PCC Launches New Transformational Police and Crime Plan

A new blueprint Plan for policing, community safety and criminal justice across Hertfordshire has been published by David Lloyd the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire.

Following his re-election last year Mr Lloyd has consulted with thousands of residents to draw up the new strategic five-year Plan ‘Everybody’s Business’ which takes an evidence-based and Prevention First approach to policing across the county.

The top priorities of the Commissioner remain to: Keep Crime Low, Focus on Victims, Recruit More Officers, Protect Local Policing, Increase Efficiency and Keep Tax Low.

The ambitious Plan sets out how Hertfordshire Constabulary together with partners and the public have a key role in tackling violence against women, girls and children; improving the legitimacy and public confidence in policing; and addressing the public’s priorities around cybercrime, road safety and ASB.

Additional officers from Hertfordshire’s largest ever police force will help support the delivery of an evidence-based policing approach and use hot-spot mapping techniques to target areas of harm, helping to intervene early and prevent people from becoming victims of crime.

Launching the Plan Mr Lloyd said: ‘Having been elected for the third time as Police and Crime Commissioner I have used the time since the election to reflect on what needs to be done to ensure that Hertfordshire remains one of the safest counties in the country.

‘This Plan is built on my manifesto promises and forms a contract with the public on what they have told me are the priorities they want to see action taken on. The police uplift programme gives us a once in a generation opportunity to consider where we should best place the additional resources and I have been clear that my focus is on crime prevention.

‘There can be many approaches taken to deliver effective crime prevention, including early interventions, deterrence measures, target hardening and rehabilitation. For me the only important measure is ‘what works?’ Police and partners need to use the highest quality research evidence to look at how to reduce a specific crime problem and tailor the intervention to the local context and conditions.

‘This Plan also reflects on an area that has been important to me for some time – violence against women and girls. Recent tragic incidents nationally have brought the issues to the fore in the public’s perception.

‘Nationally the whole issue of legitimacy of policing is something which the public is concerned about and we must react to. Policing is built on a Code of Ethics which forms the foundation of Standards of Professional Behaviour and is a key determinant of public confidence in policing. We must get these right if we are to have a police service that is fair, ethical, and representative; and ensure that it is seen to act one with integrity, honesty and compassion.’

Mr Lloyd added: ‘Residential burglary in Hertfordshire has halved in the past few years and is now at an all-time low, with a typical day recording only seven across the whole county. But we need to continue to reduce it further.

‘On cybercrime I’ve outlined my commitment to building of my Beacon Fraud Hub to provide outstanding advice and support to victims of fraud, and they have already helped victims recover millions of pounds. I’ve set out measures to look at how we can simplify the reporting process by introducing a single countywide platform.’

The public also expressed strong support for the Commissioner’s continued policy of maintaining a strong neighbourhood policing model which ensures each district or borough has at least one police station housing neighbourhood, response and investigation teams. Meanwhile Hertfordshire residents pay the amongst the least amount for policing in the country, with the last Council Tax percent remaining the fifth lowest in England and Wales.

The Plan can be read in full online at www.hertscommissioner.org/your-pcc/community-safety-criminal-justice-plan .