The Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel is scheduled to meet on 12 December 2025 to discuss the delivery of the Police and Crime Plan, complaints against the Police and Crime Commissioner, and the Panel's work programme for the coming year. The meeting will also include updates from the chair and a verbal report from the National Association of Police, Fire and Crime Panels.

Police and Crime Plan Delivery

The Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel is expected to receive an update on the delivery of the Safer Communities Plan for Lincolnshire 2025-2029. The report details activity against the plan's key principles: community safety and prevention in partnership; listening, responding, and being accountable; protecting and supporting victims and the vulnerable; and policing that works.

The report pack includes details of the Listen to Learn project, which explores the experiences of victims and survivors of sexual violence who reported offences to Lincolnshire Police. The project, led by LimeCulture and commissioned by the Lincolnshire Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, conducted one-to-one interviews with victims and survivors to gather feedback on their experiences within the criminal justice system and support services, including the Lincolnshire Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) and Spring Lodge Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) service.

Key findings of the Listen to Learn project include:

• Variable initial contact with police, ranging from compassionate responses to dismissive interactions.
• Achieving Best Evidence (ABE) interviews were generally well-conducted, but sometimes lacked emotional and communication support.
• Inconsistent communication from officers during investigations, leaving some victims feeling forgotten.
• Positive court experiences were linked to good collaboration between police and ISVA services.
• ISVA support was highly valued by victims and survivors.
• Misconceptions about the SARC deterred some victims from attending.

The report includes recommendations for Lincolnshire Police, the Police and Crime Commissioner, and ISVA and SARC services, including:

• Introducing a checklist for officers to ensure consistent provision of information about rights, safety, SARCs, and ISVA services.
• Ensuring automatic ISVA referrals at the point of first report.
• Enhancing police training to challenge harmful myths about sexual violence and promote trauma-informed communication.
• Maintaining continuity of contact with victims throughout investigations.
• Providing clear and timely information about the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (CICA).
• Strengthening multi-agency coordination between police, ISVAs, and court services.

Responses to the recommendations are included in the report pack. Lincolnshire Police has accepted 19 of the 20 recommendations in full, with proposals to enhance current processes in place of the remaining recommendation. The Police and Crime Commissioner has outlined actions to embed victim and survivor voices, enhance outcome measures, clarify support pathways, support joint training initiatives, raise SARC awareness, and provide feedback to HMCTS¹. The SARC and ISVA services will work with partners to support timely referrals, strengthen understanding of the SARC offer, and ensure timely initial engagement with referred victims and survivors.

Other topics mentioned in the Police and Crime Plan Delivery Update include:

• The Home Office Streetsafe tool, which allows the public to anonymously report safety concerns in public places.
• The Home Office 'Winter of Action' campaign, focusing on anti-social behaviour, retail crime, and violent disorder.
• Projects funded by the Serious Violence Duty grant².
• The Safer Communities Leaders initiative, which involves young volunteers aged 14–21.
• The PCC's Crime and Policing survey, which gathers residents' views on crime, policing, and community safety.
• Performance Review Meetings (PRMs) between the PCC and the Chief Constable.
• Fraud packs issued to Lincolnshire residents.
• A funding bid to commission a Needs Assessment for children and young people who are victims and survivors of sexual violence in Lincolnshire.
• Dialogue with the government to seek a longer-term, sustainable agreement that addresses the chronic underfunding of Lincolnshire Police.
• HMICFRS³ inspections of Lincolnshire Police.

Complaints Against the Police and Crime Commissioner

The Panel is scheduled to receive a report providing details of the procedures in place for dealing with complaints made against the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire and an update on the number of complaints received during the period 1 September – 30 November 2025. The report confirms that no complaints were made against the Police and Crime Commissioner during this period.

Work Programme 2026-27

The Panel will review its work programme and training and development programme for 2026-27. The work programme enables the Panel to plan and focus on how it will effectively support and provide challenge to the Commissioner. The Panel is required to meet a minimum of four times a year and undertake tasks such as reviewing and making recommendations on the draft Police and Crime Plan, the draft Precept⁴, and the Commissioner's Annual Report, as well as holding Confirmation Hearings for various positions.

The proposed meeting schedule includes meetings on:

• 6 February 2026 to consider the proposed Precept.
• 18 February 2026 to review the draft revised Precept (if the Panel exercises its veto on 6 February 2026).
• 12 June 2026 to review the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel Annual Report.
• 25 September 2026 (agenda items not yet specified).
• 5 February 2027 to consider the proposed Precept.
• 17 February 2027 to review the draft revised Precept (if the Panel exercises its veto on 5 February 2027).

A budget briefing with the OPCC is scheduled for 16 January 2026 to provide finance and precept background information.