STATEMENT FROM NORTHUMBRIA POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness has today echoed the reassurances given by Northumbria Police Chief Constable Winton Keenen, as the region faces up to the challenges presented by COVID-19 (Coronavirus).

Commissioner McGuinness said:

“Although this a health-led emergency, the police have a vital role to play, just as we all do in trying to come together and fight this.

“Right now the challenges we as a region and a country face feel huge. But, I want to reassure you that we are doing all we can to rise to this challenge.

“Like the rest of our emergency services, Northumbria Police is staffed by a truly dedicated workforce that is committed to helping others. As ever, our officers are here to protect us, prevent crime and safeguard vulnerable people.

“I’m in contact with the Chief Constable every day, the force is regularly assessing the situation and ensuring robust plans are in place.

“Northumbria Police has well-established, effective and extensive command and control structures in-place and I have been briefed on how those have evolved to match the current challenge. Business Continuity Plans are in-place and the police will continue to work with others across the Local Resilience Forum, because we know we are at our most effective when working together.

“Police officers and staff will continue to respond to incidents and the force will be public about how and when any significant changes are needed in their day to day work.

“I recently agreed a force budget that provided extra investment in our police, and I’ll be discussing with the chief the best ways to make use of those funds during this outbreak. My job is to make sure the force has the resources it needs to deliver on your priorities, and myself and my office are committed to continuing that work.”

The Police Commissioner has begun discussions with charity and support groups that play a role in helping the vulnerable to see what extra support can be offered to them at this time.

Kim said: “I know that the services many of our charity and community organisations provide will need to make changes and I want to thank them also for everything they are doing to ensure those in need get help and support at a time they probably need it the most.

“As a region, we have a wonderful collective spirit that comes together when times are hard and I have no doubt, it’s this wonderful spirit that will see us through.”

Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness has announced a multi-million pound investment package in Northumbria Police as part of her “force fit for the future” plans.

The Police and Crime Commissioner has backed the Chief Constable with a raft of investment measures that will see more police on the streets, new equipment for officers and the expansion of cyber-crime teams.

The latest spending plans are set out in the Commissioner’s new Medium term Financial Strategy and include funds to ensure more officers are available for the chief constable.

The Commissioner is allocating around £4.7m to hire additional officers to take the force above the national recruitment targets, ensuring a faster replacement of the 1,100 officers lost to the force as a result of ten years of austerity. This is on top of the £5m earmarked by Government for new Northumbria Police officers.

The Commissioner’s crime fighting investment will mean the force has additional resources to prevent violent crime, take on organised crime and tackle ‘County line’ drugs gangs, while making sure anti-social behaviour is tackled head-on in communities.

Alongside the frontline increase comes a major new IT system update. The new technology is seen as essential if the force is to remain up to date and able to respond fast to emerging incidents. Around £3m will be used for more skills training and specialists staff alongside the complete overhaul of the force’s outdated IT system.

The latest force budget also includes a £600,000 increase in the cyber-crime and fraud section.

This additional investment package comes on top of the day to day budget funds available to meet policing requirements

As part of those existing financial plans, the PCC will also be agreeing a £16m investment package in vehicles and equipment, including body armour, body-worn video and Tasers.

Kim said: “I am committed to giving the police the tools to fight crime, while making sure we are working to prevent crime.

“These financial plans are the biggest investment in our force in a decade. We’ll have more specialists and more police on our streets with the equipment they need to keep us, and themselves, safe.

“I am investing in the frontline above and beyond what the Government is offering, and giving the force the resources it needs to tackle emerging crime trends.”

The financial plans are part of the Medium Term Financial Strategy published by the Police and Crime Commissioner this week. This covers the spending assumptions for the next four years. Key new investments for this year include:

These items are in addition to the regular force budget items which pay for day to day policing.

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‘I want there to be hate crime champions everywhere’ – that’s the message from Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, as Northumbria Police’s hate awareness training continues throughout Northumbria.

