The Gloucestershire Police and Crime Panel was scheduled to discuss a range of topics concerning local policing and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC). Key items on the agenda included an update on local policing efforts, an overview of the Constabulary's technical transformation, and reports from the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Chief Executive of the OPCC.

Joint Independent Audit Committee (JIAC) Annual Report

The Panel was scheduled to receive the Joint Independent Audit Committee (JIAC) Annual Report for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. This report provides an overview of the JIAC's activities, its adherence to governance principles, and its impact on improving governance, risk management, and control within the Police and Crime Commissioner's (PCC) office and the Gloucestershire Constabulary. The report details the committee's meetings, membership, attendance, and its engagement with internal and external auditors. It also outlines the audits undertaken, the opinions issued, and the definitions of assurance levels and corporate risks. The JIAC's self-assessment against CIPFA's good practice guidance and its evaluation of its own effectiveness were also to be considered.

Local Policing Update

An update on local policing was scheduled, covering the Safer Streets Summer activity, the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, and information regarding Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB). This update was expected to provide details on initiatives aimed at reducing crime and ASB, enhancing public perceptions of safety, improving youth engagement, and making roads safer. The report highlighted the OPCC's role in coordinating Operation Shield, the local delivery of the Government's Safer Streets Summer Initiative, and detailed various community engagement activities across Cheltenham, the Forest of Dean, Stroud, Tewkesbury, Gloucester, and Cirencester. It also outlined business engagement efforts and innovative practices, such as joint patrols and the Report It To Sort It campaign in Stroud. Performance data on call handling, ASB incidents, and neighbourhood crime was to be presented, alongside information on road safety statistics.

Technical Transformation Overview

The Panel was scheduled to receive an overview of Gloucestershire Constabulary's Technical Transformation. This presentation was expected to cover the challenges faced by the Constabulary's IT department, including high vacancy rates, the need for system reimplementation, estate strategy impacts, financial constraints, and increasing cyber threats. Key initiatives for 2025/26 were to be discussed, such as the replacement of legacy systems like the Records Management System (RMS) with Niche, the implementation of a new cloud-based workforce management system, and the re-platforming of ANPR and camera systems. The overview was also to include progress on the Data Centre Migration, the development of a Digital Evidence Management solution, and the exploitation of new capabilities from Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and Power BI. The national digital strategy and its key principles, focusing on innovation, cost-effectiveness, accessible public services, robust infrastructure, and workforce capability, were also to be presented.

Update from the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC)

PCC Chris Nelson was scheduled to provide an update on his current activities. The report detailed a comprehensive list of meetings and events attended by the PCC and Deputy PCC between September and November 2025, covering a wide range of engagements with external stakeholders, community groups, and national bodies. These included participation in conferences, visits to various departments and organisations, and numerous internal meetings with the Constabulary and OPCC leadership. The update also highlighted legislative and policy changes, specifically the Home Office announcement regarding the future of PCCs and the proposed transition to Policing and Crime Boards. A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) paper from the Home Office concerning these reforms was included for the Panel's awareness.

Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner - Chief Executive Report

The Chief Executive of the OPCC, Ruth Greenwood, was scheduled to present a report providing a six-month review of activity and performance supporting the Police and Crime Prevention Plan. The report detailed progress against the six strategic priorities of the Plan: Creating Safer Communities, Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), Strengthening your Constabulary, Targeting the Causes of Crime, Supporting Victims and Reducing Reoffending, and Improving Trust and Confidence in Policing. Each priority section included strategic objectives, links to HMICFRS inspections, examples of activity, and performance updates. The report also covered financial overviews, including savings targets and forecast outturns, and detailed communications activity and public contact with the OPCC. Recent HMICFRS inspection reports and the Constabulary's responses were also to be presented.

Police and Crime Panel Complaints Sub-Committee Protocol

The Panel was scheduled to receive an overview of the Police and Crime Panel Complaints Sub-Committee Protocol. This protocol outlines the procedure for handling complaints that cannot be resolved at a local level. It details the composition of the Sub-Committee, the process for convening meetings, the rights of complainants and those complained about, and the limitations of the Sub-Committee's powers, which prohibit it from conducting investigations but allow it to facilitate resolutions and make recommendations.

Work Plan

The Panel was scheduled to review its work plan for the upcoming year, suggesting items for consideration at future meetings. The existing work plan included scheduled items such as the proposed Gloucestershire Police Precept for 2026/27, annual reports from the PCC, JIAC, and the Police and Crime Prevention Plan, and suggested items for future discussion including the Blue Light Collaboration Board and rural drug use. Postponed items and suggestions from the OPCC were also to be reviewed.