Police and Crime Plan 2013-14
This Police and Crime Plan was agreed on 28 March 2013.
The plan includes commitments to increase public confidence in
policing, while sustaining the downward pattern in recorded
crime. There is a particular focus on hate crime, stop and
search, safer travel and protecting the most vulnerable members of
society. The PCC will consult this year on how police
procurement can better contribute to economic well-being in our
area, and announces a review of Police & Community Support
Officer powers. The plan also describes how better technology
and improved working practice can support a new operating
model. The theme running through the plan is a commitment to
"Pride in Our Police". As former PCC, the late Bob Jones
said, "I want the police to reflect the strong sense of civic
identify that exists in our local authority areas and in your
neighbourhoods".
The plan delivered on former PCC,
the late Bob Jones' manifesto commitment to "passport"
community safety funding to local areas, allowing community-led
Local Policing and Crime Boards - built on existing Community
Safety Partnerships - to set priorities that are right for their
areas, and hold local agencies to account. In future, local
police and crime plans will become the bedrock for planning.
As previously announced, the policing precept is
rising by three percent, or about 5p per week for a Band D
property. The new precept, £102.43, remains the second lowest
in the country - much lower than the metropolitan average (about
£130), or other forces in our region (over £170). However,
the intense financial pressure on policing continues thanks to
ongoing cuts in central grant funding, and unfair application of
the police funding formula.
Each of the West Midlands Local
Policing Units has created its own Police and Crime Plan, which
reflects the differing needs of local areas. These local plans are
a key driver to ensure local West Midlands people's needs are being
met by our local police service. In future years, these will
form the basis of the Police and Crime plan and will be developed
by local Police and Crime Boards. These are avaiable to
download.