CHAIR ASKS


neighbourhood policing, strategies to tackle violence against women and girls, and anti-social behaviour – are aligned with the Government’s national mission. The Home Secretary has announced once-in-a-generation reform of the policing landscape to rebuild public trust and confidence in the service. I hope the real opportunity this reform programme presents is recognised and acted upon so that PCCs, on the public’s behalf, have the right levers to pull to establish greater local police accountability. It is vital we do more to get upstream and prevent crimes from being committed in the first place. The system is buckling under the strain of managing offenders in prison and the community. Crime prevention has to be better for society at large, for those who might otherwise find themselves in a revolving door of offending and punishment, and, of course, in reducing the number of people who have the misfortune to become victims of crime. Policing alone cannot make the difference, but by working together with local partners we can intervene early, diverting those at risk of offending, or reoffending. We all know that criminal behaviour


is often rooted in issues that cut across multiple sectors: a lack of educational opportunity, secure housing, or access to substance abuse support services, for instance. PCCs play a central role in convening partnerships locally. The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners recently published research on the value of effective local


multi-agency work in reducing crime. I would like the Government to put Local Criminal Justice Boards on a statutory footing, chaired by PCCs to streamline and bring crucial focus to their work, so that together – and based on evidence of what works - we can deliver real improvements for the public whilst helping to reduce the pressure on our over-stretched wider criminal justice system.


TL: What functions can PCCs undertake to help improve public confidence in policing? ES: Police and Crime Commissioners exist to give voice to the public’s views and ensure policing responds to those. Under our policing by consent model, police officers hold significant powers over


expects, and against which a force’s performance can be measured. Acting as a bridge between the public and the police, we scrutinise our local force, visibly holding the chief constable to account on delivering an efficient and effective service - vital to ensuring transparency and fostering greater trust. It is our job to ensure chief constables oversee a force made up of officers and staff conforming to the highest standards.


“I’m grateful for the work the Federation do both at a local and national level


standing up for their members and fighting to ensure officers get the support and recognition they deserve.”


their fellow citizens. We all know that the public’s confidence in policing has been badly damaged in recent years, raising questions in some communities about the legitimacy of policing in this country. Key to rebuilding trust and confidence is facilitating better public understanding of their local force, and forces’ understanding of the communities they serve. Based on public consultation, PCCs publish a Police and Crime Plan setting out clearly what the public


TL: Both as Merseyside PCC and Chair of the APCC, what is your experience of the Police Federation and its role? ES: Good relationships foster greater understanding and, whilst it’s to be expected that we won’t agree on absolutely everything, my experience of dealing with the Federation over the years has been positive. I meet regularly with the organisation at both national and local level which gives a useful insight into the issues rank and file officers are facing. We expect our police to confront difficult and


dangerous situations every day, whether out on the streets or investigating distressing crimes such as online child sexual abuse. This can take a terrible toll over time, so we must be mindful about officers’ stress levels and the impact that has on their mental health. I’m grateful for the work the Federation do both at a local and national level standing up for their members and fighting to ensure officers get the support and recognition they deserve.


22 | POLICE | APRIL | 2025


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