National Association of Police, Fire and Crime Panels - annual report to LGA Board 2023

Lead Member: John Gili-Ross (Chairman)

Lead Officer: Emma Tombs (Secretary)

Email: [email protected]

Address: Essex County Council, County Hall, Market Road, Chelmsford

Telephone: 03330 322709

Website: http://policecrimepanels.com/

 

Membership is open to all Police, (Fire), and Crime Panels in England and Wales. Of the 41 constituted Panels, 39 have confirmed their membership of the NAPFCP including all 4 Panels in Wales.

The NAPFCP is a body that supports Police, (Fire) and Crime Panels in England and Wales and aims to be nationally recognised as representing and promoting their views and best interests and so influence change for the better.

The following are the NAPFCP terms of reference - to:

• provide a forum for collaborative discussion of issues relating to and impacting on Police and Crime Panels and Police, Fire and Crime Panels (PCPs / PFCPs)
• share ideas and experience in response to the expanding role of PCCs and PFCCs and thereby PCPs / PFCPs
• create a mechanism for direct liaison between PCPs / PFCPs and the Home Office
• provide an opportunity for dialogue with relevant bodies such as the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, Association of Police and Crime Chief Executives and others
• support the development of joint PCP /PFCP responses to relevant consultations
• promote professional standards
• share good practice and create guidance and other supporting materials for PCPs /PFCPs
• ensure stability and collective memory in a landscape where PCPs / PFCPs can have significant changes in membership
• provide capacity for horizon scanning across all PCPs / PFCPs.
• promote better public understanding of the role of PCPs / PFCPs.

The membership of the National Association’s Executive Committee was confirmed at its AGM which took place in November 2022. Since the last report one executive member was assigned to a different role and was no longer a member of their Police and Crime Panel. Co-option to the position was subsequently carried out with the successful candidate then being confirmed in post at the November AGM.

 

The executive committee meets monthly by remote means to update progress on work streams and discuss and agree any written response to sector specific events. 

The NAPFCP core work stream include:

• promotion of best practice for panels and scrutiny of commissioners
• technology changes and impact on budgets
• promotion of the panels role within police and FRS to the public
• commissioner and chief constable senior appointments
• complaints handling – PCC and policing.

Other activities undertaken during the year

In addition to the above, the association has responded to numerous information and call for evidence requests providing a collective view from panel members. These responses are shared with panel support officers and panel chairs as appropriate.

Other activities that were undertaken by the NAPFCP during the year include:

• carried out a survey of all panels to form an up to date record of panel contacts, allowance payments, training and meeting details etc. 30 panels responded.
• provided input to the Home Office  / Leap Wise open forum on regional support modelling.
• responded to the Code of Ethics for Policing consultation.
• reforming our Fire & Rescue Service White Paper response.
• monthly meetings with the LGA where practical.
• monthly meetings with the APCC where practical.
• LGA PCP workshop/ webinar attended by most executive members.
• encouraging panels to seek reports from their PCC regarding recruitment and vetting.
• The Emergency Services Network project – maintaining a watching brief.
• advising panel chairs and support officers as and when requested.

An important aspect of the NAPFCP work is to monitor sector developments and follow this through with key line of enquiry points to Panels to raise with their commissioners. 

Difficulties and concerns

The association has provided the LGA with a copy of its responses to the various consultation documents and where response deadlines have been tight then draft documents have been shared with the LGA so that the experiences and knowledge held by the executive committee and the association’s membership provide relevant insight into how panels think and operate within the sector. 

Whilst the association has a WordPress based web site, the executive committee does not possess the necessary skills to keep the site up to date or to host sector specific information of a current or historic nature. The NAPFCP asked if the LGA could provide administration for its web site to load pre-written content in last year’s annual SIG report. No response was forthcoming and we would again submit this request for LGA consideration