the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership
(SSRP) to tackle and prevent the main causes of
serious injuries and deaths on the roads of Sussex.
Changing driver attitudes and behaviour through a
combination of education, engineering and
enforcement is essential to ensure long-term
improvements in road safety because enforcement
alone does not provide a sustainable solution.
Community Speed Watch engages communities in
addressing speed related offending. Local volunteers join
together and monitor traffic speeds at identified locations
in the community and pass the recorded information to
Sussex Police which results in a warning letter being sent to
the registered keeper. The Community Speed Watch
initiative has been shown to act as a deterrent for people
exceeding local speed limits and enhancing the quality of
life for local residents.
The Commissioner would like to see communities
becoming more involved in playing their part in making
the roads of Sussex safer through initiatives such as
Operation Crackdown and Community Speed Watch.
The Commissioner regularly scrutinises the performance of
the Road Policing Unit at her meetings with the Chief
Constable and acknowledges that safer roads and
communities can be created by working together and
sharing the roads responsibly.
24
Priorities
Community Priority 4:
Cyber Crime
Crime &
Community
Safety
Victim
Focus
Sussex PCC
Value for
Money
Public
Confidence
The Commissioner also acknowledges that the true level of
this crime is under-reported and further work is ongoing
nationally to assess the total risk and harm.
The Commissioner recognises that whilst
criminality is adapting to exploit the expanding
digital environment, it is generally accepted that
policing and legislation are behind the curve.
The Commissioner recognises that there is a need for
Sussex Police to develop and increase their capacity and
capability to tackle effectively all types of cyber crime and
is working closely with Surrey Police to develop a joint
Cyber Crime Strategy, and plans, to tackle this threat.
In the digital world there is a wide range of cyber crime
taking place, from individuals who have been the
victims of financial scams or identity fraud, to
organised crime and child exploitation. People now live
more of their lives online and this trend is set to
continue as younger generations, who have grown-up
with technology, move into greater positions of
financial and social power.
25
Priorities
Victim Focus
Crime &
Community
Safety
Victim
Focus
Sussex PCC
Value for
Money
MEASURE
Public
Confidence
Improve victim satisfaction in the overall
experience with the criminal justice system.
Improve the experience that victims
and witnesses have of the criminal
justice system
Police
This enables victims to explain to offenders how they have
been affected by a crime, to get answers to their questions
and to receive an apology. It also gives offenders the
chance to understand the consequences of what they have
done and allows them to make amends directly to the
victims that they have harmed.
Sussex Police and the Sussex Criminal Justice
Board partners are already working hard to
place victims and witnesses at the heart of the
criminal justice system.
The Commissioner is now the Chair of the SCJB and will
continue to work closely with partners to achieve this
shared objective.
This has resulted in lower rates of re-offending,
increased victim satisfaction and reduced costs and
bureaucracy. A multi-agency Community Resolution
Scrutiny Panel independently assesses and monitors the
use of this option and identifies potential areas for
development and good practice.
The Commissioner is fully supportive of Restorative
Justice initiatives that bring victims and offenders
together. Community Resolution gives the police the
option of dealing with low-level and uncontested
offences, without having to go through the criminal
justice system. Community Resolution puts the needs
of the victim first and ensures that they become part
of the solution.
26
Priorities
Partnership
Crime &
Community
Safety
Victim
Focus
Sussex PCC
Value for
Money
Public
Confidence
The Commissioner is committed to increasing the
availability of Restorative Justice to more victims of crime
at various stages of the criminal justice system. Restorative
Justice has the potential to break the destructive pattern of
behaviour of those that offend by encouraging them to
confront the full extent of the emotional and physical
damage they have caused to their victims.
The Commissioner is the “Victim and Witness
Advocate” for Sussex and as such, is a new and
effective voice for victims and witnesses.
The Commissioner will work with partners and Sussex
Police to help ensure that support for victims is
consistent, available throughout the criminal justice
process and that victims and witnesses are treated in
accordance with their needs and with respect, dignity
and professionalism by all agencies involved.
The Commissioner will work with Sussex Police to expand
the provision of Restorative Justice service available. For
many victims, seeing the perpetrator punished for their
crime helps to bring closure, enabling them to get on with
their lives. For others, the judicial process is not enough,
leaving them frustrated that they were not able to describe
the hurt, stress and anxiety caused by the crime to the one
individual who needed to hear it most - the offender.