The initiative is a direct response to concerns of under-reporting and is designed to highlight that hate crime is totally unacceptable in our region and together we can put a stop to it.

The nationally acclaimed hate awareness packages explore the impact of hate on victims and the wider community, the barriers to reporting and the best ways to seek help.

At the end of the training session is an appeal for volunteers to take their commitment a step further and become hate crime champions. The role is designed to provide a visible presence, educating those around them within organisations or local communities.

As well as helping to fund the scheme, the Commissioner last week welcomed a training session to her office, where she promised that Northumbria Police will continue its pro-active approach to tackling hate.

Kim McGuinness said: “We all need to do everything we can to tackle hate. Wherever you were born, whoever you worship, whoever you love – we all belong In Northumbria. I am proud to be Police and Crime Commissioner of such a welcoming region but there are always people who spoil things, who incite hatred and that’s completely unacceptable.”

She added: “I want victims to feel listened to, and to know that there are people around them who have got their back, who will call out hateful behaviours and help people get the right support to overcome their experience. It’s especially important that we try and reach out to those who are perhaps uncomfortable contacting the police. Our champions are there to make getting help easier – it’s such an important role and I’m thankful to everyone who takes it on. I want there to be hate crime champions everywhere.”

Superintendent Karl Wilson, Northumbria Police’s lead for hate crime, said: “It is absolutely unacceptable to abuse someone because of who they are and we will continue to stand together to stop this sort of prejudice.

“I’m extremely proud of the work our officers and Community Engagement Team have done developing this package as well as the ongoing progress of the hate crime champions and their impact on victims and communities. Our champions are a vital part of the work we do to tackle hate crime, they offer guidance to those in need and ensure victims receive specialist support.

“I want to thank everyone involved for their continued effort and support – nobody should be targeted for who they are and we’re here to help.”

Kim McGuinness has part funded the awareness training along with funding from the Home Office. The package is endorsed by qualification provider NCFE.

If you have been a victim of hate crime and would like support to help you recover from your experience please contact Victims First Northumbria on 0800 011 3116.

Any individuals, groups or businesses interested in becoming a ‘Hate Crime Champion’ can contact 4986@northumbria.pnn.police.uk.

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Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness announces major Taser roll out

Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness has announced plans to back crime fighting efforts with a major new roll out of Tasers.

Hundreds of Northumbria Police’s front line officers will have access to new Tasers,  and training made available to them, as the police commissioner bids to hand the force the tools it needs to keep the public and officers safe.

Over the next two years Northumbria Police will increase the number of Taser-trained officer numbers from around 650 at present to almost 1,900 – meaning most of the frontline force will have the ability to use the devices.

Operational decisions on deploying these officers is a decision for the force, but police commissioner Kim McGuinness said she is determined to use her first budget to hand police vital crime fighting tools.

The commissioner will agree around £400,000 annually for Taser use, covering training, maintenance, cartridges and other costs, as part of her force budget.

The taser-equipped officers will cover one of the most diverse force areas in the country, with Northumbria including two cities, heavily populated urban areas and an extensive and often remote rural landscape.

The Commissioner said she was proud to support the force, especially after seeing that assaults on police officers had increased 9% in just 12 months.

Kim said: “I know from speaking to the public that across the Northumbria force area people want the police to keep them safe but also for officers to be safe on our streets as well.

“I’m proud to stand by the force, so that officers have what they need to stop crime and protect the public. That’s more police on our streets and more officers equipped to fight crime.”

Chief Constable Winton Keenen said: “The safety of the communities we serve is absolutely paramount, as is the welfare of officers responding to potentially dangerous situations.

“Increasing our Taser capabilities means more officers will have this important tool available to defend not only themselves but also the public we are here to protect.

“I know just how dedicated officers are to their communities and they regularly face challenging situations – but all-too often this includes violence. I want to make it very clear, this is completely unacceptable and violence should never simply be considered a part of the job.”

