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.