The Commissioner has established a Victims’
Commissioning Steering Group to ensure that the best
services are commissioned for victims, witnesses and
their families across Sussex and Surrey. From
2014/2015 the Commissioner will receive the central
government funding for all victim services to locally
commission services. The Commissioner will continue
to meet on a regular basis with victim service providers
to shape future service provision and to monitor the
benefits to victims and witnesses across the county.
The Commissioner will work with Sussex Police and
partners from statutory and voluntary sectors and, through
the collective management of the Sussex Criminal Justice
Board, will increase capability and capacity to deliver more
restorative services to victims in Sussex.
27
Priorities
Crime &
Community
Safety
Victim
Focus
Sussex PCC
Value for
Money
Public
Confidence
Enhance, develop and
commission initiatives to
bring justice for victims
Engagement
Partnership
The Commissioner acknowledges that more can
be done to ensure that those who have suffered
the greatest impact from crime, including those
who are persistently targeted and those who
are the most vulnerable receive the support
they need.
The Commissioner will continue to promote the
Government’s ‘Swift and Sure Justice’ reforms in
respect of minimising court delays and giving
victims and witnesses the opportunity to provide
evidence via video links.
28
Priorities
Crime &
Community
Safety
Victim
Focus
Sussex PCC
Value for
Money
Public
Confidence
Effective policing,
responsive to the needs of
victims and the vulnerable
Police
The Commissioner recognises that more can be done to
strengthen the relationship between the police and the
business community. The Commissioner is encouraged by
the development of a Business Crime Strategy for Sussex
Police which sets out the focus to reduce business crime in
partnership with local businesses.
The Commissioner is determined to ensure that
the policing in Sussex is effective, efficient and
responsive to the needs of the public and will
hold the Chief Constable to account for the
delivery of this operational policing.
Public surveys consistently show that the people of
Sussex value effective and responsive policing and the
Commissioner acknowledges that working towards
safer communities will not only involve the police, but
a wide range of service delivery partners. The
Commissioner holds the Chief Constable to account for
Sussex Police call handling performance as part of her
monthly Performance & Accountability Meetings.
29
Priorities
Partnership
Crime &
Community
Safety
Victim
Focus
Sussex PCC
Value for
Money
Public
Confidence
The Commissioner is committed to ensuring that rural
crimes are taken as seriously as urban crimes. The
geographic make-up of Sussex means that it is essential
that a proportionate focus is placed on tackling rural crime
and the Commissioner will hold the Chief Constable to
account for ensuring that an appropriate balance between
what is happening in rural areas and urban centres exists.
The Commissioner will engage with rural communities and
work in partnership with organisations such as Action in
Rural Sussex, the Countryside Landowners’ Association,
the National Farmers’ Union, the Countryside Alliance, the
South Downs National Park and the City and County
Councils to tackle rural crime collectively.
The Commissioner will work with partners to raise
the awareness of the most vulnerable in our
communities.
The Commissioner will work with the Business Crime
Reduction Partnerships and Local Enterprise
Partnerships across Sussex to prevent crime and
disorder which affects businesses, their employees,
customers and the community. This will enable
businesses to work more effectively with the police and
local authorities to create safe and stable business
environments.
The Commissioner is supportive of Employer Supported
Policing (ESP) which is a partnership between employers,
their staff and the police to support Special Constables in
their duties to increase public safety and confidence. The
Commissioner would like to see more businesses
introducing ESP in Sussex.
30
Priorities
Public Confidence
Crime &
Community
Safety
Victim
Focus
Sussex PCC
Value for
Money
MEASURE
Public
Confidence
Increase the reporting of domestic abuse and violence, serious
sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and hate crimes.
Build trust in the police and the criminal justice system
Police
The Commissioner will continue to work with Sussex Police
and partners to increase levels of reporting amongst these
crimes so that they can be tackled more effectively.
The Commissioner is determined to ensure that
policing in Sussex is effective and is responsive to the
particular needs of victims and the public. It is
imperative that victims are treated according to their
individual needs, rather than according to a crime
category which they appear to fit.
As part of the Commissioner’s pledge to increase police
visibility, recruitment for 120 police officers has been
opened for the first time in three and a half years. In
addition, processes for 30 Police Community Support
Officers, 32 civilian investigators and 160 Sussex Specials
have commenced and successful candidates will be in post
before the end of 2014.
