Agenda item

Chief Inspector Lee Pache from Lincolnshire Police will discuss the multi-agency response to night time economy crime and the future model for policing in Lincolnshire.

Chief Inspector Lee Pache, Lincolnshire Police’s Chief Inspector Community Safety for South Division (South Kesteven and South Holland) was welcomed to the meeting. He spoke to the Committee about multi-agency policing of the night time economy and changes to Lincolnshire Police’s structure.

Policing Model

• The force was required to make savings of 20% over a four year period, leading to a reduction in police officer and staff posts.
• Lincolnshire Police would go from three divisions (South, West and East) to a whole force model. Local policing will be managed through four district areas, each led by a Chief Inspector.
• Chief Inspector Mark Housley will take responsibility for the Kesteven district, comprising South Kesteven and North Kesteven.
• The force will structure itself around themed areas: neighbourhood policing, response and patrol, serious crime and protective services.
• Day-to-day management of neighbourhood policing teams was expected to remain with inspectors. From April 2011, the number of neighbourhood police constables in Lincolnshire will increase from 55 to 184. Officers will be attached to specific wards and concentrate on non-emergency calls; focusing on local-area problem-solving and investigation. This should increase local visibility particularly in rural areas.
• Response and patrol will be carried out by a smaller team of officers who will respond to emergency incidents and arrest offenders, who will be handed over to neighbourhood policing officers or the volume crime team to investigate.
• Funding for PCSOs was guaranteed for the next three years. Members were concerned that the hours worked by PCSOs did not match the times when communities had most concerns. Working outside contracted hours was an individual’s choice.
• It was unclear what partnership-based funding would be available for the next financial year.
• In response to a Member’s question, Chief Inspector Pache said there had been reductions in some aspects of paperwork, however a certain amount was necessary to ensure the successful prosecution of offenders.
• To increase visibility, officers were issued with blackberries, so they could complete certain functions without returning to the police station.
• Lincolnshire Police and all the district councils in Lincolnshire would move to a single anti-social behaviour case management system. This would prevent duplication between agencies and provide a better-informed picture across the county.
• There had been a large increase in the number of special constables.
• Lincolnshire Police’s community safety activity would be centralised. The unit would have responsibility for the Neighbourhood Watch function.
• Lincolnshire Police were developing an Estate Strategy, which would be used to define the usage of police stations across the county.

Multi-Agency Policing in the night-time economy

• Lincolnshire Police, together with South Kesteven District Council form two partners on the South Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership (CSP). The CSP covers crime and disorder and community safety issues across South Kesteven and South Holland.
• Partnership structures were being reviewed in the context of organisational restructures. It was anticipated that partnerships would change to reflect new boundaries, however, it was unclear what any new partnership structures would look like.
• South Lincolnshire CSP has thematic groups covering key local priorities, including Violent Crime and Substance Misuse. This group takes a particular interest in the multi-agency response to night-time economy issues. This will continue until any new structure takes effect.
• Operation Hornet is Lincolnshire Police’s main tool for policing the night-time economy and incorporates hi-visibility policing in town centres. This often includes a wide variety of partners.
• Police officers are in regular contact with CCTV operators using Pubwatch radios. This allows operators to alert officers of potential flashpoints. Chief Inspector Pache empahised the value Lincolnshire Police placed on the provision of CCTV and gave examples of its effective use.
• Grantham had an active Street Pastor scheme. This was being replicated in Stamford.
• As part of a pilot scheme in Grantham, running until March, 2011, the County Council commissioned two street wardens, both CRB checked and registered with the Security Industry Authority (SIA). They live within and know the local area. Lincolnshire Police’s Licensing Team had responsibility for ensuring Street Wardens behaved appropriately and reporting any concerns to the SIA.
• Chief Inspector Pache reported that both crime categories: assault with injury and assault with less serious injury, recorded decreases in Grantham and Stamford. The total amount of recorded crime within South Kesteven had also reduced.

The Chairman thanked Chief Inspector Pache for attending the meeting and briefing Members and encouraged him to use the Committee to support local policing.