220719 Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel Response to Annual Report

Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel – 15 July 2019 - Consideration of Annual Report 2018/19 

In accordance with Section 28(4)(d) of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 I’m writing on behalf of the Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel to formally report to you their views on your Annual Report for 2018/19 following consideration of its contents at the Panel’s ‘public’ meeting on 15 July 2019. 

Accordingly, I summarise below the main points of interest to, and discussed by, the Panel: 

SPACE Scheme – The Panel were pleased to note the success of the Scheme during 2018  after considering your report that attendances had been around 30,000 with a 41% reduction (compared to the 2017 figures) in Anti Social Behaviour during the period when the scheme was in operation. They were mindful that your office acted as the conduit for the scheme, the successful delivery of which was dependent on partnership working with local authorities and other agencies. 

Offenders’ Access to the Labour Market – You reported on the development of a scheme to improve offenders’ access to the Labour Market and your intention to commission a new service in 2019 aimed at offering offenders employment opportunities in the construction sector. Panel members agreed with your views on the importance of the Prison Service ending the ‘revolving door’ situation by focussing resources on rehabilitation and prevention of re-offending through training and development.

‘Catch 22’ – The Panel was extremely interested in your report on ‘Catch 22’ the social, not for profit business, delivering support for victims of CSE and children who go missing. In 2018/19 3,126 reports were received of children missing from home/care, involving 1,421 children. You reported on multi agency work on addressing this issue both within the UK and beyond. In addition, Catch 22 had received 365 referrals for children requiring support around CSE. 

As your Annual Report reflects the regular updates which we receive from you on your Safer, Fairer, United Communities Strategy, we did not consider it necessary to look in detail at every service/project reported. We are satisfied that the Annual Report demonstrates progress on delivery of your Strategy. For future years’ Reports we look forward to the inclusion of information on how collaboration between the Police and Fire and Rescue Services will contribute to the delivery of the Strategy. 

This letter will be published on the websites of local authorities represented on the Panel. You are requested to publish it on your website alongside your Annual Report. 

Yours sincerely

Stephen Sweeney
Chairman - Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel