Tackling drugs and gangs, preventing serious violence and increasing the number of police on the streets are all central objectives in the new, three-year plan of Cleveland’s Police and Crime Commissioner.
PCC Steve Turner has today (Monday 20 December) published his 10-point Police and Crime Plan, which draws together his vision for making Cleveland a safer place.
All PCCs have a responsibility to publish a Police and Crime Plan to set the strategic direction for policing and determine where funding is targeted to make sure objectives are met.
In developing the plan, Steve consulted with hundreds of residents and key stakeholders to ensure the priorities of the community were reflected in his objectives.
The PCC has four overall outcomes for policing and community safety in Cleveland over the next three years. They are:
• To build public confidence and put the pride back into Cleveland Police;
• To work together with partners to reduce crime – in particular serious violence;
• To make greater use of technology to create efficiencies and improve productivity;
• To provide high quality services, which meet the needs of victims and the most vulnerable in Cleveland’s communities.
In order to achieve its four overall outcomes for policing, the plan has ten key objectives. Whilst all ten objectives are of equal importance, they have been listed within the plan in order of importance to Cleveland’s communities.
They are:
• Bringing offenders to justice;
• Getting tough on drugs and gangs;
• Tackling anti-social behaviour head-on;
• Helping to provide an effective police and criminal justice system;
• Preventing, reducing and tackling serious violence;
• Putting more police on the streets;
• Tackling violence against women and girls;
• Building confidence in Cleveland’s communities;
• Providing effective, quality support for victims and witnesses;
• Using technology to combat crime.
Cleveland PCC Steve Turner said: “After six months in development, the Police and Crime Plan is the cornerstone of my work as Police and Crime Commissioner.
“It will inform everything I do during my term as an elected leader. It will guide the strategic direction of Cleveland Police, determine how I allocate funding and influence the tone and topics of scrutiny with senior leaders in the force.
“After a major consultation with residents, business owners and other stakeholders over the summer, I am confident that the priorities in this plan reflect the needs and the concerns of the people of Cleveland.
“Residents tell me they want to see less violence and drug crime on their streets, increased visible policing in their neighbourhoods and a justice system that makes the punishment fit the crime.
“Working with partners across Cleveland, I am already starting to deliver many of the objectives set out in the plan and as we move into 2022, there are more exciting projects and initiatives to come.
“I’m more focused and determined than ever to deliver on this plan and put the pride back into Cleveland Police.”
In addition to setting out Mr Turner’s priorities, the plan also has a greater emphasis on performance than the plan it replaces.
To maintain openness, transparency and accountability, the plan contains clear outcomes, key deliverables and measures of success – including against the performance of Cleveland Police.
As part of national changes to PCC responsibilities, statistics measuring force’s performance against the plan will be published quarterly on the PCC’s website.
Read the Commissioner's 10-Point Plan here