Final week to help shape Norfolk’s policing priorities
The final week is approaching for Norfolk residents to have their say on the county’s policing priorities as a public consultation launched by the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) closes on Friday 20 August.
The four-week consultation was launched by PCC Giles Orpen-Smellie on 26 July to help inform Norfolk’s Police and Crime Plan. Elected as PCC in May, Giles has a duty to publish a plan setting out what the policing and crime priorities for his term in office will be.
The PCC is asking people for feedback on six proposed policing and crime priorities* for Norfolk, as well what else they would like to see included in his plan.
During the first three weeks of the consultation, Norfolk residents have been sharing their views with the PCC through an online survey, as well as face-to-face with Giles as he has been visiting locations around the county.
Giles has spent time gathering views in Watton, Thetford, Wymondham, Wroxham, Drayton, Dereham, Swaffham, Downham Market, King’s Lynn, Wells and Holt, with further visits across the county planned for the final week of the consultation.
As well as speaking with local people outside supermarkets and in town centres, Giles has been meeting with community groups, local organisations and policing teams around the county to find out about the crime concerns affecting people in different areas.
“It’s been great to get out and speak with people across Norfolk about what they would like to see in my Police and Crime Plan,” said Giles.
“As PCC, I am responsible for holding the Chief Constable to account for delivering a policing service which meets the needs of our communities. One of the ways I can do that is by developing a Police and Crime Plan that takes account of the crime issues and local policing priorities that matter to people living and working in Norfolk.
“I am grateful to everyone who has shared their views with me so far – either through the online survey or by stopping to speak with me when I’ve visited their area. There is, however, still time for people to have their say and help inform the development of my Police and Crime Plan.
“As well as setting out the policing objectives for the county for the next three years, this plan will demonstrate how I, as your PCC, will work with other key stakeholders and partners to help keep Norfolk safe.”
The new Police and Crime Plan for Norfolk will be implemented in April 2022. Until then, the plan and associated priorities set by former PCC Lorne Green will remain in place.
*PCC Giles Orpen-Smellie is proposing the following six policing and crime priorities for Norfolk:
- Increase police capability to deliver visible and effective policing
- Tackle high harm crime, particularly domestic abuse, rape, serious sexual offences and drugs (dealing and trafficking)
- Disrupt serious and organised crime causing harm to communities
- Put victims of crime first through the implementation of the new Victims’ Code (The Victims’ Code for England and Wales sets out victims’ rights and the minimum standard of service that organisations like the police must provide to them)
- Make Norfolk’s roads safer for all who use them
- Work in partnership to prevent and reduce crime
The consultation closes at 5pm on Friday 20 August 2021.