Agenda and draft minutes

24.1   The Vice-Chair, Cllr Czolak, stood in to chair the meeting following apologies received from Cllr Rogers.

25.1   No interests were declared in addition to the standing table of personal interests.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting on 26 January 2024.

26.1   The Chair asked members to note the following amendment to minute 17.2 from the Panel meeting on 26 January, at the request of the OSPCC:

The Chief Constable has made a commitment that Sussex Police will attend the scene of all residential burglaries reported to them to try and secure the best possible evidence that will support effective investigations and maximise the potential for delivering successful outcomes. It was also explained that a large amount of evidence pertaining to retail crimes is not actionable due to internal processes preventing the Force’s access to it.

26.2   Resolved – that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 26 January 2024 be approved as a correct record and that they be signed by the Chair.

The Panel is asked to raise any strategic issues or queries concerning crime and policing in Sussex with the Commissioner.

Written questions may be submitted by members of the public up to two weeks in advance of a meeting. The Commissioner or the Chairman (as appropriate) will be invited to provide a response by noon of the day before the meeting. Questions, together with as many responses as possible, will be published on the Panel’s website (www.sussexpcp.gov.uk).

No questions were received from members of the public.

27.1   The Chair invited questions from the Panel to the Commissioner.
A summary of the main questions and responses were as follows:

Question 1: Does the Commissioner know how the Force responded to a letter sent by Suella Braverman MP (September 2023) to all PCCs regarding police involvement in political matters and political activism?
Answer: The Commissioner said that Sussex Police was one of the forces included as part of inspections into activism and impartiality in policing by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS). It was added that she had not seen the formal response but offered to follow-up as a post-meeting action.

Supplementary: Does the Commissioner share the MP’s concerns as outlined in the letter?
Answer: The Commissioner said it is her role to ensure that HMICFRS has full access to the Force and it is her duty to respond to the recommendations within the statutory 56-day period.

Question 2: Where can Sussex Police’s responses to a number of historical policing reviews be found?

Answer: The Commissioner confirmed that responses are published online where there is a requirement for her to issue a response in her role. She added that reviews are considered in further detail where possible at her monthly Performance and Accountability Meetings (PAMs).

Supplementary: What are the Commissioner’s feelings towards the

perceived lack of public confidence?

Answer: The Commissioner acknowledged that it has been a difficult time for local policing due to a series of events, but her personal interactions with members of the public have shown widespread support for the Force.

Question 3: Does the Commissioner promote ‘good news’ about the work

of the Force?

Answer: The Commissioner commented that the Chief Constable’s staff

hold divisional award ceremonies on a regular basis to help showcase

individual and collective acts of bravery and achievements. The

Commissioner added that she uses her social media channels to highlight

two to three positive stories on a weekly basis, known as ‘Force Focus Friday’.

Question 4: Is the Rural Crime Team (RCT) sufficiently resourced to

combat the threat of invasive drone use? The work of the RCT was

praised.

Answer: The Commissioner revealed that Sussex Police is leading the way

nationally in their use of unmanned aerial vehicles (also known as drones)

in Sussex. The Commissioner suggested that the Panel may wish to

consider an agenda item around drone investment within the Force at a

future meeting. She also welcomed the positive feedback and said she

would pass it on to the Force.

Question 5: How effective is it that Sussex Police are required to obtain

Chichester District Council’s permission to review CCTV footage since the Council began funding the local operation? Praise was reserved for Will Keating-Jones (District Commander for Arun and Chichester) for his professionalism at a recent meeting with councillors in Arun.

Answer: The Commissioner said this should be directed to Chichester District Council as it is a question about their processes. She welcomed the positive feedback and said this would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

Report by the Police and Crime Commissioner.

This report sets out the role of the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) since becoming the review and appeal body for Sussex Police complaints in February 2020, including a focus on the PCC’s oversight of the Force’s complaints system in general.

That the Panel considers:

· The proportion of appeals which are upheld

· The action taken in respect of those reviews

· The organisational learning captured and reported to Sussex Police

· How the PCC is assured that the learning points have been addressed/implemented by Sussex Police.

The Panel is asked to consider the report, put questions to the Commissioner, and make recommendations.

28.1   The Panel considered a report by the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner.

28.2   The Chair invited the Panel to ask questions. A summary of the main questions and responses were as follows:

Question 1: In relation to table 3.1, it shows that 149 reviews were not upheld, have you looked into these and if so, is there a re-occurring theme?

Answer: The Commissioner described the process for initial complaints received by Professional Standards and those referred to the OSPCC where the complainant is not satisfied with the outcome. She acknowledged that the number of upheld reviews is slightly up compared to last year, while the rate is comparable nationally. The Commissioner is confident that there is a robust process in place and it does not give her any cause for concern. She added that any local or national themes will be picked up at her Governance Team’s integrity meetings with the Force and IOPOC for dip sampling.

Question 2: In relation to table 3.1, 37 reviews to be completed is considerably higher than the previous figure reported, what is the reason for that?

Answer: The Commissioner said that the OSPCC are being asked to carry out more reviews and was not surprised by this figure as she explained that a number of cases are quite complex and detailed. She explained that the varied nature of cases means that the OSPCC has to go back to the Force for further information and this can extend the length of the process. The Commissioner maintained that she would rather her team take their time, follow the process and be thorough.

Question 3: Do you feel that your ability to enforce sanctions as Commissioner are not as good as they could be, in comparison to a local government ombudsman?

Answer: The Commissioner clarified that she has powers to make recommendations and the Force can choose to adopt them or not. She added that every recommendation made to date has been accepted by the Force and this demonstrates a good working relationship. The Commissioner explained that the OSPCC does have contact with the complainant and many just want to be heard and made to feel involved in their case, rather than see sanctions imposed. She said it is rare to receive a further complaint once a complaint has been upheld.

Question 4: In relation to table 3.1, what is your assessment of the sizeable increase in the number of reviews received between 2020/21 and the current reporting year?

Answer: The Commissioner said that there is increased transparency in terms of people becoming more aware of their rights and this is evidence of them exercising their right to complain.

Question 5: From your experience, do you think the role of the Commissioner is still necessary and relevant in today’s policing or could duties be de-centralised among other local police services?
Answer: The Commissioner said that the Home Affairs Select Committee and Public Accounts Committee have already justified the role in Parliament. She added that she  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

Report by the Clerk to the Police and Crime Panel.

The report provides details of the correspondence received and the action taken, and any updates on complaints previously reported to the Panel.

The Panel is asked to consider the report and raise any issues or concerns.

29.1   The Panel considered a report by the Clerk to the Sussex Police and Crime Panel.

29.2   The Chair reminded members that a meeting of the Panel’s Complaints Sub Committee will take place on 11 April 2024 at County Hall, Lewes.

29.3   Resolved – that the Panel noted the report.

The next meeting of the Panel will take place on 28 June 2024 at 10.30 a.m. at County Hall, Lewes.

Future meeting dates are set out below:

·         20 September 2024

·         31 January 2025

·         17 February 2025 (if required)

·         14 March 2025.

30.1   The next meeting of the Panel would take place on 28 June 2024 at 10.30am, at County Hall, Lewes.