This is particularly important in terms of increasing the
reporting of under-reported crimes and incidents, such
as domestic abuse and violence, serious sexual offences,
anti-social behaviour and hate crimes. The following
increases in recorded crimes were demonstrated
throughout the Commissioner’s first year in office:
Domestic
abuse and violence
& serious sexual
offences
Hate crimes
+2%
+33%
The Commissioner holds quarterly review meetings with the
Professional Standards Department within Sussex Police to
discuss officer conduct, gifts and hospitality to ensure that
the highest possible standards are maintained for policing in
England and Wales, as set out in the Code of Ethics which
has been developed by the College of Policing.
Increased reporting
31
Priorities
Engagement
Crime &
Community
Safety
Victim
Focus
Sussex PCC
Value for
Money
Public
Confidence
The Commissioner will continue to engage
with the people of Sussex to ensure that local
policing is effective, efficient and responsive
to the needs of the public.
The Commissioner has created a Youth Commission, with a
cohort of 29 individuals, to engage with and gather the views
of young people from across the county.Their findings and
conclusions will be presented to the Commissioner with
the aim of informing, supporting and challenging the
priorities set out in the Plan. The five priorities of the
Youth Commission are to:
The Commissioner acknowledges that communities
need to be reassured that procedures are undertaken
correctly, that the police do their work effectively,
politely and respectfully and that satisfactory
outcomes are achieved.
Sussex is a safe place to live, yet many residents,
remain disproportionately afraid of being a victim of
crime. They need to feel confident that they have a
police force that they can trust to act with integrity
and impartiality, that responds effectively when
required and treats them fairly, professionally and
according to their needs.
• improve the relationship between the police & young people
• raise awareness of the context and root causes of youth
offending
• tackle the habitual usage of drugs & alcohol by young people
• address bullying in all its forms, including online
• understand how to improve support for young people
who are victims of abuse, sexual assault and rape
32
Priorities
Partnership
Crime &
Community
Safety
Victim
Focus
Sussex PCC
Value for
Money
Public
Confidence
The Commissioner is fully supportive of the work carried out
by Crimestoppers to provide individuals with a secure and
anonymous means of passing on information about crime to
the police to make their communities a safer place to live.
Although the Commissioner is unable to
influence sentencing directly, she will be working
with Sussex Police, Victim Support and other
criminal justice partners to address gaps in the
service provision across Sussex and to build trust
in the police and the criminal justice system.
The Commissioner has outlined a Sussex-wide approach
towards troubled families, in partnership with the uppertier authorities and the Department for Communities and
Local Government.
Where crime occurs, the Commissioner and partners
will work to ensure that perpetrators receive swift and
sure justice and wherever possible provide reparation
to the community or the individual that is harmed.
33
Priorities
Victim
Focus
Sussex PCC
The following table demonstrates the total proceeds of
crime that have been confiscated from convicted criminals
in Sussex across the last 3 years and the amount that has
been specifically returned to Sussex Police.
Public Confidence
Crime &
Community
Safety
Public
Confidence
Remove proceeds of crime
from criminals and reinvest
that money in our communities
POCA Amounts
Actual Collections
Value for
Money
Police
The Commissioner believes that every power
available should be used to make life difficult
for criminals and to make sure that they do not
profit from crime. That money is to be
reinvested into worthwhile community safety
initiatives to help reduce crime further.
2010/11 2011/12 2012/13
£3.0m
£1.9m
£1.6m
Returned to Sussex Police £0.5m
£0.5m
£0.5m
The Commissioner expects Sussex Police and partner
agencies such as Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and
the Courts to target criminals and to increase the amount
confiscated and then reinvested in Sussex. This has
included providing the Young Witness Service with a
funding boost of £90,000 to support young people
attending court either as victims of crime or witnesses to it.
The Proceeds of Crime Act (2002) established the
Assets Recovery Agency, to allow for confiscation
orders to be placed on persons who benefit from
criminal conduct. Under the Home Office Asset
Recovery Incentivisation Scheme agencies get back a
percentage of what they recover.
The Commissioner will be seeking further opportunities to
reinvest this money back into the communities that have
been impacted most and plans to create a mechanism to
achieve this are under development.
The Commissioner has ensured that money accumulated
through the Police Properties Act (1897) is used effectively
in initiatives that prevent and deter crime or help the
victims of crime in meaningful ways.
34
Priorities
Victim
Focus
Sussex PCC
Value for
Money
Commissioner would like to increase the number of young
people involved in this scheme.
