Safer & Stronger Consultation – Residents’ Input into Police & Crime Plan Requested

This consultation aims to understand the views of residents, community groups, business organisations, victims of crime and other stakeholders concerning the Police and Crime Plan priorities for 2013/14 – 2016/17, so that the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) can publish a plan and associated budget which addresses the policing and community safety needs of the area.

This survey will take around five minutes to complete and will take you through the four priority areas, a page about the local plan and a few questions about you.

If you would prefer to complete a hard copy version of this survey please contact the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office on 01275 816377 or [email protected].

Why Consult?
The PCC must publish a five year Police and Crime Plan by the end of March 2013 which sets out vision, aims and objectives for her term in office. This is a 5 year plan but will be refreshed annually.

Force-wide priorities
PCC Sue Mountstevens was elected on 16 November 2012 with the following commitments which lie at the heart of her draft Police and Crime Plan. PCC Sue Mountstevens believes that you have a right to be safe and feel safe in your community. It is her aim to ensure that this is the case, and that the people of Avon and Somerset have the highest level of confidence in their Police, Community Safety and Criminal Justice services.

Reduce the impact that anti-social behaviour has in our communities: “I want to enable you to live without fear of harassment, abuse, or threatening behaviour. I will do this by supporting joined up approaches to tackling the issues affecting your area. I will focus in particular, on reducing risk to the most vulnerable and repeat victims.”

Prevent and reduce violence, particularly violence towards women and girls: “I want to ensure that all victims get the help they need when they need it. I will do this by encouraging and enabling reporting, supporting early intervention and improving access to support and services, particularly amongst those most vulnerable to harm.”

Prevent and reduce crime in your area, particularly burglary offences: “I want to further reduce crime and improve feelings of safety in your area, with a particular focus on domestic and commercial burglary. I will work to tackle the causes of crime and support joined up prevention, enforcement, rehabilitation and criminal justice approaches to youth and adult offending.”

Ensure victims are at the heart of the criminal justice system: I want to improve victim satisfaction with and influence over the services they receive. I will do this by developing an integrated approach to victim services that has the voice of victims at its heart. I will be a fierce advocate for all victims, and young people in particular, who are more likely to be victims of crime than any other group.”

The Police and Crime Plan will also be informed by consultation with partners and the Avon and Somerset Strategic Needs Assessment.

PCC Sue Mountstevens plans to accept the government’s offer of a grant in return for freezing the policing part of the council tax for 2013/14. Her Police and Crime plan and priorities are therefore written on the basis of a budget with this taken into account. In the longer term however consideration will have to go into whether this position is sustainable.

Local priorities PCC Sue Mountstevens has made a commitment to issue, for the first time, district level plans in order to give residents and stakeholders a clear view of how the plan will be implemented in their area. Therefore this survey asks respondents for their input into the local element of the Plan.

Please follow the weblink to access the survey here.

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