The West Mercia Police and Crime Panel is scheduled to convene on Wednesday, 9 September 2026, to review several key reports. Discussions are expected to cover violence against women and girls, efforts to bring offenders to justice, and the performance of the Police and Crime Plan. The meeting will also address annual reports on complaints and the review of the complaints process, alongside the panel's work programme.

Violence Against Women and Girls

A significant portion of the meeting is scheduled to focus on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). The report pack indicates that this is a key priority for the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), John Campion, and is central to the West Mercia Safer Communities Plan. The discussion is expected to cover the PCC's activities and oversight in relation to VAWG, including progress against commitments, collaborative work with partner organisations, commissioned support services, and scrutiny of the West Mercia Police's performance and response. The report highlights that in the year to June 2026, West Mercia Police recorded 20,425 VAWG-related offences, a figure that has remained broadly static. Stalking and harassment constitute the largest proportion of these offences. The report also details the PCC's engagement with national policy discussions, including concerns raised with ministers regarding the potential impact of the Sentencing Act 2026 on victims of VAWG offences.

Bringing Offenders to Justice

The panel is also set to consider a report on Bringing Offenders to Justice, which outlines progress against a key priority in the Safer Communities Plan. This discussion will likely encompass current performance, developments within the criminal justice system, and the PCC's efforts to hold the Chief Constable to account. Partnership activity through the West Mercia Local Criminal Justice Board (LCJB) and commissioning activities are also scheduled to be reviewed. The report notes the ongoing reforms within the national criminal justice system, including the Courts and Tribunals Bill and the Sentencing Act 2026, and their implications for victims, offenders, and local criminal justice agencies. In the year to June 2026, 14.4% of recorded crimes in West Mercia resulted in a positive outcome, an increase from the previous year.

Police & Crime Plan Performance, Metrics and Activity Monitoring Report

A comprehensive report on the Police and Crime Plan's performance, metrics, and activity is scheduled for review. This report aims to provide the Panel with an overview of the activities undertaken by the PCC in support of the West Mercia Safer Communities Plan. It is expected to detail progress against the plan's four key objectives, including Cutting Crime, Safer Roads, and Policing with the community. The report also covers financial management, including the 2026/27 budget, and efforts to maximise resources and value for money. Specific areas of focus include the Knife Crime Prevention initiative Steer Clear and the Knife Crime Concentration Fund (KCCF).

Complaints 2025-26 Annual Report and Complaints Process Review

The panel will receive the annual report on complaints for 2025-26. This report details the handling of non-criminal complaints concerning the conduct of the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and his Deputy. The report indicates that during the period covered, no qualifying complaints were received concerning the conduct of the PCC. Alongside this, a review of the complaints process itself is scheduled for discussion. This review aims to clarify the procedure for handling complaints about the conduct of the PCC and Deputy PCC, ensuring it remains compliant with the Elected Local Policing Bodies (Complaints and Misconduct) Regulations 2012.

Work Programme

Finally, the panel will consider its work programme for the upcoming period. This will involve reviewing and potentially amending the planned areas of scrutiny for the West Mercia Police and Crime Panel. The work programme takes into account routine items, statutory requirements, and topics for which the PCC has been asked to provide reports.