The Thames Valley Police and Crime Panel met on Friday 23 January 2026 to discuss the proposed police precept increase for 2026/27, the handling of evidence in serious offences, and recruitment and retention within Thames Valley Police. The panel supported a £15 increase in the police precept for Band D properties, noted reports on evidence handling and recruitment, and discussed various other policing matters.

Proposed Police Precept Increase for 2026/27

The Panel supported the Police and Crime Commissioner's (PCC) proposal to increase the police element of the council tax precept by £15 for Band D properties for the 2026/27 financial year. This decision was made due to significant financial pressures facing Thames Valley Police (TVP), including a £8.8 million shortfall in the government's funding settlement and £30 million in inflationary pressures. The PCC, Matthew Barber, explained that this increase is necessary to balance the budget, protect neighbourhood policing, response, and investigative capacity, and support continuous improvement in areas such as contact management and ICT upgrades.

During the discussion, written questions from Panel members highlighted concerns about the specific benefits residents could expect from the £15 increase, alternative precept options modelled, and the necessity of an increase exceeding 5% given cost of living pressures. The PCC's responses detailed how the increase would support frontline services, cover inflationary pressures, and fund improvements in various policing areas. The Panel also noted the significant savings already delivered by the force and planned for the future, as well as the use of reserves for essential investments. The proposed precept increase was ultimately recommended as the only realistic option given the financial constraints.

Evidence Handling and Case Collapses in Serious Offences

The Panel considered a report addressing concerns raised about TVP having the third-highest number of sexual offence cases nationally that collapsed due to lost or missing evidence. Detective Superintendent Jon Capps, Head of Rape and Sexual Offences, presented the findings, stating that between October 2022 and September 2024, 19 sexual offences and one homicide were discontinued under CPS code E72, representing 1.24% of prosecutions.

A review of 23 of these cases revealed that only three were directly attributable to police failure. The majority of case collapses were due to other factors, including court processes, victim or witness issues, conflicts in expert evidence, and the ongoing duty to review evidence. The report detailed various reasons for discontinuance, categorised into police issues, court processes, victim/witness issues, management of existing sexual offenders, expert witness conflicts, and the continuing duty to review evidence. The Panel noted the report and the responses provided, acknowledging that while any case collapse is concerning, the overall picture was more nuanced than initially suggested by media reports.

Recruitment and Retention Update

A progress report on recruitment and retention within TVP indicated an improvement in police officer retention compared to the previous year. The PCC reported that changes to the recruitment and entry process, including encouraging ride-alongs and strengthening the interview process, have helped ensure new officers have a realistic understanding of the job. This has led to a reduction in early voluntary resignations. The report also highlighted a decrease in dismissals, with TVP committed to dismissing probationary officers who display behaviour inconsistent with the force's values.

Members questioned whether recruitment and retention issues were linked to pay or organisational culture, and the PCC explained that the primary factor for TVP's previous challenges was the entry route and volume of recruitment during the uplift programme, which led to many new officers finding the job more demanding than expected. The report also addressed the proportion of ethnic minority recruits, noting a dip since 2021-22 but explaining that actual numbers are small and year-to-year changes can be hard to interpret. The PCC committed to revisiting recruitment data to examine proportional changes more closely. The Panel noted the report, with a commitment from the PCC to provide further information on recruitment data.

Thames Valley CCTV Partnership

The PCC provided an oral update on the Thames Valley CCTV Partnership, confirming that an agreement had been reached with all local authorities, and final legal documents were circulated. The system was scheduled to go live on 1 April 2026. The PCC defended his earlier public statement that plans were at risk due to a lack of engagement from Oxfordshire councils, explaining that negotiations had been lengthy and a hard deadline for additional funding had been set. He clarified that while Buckinghamshire is not currently part of the project, discussions have taken place, and he would welcome their involvement in the future. The Panel noted the oral update and requested a written update on the partnership's status for clarity and consistency.

RESTART Programme Evaluation

The Panel received a summary of the evaluation of the RESTART pilot programme, which aimed to reduce reoffending among prison leavers in Thames Valley. The PCC explained that the programme, which concluded in October 2024, had effective elements, and its work had largely been absorbed into subgroups of the Local Criminal Justice Board. Key themes like reducing re-offending and managing persistent offenders continue within these workstreams. The Panel noted the report.

Chairman/PCC Updates and Topical Issues

Under this agenda item, the PCC discussed the potential abolition of Police and Crime Commissioners, with indications that they would be replaced by a Policing Board made up of local authority leaders. He also addressed the Home Office's Winter of Action initiative to crack down on town centre crime, criticising the central government's directive approach to operational policing. The Panel noted the topical issues report and the PCC's responses.

Work Programme

The Panel discussed future items for the work programme, suggesting a review of Operation Ford with a wider scope to include harassment and unacceptable behaviour towards local councillors. The PCC agreed this would be useful. A future item on the future of neighbourhood policing was also supported, and the PCC suggested examining Police Force Mergers, expected to feature in an upcoming government white paper. It was agreed that these items would be scheduled into the work programme for 2026/27 as information becomes available.