The Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel met to discuss the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner's (PFCC) annual report, HMICFRS inspection updates, and future meeting dates. The panel also approved recommendations to award a local service bus contract to Ashbourne Community Transport. Councillor Anthony Screen raised concerns about the £20.6 million spend on a new firearms training facility, but the PFCC confirmed the decision had already been made.

Here's a more detailed breakdown of the key discussion points:

Annual Report 2024-25

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) Mr Adams introduced the annual report, highlighting key achievements including a reduction in crime and antisocial behaviour, enhanced road safety, and increased police activity. He noted the importance of communicating these achievements to the public, particularly those who feel they are not getting the police service they deserve.

Mr Adams also drew attention to the challenges of court backlogs and the increasing reliance on council tax to fund core services. He expressed concern that this trend limits the ability to invest in local priorities. He also mentioned the government's pledge to increase neighbourhood policing and the potential impact of local government reorganisation on community safety partnerships.

Key points raised by panel members:

• Neighbourhood Policing: Councillor Charlotte Atkins sought assurance that the 53 additional neighbourhood police officers would be deployed effectively to address local issues, such as a street preacher causing problems in Leek. She also asked about contingency plans for public disorder during the summer, referencing events in Epping, Tamworth, and Stoke.
• Wildfires: Councillor Charlotte Atkins asked about arrangements for wildfires, given climate change. Mr Adams responded that the service has new, lightweight equipment and is working with farmers to secure water sources.
• Culture in the Fire Service: Councillor Charlotte Atkins raised concerns about a perceived culture problem within the fire service, citing inspection reports and a lack of diversity in the workforce. Mr Adams acknowledged the issue and said that Staffordshire is ahead of many other areas in addressing it. He noted that the Chief Fire Officer has been involved in writing the standard on ethics, and that the service has brought in a review of culture.
• Use of Drones: Councillor Charlotte Atkins asked whether drones are being used, particularly in the fire service. Mr Adams confirmed that they are, and that they are becoming increasingly effective for scanning buildings and dangerous sites.
• Public Priorities: Councillor Chris Elliott said that the annual report did not make clear what the priorities of the public were, and how the actions of the PFCC had addressed those priorities. Mr Adams responded that the annual report mirrors the format of the local police and crime plan, and that the challenges outlined in the plan are what he has tried to answer in the report.
• Community Work in Tamworth: Councillor Carol Dean thanked the police for their community work in Tamworth, particularly the presence of officers and cadets at local events. She also raised concerns about online incitement related to the anniversary of public disorder on August 4th.
• Reporting of Crime: Councillor Majid Khan expressed concern that the reduction in antisocial behaviour and other community crimes may be due to less reporting, rather than a genuine decrease in crime. He also said that communication with victims is often unclear. Mr Adams responded that he would provide Councillor Majid Khan with the detailed data he requested, and that he would continue to encourage residents to report crime.
• Road Safety: Councillor Anthony Screen raised concerns about the number of deaths and serious injuries on Staffordshire roads, and the lack of up-to-date data. Mr Adams responded that more resources have been allocated to roads policing, and that the Staffordshire Safer Road Partnership is working to improve data collection and analysis.

HMICFRS Inspection Update

Mr Adams reported on the recent HMICFRS ¹ inspections of Staffordshire Police and Fire and Rescue Service. He noted that the Fire and Rescue Service received a commendable report, particularly for its response to major incidents. While the police service had not yet reached the same level, it had demonstrated improvement in every area.

Councillor Charlotte Atkins expressed disappointment that the police service required improvement in basic areas such as responding to the public, investigating crime, and protecting vulnerable people. Mr Adams acknowledged these concerns and said that they are driving resource allocation and operational changes.

Firearms Training Facility

Councillor Anthony Screen questioned the decision to spend £20.6 million on a new firearms training facility, arguing that the money would be better spent on frontline services and addressing performance issues.

Mr Adams defended the decision, stating that the project had been under consideration for over five years and had been subject to a complete review. He said that the current facility is unacceptable for training officers who respond to high-risk situations, and that the new facility is essential to meet national standards. He also noted that sharing a facility with West Mercia Police was not financially viable.

Local Bus Contract

The panel approved recommendations to award a local service bus contract to Ashbourne Community Transport. The contract is for the Moorlands Connect Demand Responsive Transport bus service and is funded entirely from government bus grant funding. The contract is for two years with an option to extend for a further year. The total value of the contract is £1,280,000 over three years.

Future Meetings and Work Program

The panel discussed the dates of future meetings and the work program. Councillor Anthony Screen proposed commissioning an independent piece of work to review the panel's structure and scrutiny mechanisms. After discussion, it was agreed that Councillor Richard Cox would take the proposal away and bring it back to the next meeting as an agenda item.

Councillor Richard Cox also said that the custody issue would be added to the work programme.