Public Confidence
Crime &
Community
Safety
Public
Confidence
Encourage the development of
volunteering to make us Safer
in Sussex
The Commissioner is fully supportive of Sussex Police’s
Community Safety Accreditation Scheme. The scheme
provides a framework for the Chief Constable to ‘accredit’
employers and employees, who are not employed by the
police, in discharging functions aimed at community safety
and which tackle crime, disorder, public nuisance and antisocial behaviour. The Commissioner will encourage and
develop this scheme to increase the numbers of volunteers
across Sussex and strengthen existing working relationships.
Police
Sussex Police is complemented and enhanced
by a significant body of volunteers which make
up the ‘extended police family’, through their
everyday work alongside officers and staff.
The Commissioner is closely involved in the development
and implementation of plans for Sussex Police to increase
the number of Special Constables to 450 by November 2015.
The Commissioner is delighted that the OSPCC has been
accredited with the Investing in Volunteers Quality
Standard for Volunteer Management for the Independent
Custody Visiting scheme and an Independent CCTV
Monitoring scheme. The Commissioner believes that
volunteers play a valuable role in our communities and
expects to be a leader in the delivery and coordination
of voluntary services to the criminal justice and
community safety initiatives across Sussex.
There are 180 Sussex Police Cadets aged 14 to 18
taking part in a programme of practical and police
related activities every week across the county. The
35
Priorities
Crime &
Community
Safety
Victim
Focus
Sussex PCC
Value for
Money
Public
Confidence
Engagement
Partnership
The Commissioner has launched the Safer in
Sussex Community Fund which provides
financial support to local projects that tackle
crime and improve community safety.
The Commissioner acknowledges the valuable
contribution that volunteers make towards keeping
their communities safe.
There are thousands of volunteers across the county, with
many working in organisations that specialise in crime
reduction, victim services and the rehabilitation of
offenders. This work is championed by the Commissioner
who will continue to encourage the development of
volunteering throughout Sussex.
Applications from individuals, local community groups
and organisations that can demonstrate how they are
tackling the issues in their area that support the
priorities set out in the Plan are encouraged.
The Commissioner will work in partnership with SpeakUp
Forum and the voluntary and community sector to
understand better the ‘social value’ that is provided by nonprofit organisations over and above what is directly paid for
when delivering services. The Commissioner will consider this
‘social value’ when making decisions about procurement, as
encouraged in the Public Services (Social Value) Act (2012).
The Commissioner will encourage and engage with
Neighbourhood Watch, Farm Watch, Community Speed
Watch and other community ‘Watch’ schemes, to ensure
our volunteers are recognised and valued for the part they
play in making us safer in Sussex. They are fundamentally
important partners in gathering intelligence and preventing
crime, especially in the more rural areas of Sussex.
36
Priorities
Value for Money
Crime &
Community
Safety
MEASURE
Victim
Focus
Sussex PCC
Value for
Money
Public
Confidence
Working with Sussex Police and partners to meet the financial challenges
ahead whilst delivering Crime & Community Safety, Victim Focus and Crime
& Public Confidence and identifying opportunities to improve.
Improve efficiency across the criminal justice system
Police
Sussex Police have replaced their Information Technology
systems with a single system called “Niche” as part of the
Smarter Systems Programme. This allows officers and staff
to work more flexibly by bringing together all of the
information in one place and reducing bureaucracy
because the information only needs to be input once.
Front-line officers are also able to access the system from
any location, including remote use through laptops and
tablets, which enables them to spend more of their time
out in the communities across Sussex.
The Commissioner is required to hold the Chief
Constable to account for securing value for
money in exercising his functions across all
areas of policing.
The Commissioner will continue to oversee the Serving
Sussex 2015 programme within Sussex Police and will
work hard to identify waste and inefficiencies whilst
ensuring that savings are reinvested into policing. The
Commissioner has reviewed all major contracts that were
previously agreed by Sussex Police Authority. In particular,
a review of the Private Finance Initiative Custody Contract
has resulted in savings of £0.98m being achieved.
The Commissioner will seek opportunities to invest in and
develop the Information Technology and mobile information
capabilities available to police officers. This approach will
endeavour to maximise productivity by ensuring that frontline officers spend more of their time out on the streets in
communities instead of in the police stations.
The Commissioner is responsible for the Sussex Police
estate (land and property) and has unveiled a
comprehensive 5-year estates strategy. This is a £20m
investment programme for police buildings to improve
the accessibility and visibility of neighbourhood
policing, looking at how services can be delivered more
efficiently and effectively.
37
Priorities
Victim
Focus
Sussex PCC
Value for
Money
Further collaboration &
partnership working
Value for Money
Crime &
Community
Safety
Public
Confidence
Improve efficiency across the
criminal justice system
Police
The Commissioner is seeking opportunities for further
collaborative work between Sussex Police and Surrey
Police to continue improving resilience, sharing expertise
and resources where they will deliver best value and
improved services over the medium to long term.
