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Today, (Saturday 21 August) marks 100 days since Joy Allen took her post as the new Police and Crime Commissioner for County Durham and Darlington following an election in May.
During her first 100 days Ms Allen has met with key partners across County Durham and Darlington including Councillors, MP’s and community groups to help work together to tackle local concerns across the force area.
The PCC was keen to address current accountability meetings by being more open and transparent in the delivery of her duties and decision making.
As part of this on 26 August the PCC will host her first public accountability meeting, where she will hold the Chief Constable and the Force to account for policing in the area. This will be recorded and be made available to the public; however, her desire is to live stream them in the future.
The PCC has visited all of the custody suites across the Force area to help inform her decision in relation to the proposed new centralised custody and investigations suite, as well as visiting the control room at Durham Police Headquarters to observe the national 101 phone service.
As part of the Commissioner’s commitment to tackle anti-social behaviour and to ensure the voice of victims is at the centre of her work, she is recruiting for an Anti-Social Behaviour Champion and a Victims’ Champion.
The Commissioner is currently consulting on a new Police and Crime Plan with residents across County Durham and Darlington which includes six broad themes Safer Communities, Safer People, Safer Online, Safer Roads,Safer Countryside and Safer Business.
Vital funding has also been secured for multiple schemes over the past few months including the Safer Streets Fund to crack down on neighbourhood crime, investment in Community Speed Watch to improve road safety and speeding, as well as more than £320,000 from the Home Office Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Fund to tackle domestic abuse following a successful partnership bid.
In July the PCC joined local partners for the official opening of a Sexual Assault Referral Centre in County Durham. The facility has been developed as a safe place for survivors of rape and sexual assault for residents across County Durham and Darlington to disclose and seek advice.
Durham Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen said “My vision is to ensure local communities are safer, stronger and more resilient to crime and anti-social behaviour. I have spent time meeting with residents and key partners across County Durham and Darlington to hear their concerns and how we can work together to make communities safer.
“I am looking forward to building on the work we have done in these first 100 days to deliver a new Police and Crime Plan that focuses on the people’s priorities, working with a wide range of partners to support victims of crime and tackle anti-social behaviour.”
You can have your say on the Commissioner’s consultation fora new Police and Crime Plan until the 2 September. A link to the survey can be found here https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/VS3KTX9
You can also sign up to the Office newsletter at - www.durham-pcc.gov.uk/news-and-events/newsletters
PCC reports on progress made over the past eight months deliver justice for victims of crime and anti-social behaviour.
Despite funding cuts from Government’s Safer Streets programme, PCC announces her plans to cut crime and improve community safety will still go ahead.
PCC has welcomed the launch of a new service enabling the public to anonymously or confidentially report corruption and criminality within policing.
