Michelle Buttery, Chief Executive and Solicitor, OPCC

The Panel considered the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Annual Report for 2016/17.

The Commissioner informed the Panel that this was the third Annual Report that had been produced; the language had been simplified to make the report more accessible and readable.  The report would be finalised taking into account any comments made by Panel Members.

The Commissioner thanked his officers, in particular S Parkin, for their hard work in producing the report.

M Buttery reminded the Panel that it was their statutory duty to comment on the Annual Report and asked for any comments from the Panel within a week.

There were two purposes for the Annual Report, to provide an assessment of the progress against the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan and the other in relation to discharging his other statutory responsibilities.

The Commissioner directed the Panel to the map contained within the report that detailed the 104 community events, meetings and forums that he had attended during the year.

S Chu questioned what the Commissioner would be doing on the three areas he would be focusing on in the year ahead – Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, Cyber Crime and Collaboration with the Fire Service.

The Commissioner informed the Panel that this work was in its early stages.  The Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking issue had been flagged up by central government as a critical issue.  Cyber crime would involve not only South Yorkshire Police but would result in further collaboration.  Collaboration with the Fire Service was well underway and would be extended further in the coming year.

With regard to cyber crime, M Buttery commented that the Public Accountability Board would be receiving a report on the subject at its next meeting.

Cllr Sansome asked the Commissioner for examples of how he was holding the Force to account with partnership working and any barriers to this.

The Commissioner replied that his attitude was to collaborate only if it would yield results.  Areas of collaboration included South Yorkshire Police with other Forces and the PCC with other PCC’s.  One good example was the new Sexual Assault Referral Centre which Members could visit if they so wished.  Visits could also be arranged to the new Custody Centres in Barnsley and Sheffield and the Force’s other centre in Doncaster.

Mr A Carter reported that he had heard the Humberside PCC speaking about the low morale of the Force; and questioned whether this could affect the morale of South Yorkshire Police due to the collaboration arrangements.

The Commissioner replied that all Forces had suffered cuts and the loss of frontline staff at a time of rising demand during the period of austerity and this would be bound to affect morale.  The appointment of the new Chief Constable has had a beneficial effect on morale; he had made a particular effort to get to know all parts of the Force.

M Buttery commented that as part of the Peer Review that was commissioned last year, the support to South Yorkshire included a staff survey, and morale was one of the issues that was picked up.  The Chief Constable had already put actions in place which the Commissioner was closely monitoring.

There would also be a report to the September meeting of the Panel as a follow-up to questions around collaboration, the Force could be asked to include a section on morale.

With regard to the Trust and Confidence Steering Group and the work they were doing, Cllr Sansome asked whether it could be considered to invite the Assistant PCC, alongside the Chief Constable to outline the work in more detail.

Cllr Sixsmith agreed that this would be useful.

The Commissioner agreed to consider this.

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.