What is the Police & Crime Plan?

The Police and Crime Plan is a statutory document the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) is required to produce under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011. It outlines their strategic direction for their term in office.

The Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Plan 2019 – 21 sets out the Commissioner’s strategic priorities following consultation with you. They are:

• Protect the most vulnerable from harm
• Strengthen and improve your local communities
• Ensure Avon and Somerset Constabulary has the right people, the right capability and the right culture
• Work together effectively with other police forces and key partner agencies to provide better services to local people.

This latest plan covers the period April 2019 to March 2021.

Since publication of the Plan in 2016, a number of key events have taken place that impact on its delivery and reset the context for the strategic direction set. In response to the key changes in the local and national environment, a Plan Addendum was produced in 2018 to reflect key information that those who read or implement aspects of the Plan should consider alongside it.

Evidence-based decision making is at the heart of the Commissioner’s approach.  As such, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner works with key partners, including the Constabulary, to develop an Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Needs Assessment inform strategic decision making and development of the Police and Crime Plan.

The Needs Assessment aims to identify and assess the issues that are likely to impact upon local crime and community safety services over the coming years via a horizon scanning approach.  The main objectives of the assessment are to:

• Identify significant issues that are likely to have an impact upon delivery of the Police and Crime Plan and wider crime and community safety environment
• Provide a profile of need for community safety services amongst victims and those who are not victims but are at risk of harm because of their characteristics or circumstances
• Review current gaps in services in respect of these findings, and present shared multi-agency recommendations for improvement
• Consider the impact and extent of victimisation across the priority and commissioned service areas