When I launched the Police and Crime Plan in October 2024, I reaffirmed my commitment to work to create a safer and fairer Bedfordshire.
After nearly a year in office, I am more convinced than ever that this can only be achieved through criminal justice, social justice and human rights.
Everyone is entitled to feel safe. Whatever your heritage, faith, gender or wherever you live you should expect a high performing, respectful police service and a fair criminal justice system.
This requires a collaborative approach between the police, local government, the NHS, schools and colleges, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the probation service, the courts, the prison service and many other public sector organisations.
It also requires the active involvement of voluntary and community organisations, and businesses. All of us have a responsibility to make our neighbourhoods safe.
Unless inequality, poverty, poor health, low educational attainment, employment opportunities, and wider social and economic factors are tackled, crime will not be reduced long-term, and people will not be safe.
That is not to say that there can ever be an excuse for criminal behaviour, but every action must be taken to reduce the causes of crime.
Leaders from across the public, civil and business sectors in Bedfordshire have given me their commitment to working together to find and implement solutions to make our county safer and fairer.
Since I published the original Plan in October 2024, much has happened.
I have met and listened to the public and stakeholders across the county, to experts within and outside the county, many police teams and partners.
The government has awarded Bedfordshire an increase in funding and the first instalment of our four-year Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee funding to expand our community police services.
The government has set out its national policies, including its Safer Streets mission, the Crime and Policing Bill, and its approach to wider police and criminal justice reform.
Whilst the Police and Crime Strategic Direction for Bedfordshire must be focused on what matters to our county, it reflects the national policies – safer streets, halving violence against women and children , and cutting knife crime.
Inspection
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has published its inspection report on Bedfordshire Police.
Whilst the report contains much positive feedback and much to be proud of, it has also identified many areas for improvement, including the way the police handle investigations.
The Inspectorate’s findings and recommendations are addressed in my new Strategic Direction.
I am now refreshing the Police and Crime Plan by publishing the Strategic Direction for 2025-2028 following consultation with the public and key partners.
The missions and objectives that underpinned the Police and Crime Plan launched in October 2024 remain as relevant and important now as they did then. Indeed, they are more important than ever and will remain so over the coming years.
As I start the second year of my current tenure as PCC, I have identified four core ambitions for Bedfordshire, its police service, the wider criminal justice system and our communities.
The first of these ambitions is to enhance public confidence and legitimacy in policing.
The second is to achieve continuous improvement in police performance and efficiency across the wider criminal justice system.
The third is ensure equitable allocation of police resources, reinvigorate local policing and set out what the public should expect from our police; and what we as communities, residents and businesses should contribute collectively and individually.
Collaboration
The fourth is to actively work to secure greater social justice and fairness across the county. Crime deepens inequality and unfairness.
Over the next three years, I will seek to build strong and effective collaboration across the sectors, and between public sector organisations to secure the change which is needed to create a safer and fairer Bedfordshire.
With our partners, I will review and rationalise the expensive and ineffective labyrinth of partnership governance in the county to focus on effectiveness and the efficient use of resources.
My role is to convene and galvanise our collective commitment, energy and resolve.
I am committed to achieving these ambitions with a bold determination. I am impatient on behalf of the people of Bedfordshire to secure radical sustainable change and improvement to secure a safer and fairer Bedfordshire.
Small “c” conservatism, self-serving professional and institutional protectionism, and over-caution must not be allowed to stand in the way of progress.
This is a monthly guest column provided by
elected Police and Crime Commissioner, John Tizard (Labour).
It is published unedited and does
not reflect the views of the Bedford Independent.