Funding for some of the Taser devices available to the force comes from a police commissioner bid to the Home Office. Previous Home Office funding awarded to tackle violent crime has also been used to purchase additional tasers.

Victim services across Northumbria are set to receive more than £1M in funding from Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness’s Supporting Victims Fund, as part of her ongoing commitment to helping victims affected by crime.

This is the first round of victims funds to be announced this year, with more funding to be allocated to specialist services and charitable organisations over the coming weeks.

These specialist services often play a vital role helping individuals and their families to cope and recover from sometimes very distressing experiences and this fund is designed to strengthen and enhance the help available.

The Police and Crime Commissioner has awarded funding to a range of organisations who help those considered to be the most vulnerable victims – domestic abuse and sexual violence victims, young people, victims of hate crime, those with mental health needs and those with other vulnerabilities.

Some of this year’s beneficiaries include Sunderland Counselling Services, The Angelou Centre, Tyneside and Northumberland Mind, and Streetwise Young People’s Project.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “My top two priorities as Police and Crime Commissioner are to help our force prevent crime and ensure that when a crime does happen, the victim is central to all we do.

Kim continued: “With access to the right help at the right time, people can feel better, even stronger, but it can take time. Through coping strategies, therapies and opening up conversation, we can help people to recover and successfully move forward with their lives. I am committed to doing all I can to provide accessible, high quality services to victim of crime.”

Victims of crime can be of any age, gender, race or sexual orientation and can be vulnerable due to these characteristics or other factors such as a disability, their mental health, religion/belief or the type and nature of the crime committed. Anyone can be a victim.

A full list of beneficiaries can be found at www.northumbria-pcc.gov.uk from 1 April, 2020.

Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, has today (Tuesday, 4, February) confirmed a small rise of 1.99% to Northumbria’s precept, after it was agreed by the Northumbria Police and Crime Panel.

The policing precept is the amount you contribute to local policing through your council tax bill. In a survey asking for views on how to fund local policing, the majority of people who took part said they would be happy to support additional investment in their police force.

The precept increase of 1.99% is equal to 22 pence more a month for a Band D property. It will generate just over £1m extra per year for the police, and comes alongside a better than expected police funding settlement which will see the Police and Crime Commissioner investing more in frontline policing.

Ahead of its latest budget settlement Northumbria Police had seen its funding reduced by the Government every year since 2011, despite demand on policing increasing by a third in the last decade.

The force lost more than 1,100 officers as a result, a situation Kim McGuinness said she wants to reverse, although reluctantly at the tax payer’s expense.

Kim McGuinness said: “The Government has finally handed police forces additional funds but at the same time ministers told us that we should increase police precepts by up to £10 a household.

“There is always a balance to be struck between investing in the police and acknowledging the financial pressures facing residents, but the £10 a year hike seemed too great a rise for our area.

“Instead, I think a 22 pence a month increase is fairer for households while ensuring the force is well-staffed and able to respond to emerging crime trends.”

When calculating the overall settlement for policing the Government assumed that each Police and Crime Commissioner would raise the precept by the maximum amount of £10.00 for a Band D property.  This Government-expected precept rise would have meant households in Northumbria experiencing a 7.44% increase in the precept for 2020/21.

Ms McGuinness added: “Local residents know I firmly believe that it should be the Government and the Government alone that pays to deliver policing – not the local tax payer. It wasn’t an easy decision to make but I’m pleased our consultation has shown that it’s one that residents are in favour of.

“The recent boost to national funding is long overdue but there’s no quick win for turning around the impact of a decade of cuts. Policing has more complex and challenging demands than ever before and responding to these well comes with a higher price tag.”

The Chair of the Police and Crime Panel, Cllr Angela Douglas, said: “It’s clear from the consultation that the Police and Crime Commissioner has the support of local residents to raise the precept by 1.99%.

“The Panel recognises the need to ensure our police force is fit for purpose and we are supporting the Commissioner to keep a high performing police force delivering for our communities”.

Public consultation on the precept took place throughout January with online and telephone surveys.

ENDS