A report on the Bedfordshire police and crime commissioner’s (PCC) Police and Crime Plan for the remainder of his term has been endorsed – but with little comment from a scrutiny panel.
The PCC, John Tizard, presented his report on his plan to last night’s Police and Crime Panel (Tuesday, 1 April).
“The report is in a form for you to make comments on, challenge, criticise, suggest ideas,” the PCC told the panel. We’ll be then turning it into a published document similar to the Police and Crime Plan that we published in October.”
The panel was asked to review and comment on the proposed strategic direction and specific objectives, consider a summary of the “achievements and impact” made by the PCC since May 2024, and endorse the PCC’s Strategic Direction for 2025-2028.
Earlier in the meeting, members said the panel tries “very hard” to hold the PCC to account within the constraints set, and has done a “robust” job of scrutiny.
However, there was silence when the panel chair, Paul Downing, asked members if they had any questions on the report.
It was left to Mr Downing to ask for more information on the mission boards that helped to form the new plan, and how the chief constable will be held to account.
The PCC said the mission boards had worked “extremely well”.
“We will be retaining the mission boards, and they’ll be meeting less frequently to overview progress,” he said, “But also to help us evolve the delivery plans that underpin the strategic direction.
“Clearly, I have a statutory duty to hold the chief constable to account for delivering an effective and efficient police service, that’s an overarching responsibility.
“The chief constable is bound to set in his strategic objectives for the police service to take into account the plan. Ultimately, he has operational responsibility for what he prioritises and how he proceeds.
“I will hold him to account for delivering against both the plan and his strategic objectives,” he said.
Cllr Steve Moore (Liberal Democrats, Luton Borough Council) said: “Over the course of your time in office, the proof will be in the pudding, won’t it?”
By John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
