The Northumbria Police and Crime Panel met to discuss the Police and Crime Commissioner's annual report, progress on the Police and Crime Plan, and complaints against the Police and Crime Commissioner. The panel reviewed the draft annual report for 2024-25 and noted the progress made on key priorities in the Police and Crime Plan, including serious violence, organised crime, and violence against women and girls. The panel also reviewed and noted reports on complaints made against the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Police and Crime Plan Delivery

The panel received a report on the delivery of the Police and Crime Plan, launched in February 2025, focusing on Priority 3: Serious Violence and Organised Crime, and Priority 4: Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).

Serious Violence and Organised Crime

The report highlighted the establishment of a new Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) exploitation team, with a focus on investigating child sexual exploitation (CSE). The North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU), part funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner's (PCC) office, reported a 44% increase in cyber-crime disruptions and 151 major disruptions to drug supply across the North East.

Violence Against Women and Girls

The panel heard that there had been a recent visit from Alex Davies-Jones MP, the Minister for Victims and VAWG, to Northumbria's Sexual Assault and Referral Centre (SARC). Alex Davies-Jones is the Labour MP for Pontypridd. The report also detailed several initiatives aimed at making women safer in public places, including transport systems and the night-time economy (NTE).

The Police and Crime Commissioner sought reassurance from the Chief Constable regarding several areas, including:

• Corrosive Substances: Clarification was sought on recording methods for corrosive substance attacks, following a Freedom of Information request that showed Northumbria Police had the second-highest number of reported incidents. It was determined that Northumbria's numbers were not disproportionately high, and the force has comprehensive monitoring of all corrosive substance incidents.
• Online Influences: Following concerns raised by the Netflix series, Adolescence, the PCC sought reassurance that processes were in place to identify and manage potentially dangerous people (PDPs) online. The Force confirmed its confidence in identifying and managing PDPs through various routes, including local reporting and national reporting mechanisms.
• Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE): The PCC sought an update on plans for investment and expected outcomes related to targeting offenders and preventing CSE, following a precept increase. The report outlined the establishment of a dedicated Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) exploitation team.
• Fraud and Online Crimes: The PCC requested an update on plans for investment and expected outcomes related to tackling fraud and online crimes, following a precept increase. The report detailed the establishment of an Economic Crime Management Hub (ECMH) and an increase in Financial Investigators.
• Night-Time Economy (NTE): The PCC asked what learning had been taken from enhanced activity in the NTE to help women feel safe from sexual violence and harassment in public places. The report highlighted several NTE-focused activities and operations, with learning focused on the need to ensure the right communication to the public.
• Clare's Law: The PCC sought to understand what other areas of business may be contributing to halving VAWG, following a reported increase in the use of Clare's Law. The report highlighted the Raneem's Law initiative, GoodSAM, Rapid Video Response, and Area Command Paladin Single Points of Contact.
• Preventative Orders: The PCC asked how the force was ensuring that the use of VAWG-related orders continues to increase and that they are enforced and breaches dealt with, following an identified Area for Improvement (AFI) in the HMICFRS 2023-25 PEEL Inspection Report. The report detailed the establishment of a dedicated working group and a 12-month pilot to coordinate activity to increase the use and enforcement of orders.
• Stalking and Harassment: The PCC sought to understand what learning was being taken to strengthen the approach to identifying all forms of stalking and harassment, following several ASB Case reviews where stalking and harassment had not been identified. The report highlighted a redrafted Case Review process, a Stalking and Harassment e-learn package, and the Northumbria Stalking Interventions Programme (NSIP).

The report also included performance data on various metrics, including call handling, response times, crime types, and victim satisfaction.

Draft Annual Report 2024-25

The panel reviewed the draft annual report for 2024-25 of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria, which is structured around the priorities addressed in the plan – Safer Streets and Stronger Communities. The report will be updated and distributed online after feedback from the panel, and will be made available on the Commissioner's website.

The draft annual report included:

• A foreword from Susan Dungworth, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria.
• Information on funding for the force, including the allocation of resources to policing services.
• An overview of the Strategic Policing Requirement (SPR) and how local policing efforts align with the national agenda.
• Updates on progress towards the priorities outlined in the Police and Crime Plan, including an engaged and responsive police force, crime and anti-social behaviour, serious violence and organised crime, violence against women and girls, hate crime and community cohesion, and victims and justice.
• Information on holding the Chief Constable to account, listening to the public, working with partners, and delivering for everybody.

Complaints Against the Police and Crime Commissioner

The Panel received a report on complaints and conduct matters received regarding the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) between 1 June 2025 and 31 July 2025. One complaint was received during the reporting period, which was not upheld. The complaint related to the outcome of a police complaints review, but the PCC had no role in the matter.