PCC publishes latest annual report
Norfolk's Police and Crime Commissioner, Lorne Green, has published his latest annual report which provides an overview of progress made against the county's Police and Crime Plan from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020.
The report provides updates on key projects aimed at preventing crime, reducing vulnerability and supporting victims, as well as performance information relating to the seven priorities adopted within the Police and Crime Plan following consultation with the Norfolk public:
- Increasing visible policing
- Supporting rural communities
- Improving road safety
- Preventing offending
- Supporting victims and reducing vulnerability
- Delivering a modern and innovative service
- Ensuring good stewardship of taxpayers’ money.
Read the PCC's Annual Report 2019/20
In his annual report 2019/20, PCC Lorne Green provides information on how visible policing has been increased through the Government’s Operation Uplift - a national programme to increase the number of police officers across the country by 20,000. He also outlines how Norfolk’s rural communities have benefited from the development of the Community Safety Neighbourhood Policing Team conducting high visibility patrols in rural hotspots, as well as rural policing activity aimed at preventing crimes such as heritage crime and lead theft. The report also covers how investment in technology such as drones and the introduction of Police Digital Investigators is helping to prevent and detect crime in the county. Covering the 12 months up to 31 March 2020, the PCC’s annual report touches briefly on the policing response to the Coronavirus pandemic.
In relation to keeping Norfolk’s roads safe for all who use them, the PCC highlights the work of the #IMPACT team – an emergency services collaboration which engaged with 1,700 young and future drivers during 2019/20 to raise awareness of road safety and how risk-taking behaviour can cause road accidents.
Another area of focus for the PCC in 2019/20, on the subject of young people, was raising awareness of child criminal exploitation and preventing the harm caused to children and young people by county lines drug activity. The report provides details of a suite of projects delivered in Norfolk, thanks to funding secured by the PCC office, which have helped affected young people and their families access specialist help and support, as well as work with Norfolk schools to educate pupils on the dangers of gangs.
In line with the PCC’s commitment to preventing offending, the report updates on the progress of the WONDER (Women Offenders of Norfolk Diversion, Engagement and Rehabilitation) programme which, during 2019/20, supported 148 women vulnerable to offending by addressing the root causes of their behaviour and diverting them from the criminal justice system. The report also highlights other PCC projects which have helped prevent reoffending among those with a criminal past by supporting them to make positive choices, learn new skills and secure employment.
As well as offering an insight into how the PCC role has changed in the last year, such as with regards to the handling of police complaints, the report also shines a spotlight on the services commissioned by the PCC to support victims of crime to cope and recover from what they have experienced. During 2019/20, over 14,000 victims of crime were offered help by the Norfolk and Suffolk Victim Care service, while many more were able to access support from specialist domestic abuse, sexual violence and fraud services.
The PCC Annual Report 2019/20 includes an update on the work of the Independent Advisory Group and Norfolk PCC Youth Commission.
A separate annual report has been published on the Independent Custody Visiting Scheme.