The Public Health and Community Safety Cabinet Panel met to discuss updates on policing, sexual health, public health investments, and fire and rescue services. The panel noted improvements in crime recording and solving, and discussed concerns about rural policing, firearms licensing, and waste crime. They also discussed strategies for sexual and reproductive health, the allocation of public health grants, and progress in fire and rescue services, including station refurbishments and inspection outcomes.

Police and Crime in Hertfordshire

Councillor Matt Fisher, the Council's representative on the Police and Crime Panel (PCP), presented an update on the panel's business, highlighting key achievements and ongoing challenges in Hertfordshire's policing and community safety initiatives¹. Safer Towns Initiative: The Safer Towns initiative, launched in June 2025, has shown positive results, including a 6% overall crime reduction in town centres. The initiative, aligned with a national Home Office programme, focuses on tackling crime and antisocial behaviour, restoring community confidence, and strengthening partnerships between police, councils, businesses, and community organisations. The panel heard that Hertfordshire is one of the strongest performing areas nationally within the programme. A 'winter of action' is planned to continue the initiative's momentum.

Operation Hotspot: Operation Hotspot has contributed to major crime reductions in hotspot areas, with personal robbery down by about 50%.

Rural Policing: Concerns were raised about the allocation of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) to rural areas. Questions were asked about when rural communities would receive their fair share of PCSOs, given the large geographical areas they need to cover.

Firearms Licensing: The joint Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire firearms licensing unit is still underperforming, with a significant backlog of applications. Renewals are being prioritised over new applications for public safety reasons.

Waste Crime: Fly tipping and waste crime continue to be an ongoing challenge, complicated by fragmented national responsibilities. Two Hertfordshire local authorities no longer investigate fly tipping on private land, leaving a significant gap in enforcement. Funding is potentially available for councils to apply to the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for fly tipping cameras.

Sentencing Bill: Concerns were raised about the potential impact of the forthcoming criminal justice and sentencing bill, with estimates suggesting a 6% increase in crime. It is thought that more offenders will be managed in the community, with shoplifters, burglars, and car thieves unlikely to receive custodial sentences.

Sexual and Reproductive Health

The panel discussed sexual and reproductive health services in Hertfordshire, noting that it accounts for a significant proportion of the public health grant.

HIV Testing: From January 2026, NHS England will implement the third wave of HIV testing in emergency departments, with anyone attending A&E in Hertfordshire being offered an HIV test unless they opt out.

Teenage Pregnancy: While Hertfordshire has seen a 70% drop in teenage pregnancies over the years, recent data indicates that the number is starting to rise again. This is mainly due to young people falling pregnant and choosing to have a termination. A new teenage pregnancy strategy is being developed, with a focus on areas of deprivation and young people not in education, employment, or training.

Contraception: There are concerns that misinformation on social media is influencing young women's choices around contraception. A digital media campaign was launched over the summer to remind young women about finding accurate information.

Better Health Bus: From January, the Better Health Bus will offer a wider set of interventions and advice, including STI testing kits and signposting to contraception and STI treatment services.

Public Health Prevention Investment Programme

The panel received an overview of the Public Health Prevention Investment Programme (PHIP), which allocates money from the public health grant reserve to local projects that aim to deliver transformational change across a range of health issues. Four projects have been approved for funding, with a total value of £2,921,589 over three years:

• Live Longer Better in an Age Friendly Hertfordshire, led by Age UK Hertfordshire, aims to engage and support professionals and businesses to enable healthier ageing.
• Musculoskeletal (MSK) Rehabilitation Pathway, led by the University of Hertfordshire, will develop a targeted MSK rehabilitation pathway to support adults living with MSK-related pain and functional limitations to improve their health and regain employment.
• Work Well 4 Health, led by Herts Urgent Care, will provide residents facing health-related employment barriers with a flexible personalised support programme.
• Nourish Hertfordshire, led by School Food Matters, is a programme of school food transformation in 40 of Hertfordshire's most deprived schools, working with students, staff, and parents.

Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service

The panel received an update on the performance of Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service (HFRS) against the 2025/26 Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) delivery plan.

Staff Shadow Board: The HFRS Staff Shadow Board, made up of 15 members of staff from across the service, provides a different perspective on service decisions.

Station Refurbishments: The project on station refurbishments is behind schedule due to a lack of capital funds. There is additional work taking place to consider mitigation measures to ensure compliance with the Equalities Act 2010². Body Worn Cameras: Body worn cameras are being trialled within all departments, with a full roll out expected by April 2026.

HMICFRS Inspection: The panel received an update on HFRS's progress in addressing the recommendations from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) inspection report. 12 of the 19 areas for improvement are either complete or on track to be completed by the time of the next inspection. One area, linked to the work on the estates programme, is indicated as at risk.

Fire Protection: The Business Fire Safety Team regulate the built environment to protect life, property, and the environment from fire. Following the tragedy at Grenfell Tower, there have been significant changes to the way the team enforce legislation in relation to High-Rise Residential Buildings (HRRB). There are currently 100 buildings within Hertfordshire designated as HRRB.