Partnership
The Commissioner remains committed to
working and collaborating with partners
wherever possible by sharing premises and
systems when it is in the public interest to do so.
The Commissioner will also be seeking additional opportunities
to explore the possibilities of increased cooperative
working and co-location of employees within partnership
premises. This will increase accessibility and efficiency
whilst simultaneously reducing service delivery costs.
The relocation of the policing services at Hove Town
Hall, to work alongside Brighton & Hove City Council, is
one good example of improving and modernising the
service for customers by providing extended hours of
operation and significant annual savings.
Partnership
The Commissioner will be seeking partnership working
opportunities at a local, regional and national level where it
will benefit the people of Sussex through crime reduction,
education and service improvements.
The Commissioner will seek opportunities to jointly
commission, building on the innovation across the county.
The Commissioner intends to use her commissioning role
as an opportunity to improve service provision across the
whole of Sussex, where the opportunity presents itself, in
close collaboration with partners, service providers and
users of services.
38
Priorities
Value for Money
Crime &
Community
Safety
Victim
Focus
Sussex PCC
Value for
Money
Public
Confidence
Effective and innovative
commissioning of services
and procurement of assets
Police
Corporate and social responsibility principles are naturally
embedded in the working practices of the OSPCC. The
Commissioner is committed to being a good employer and
a good business partner in terms of delivering the priorities,
objectives and measures outlined in this Plan.
The Commissioner will continue to ensure that
public funds are prudently managed under her
stewardship.
The Commissioner will also seek to enhance and build
upon social value. This duty encompasses economic
and environmental value as well as the ‘social’ value
that is provided by voluntary and charitable
organisations over and above what is directly paid for.
This approach will ensure that the true ‘costs of
services’ are factored into decision making and will
enable the Commissioner to meet her Social Value
Duty commitments.
The Commissioner will support local initiatives, share best
practice and innovation and measure the positive impact of
her work across Sussex. The Commissioner will endeavour
to support local Sussex based companies, which contribute
directly and indirectly to the Sussex economy, where
appropriate to do so. There will also be an expectation that
Sussex Police will pay their suppliers within 30 days of
receipt of invoice, in line with other responsible bodies.
39
Budget & Precept
Policing Budget & Precept
Budget
The Commissioner has approved a revenue
budget of £255.365m for 2014/2015. The core
grant from central government is reduced by
£8m (4.8%) compared to 2013/2014.
funding to Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) in
2014/2015 at the same level as 2012/13. This means that, in
addition to the protection of the 25% reduction made by the
Home Office in 2013/2014, CSP funding in Sussex will be
further protected for a second consecutive year from the
4.8% reduction in 2014/2015.
Of the £255.365m, some £251.003m is delegated to the
Chief Constable to fund his Operational Delivery Plan.
The balance of £4.362m is held by the Commissioner to
fund the office budget and to commission other services.
Precept
The Commissioner’s office budget has remained
consistent with 2013/2014 at £1.184m. The balance is
for the commissioning of community safety, victim
support and restorative justice services.
Following the government announcement about
Council Tax Referendum Limits, the Commissioner
proposed a precept increase for 2014/2015 of 1.95%.
Community Safety Fund Grants also form part of the
main police grant for 2014/2015, which means they are
subject to grant reductions at the same rate as the
main police grant.
This has added £2.70 per year per household for a Band D
property in Sussex, in order to fund future investment in
areas such as reducing serious sexual offending and tackling
child exploitation, strengthening the fight against cyber
crime and increasing the visibility of front-line policing.
Despite these added budgetary pressures, the
Commissioner has committed to maintaining the
The precept was supported and confirmed by the Police &
Crime Panel in January 2014.
40
Sussex
Police & Crime
Commissioner
Have Your Say
Get in touch
By sharing your views, you can help make
sure that I stay connected with the people
and communities I serve and that I
understand your priorities.
The Office of the
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner
Sackville House
Brooks Close
Lewes
East Sussex BN7 2FZ
Please visit my website and sign up to my
email newsletter: www.sussex-pcc.gov.uk
Or you can contact the office on:
Tel: 01273 481561
Email: spcc@sussex-pcc.gov.uk
01273 481561
spcc@sussex-pcc.gov.uk
@sussexpcc
www.facebook.com/SussexPCC
www.sussex-pcc.gov.uk