This week marks my first anniversary as Police and Crime Commissioner, and the publication of my strategy for 2025-28, which will put social justice at the heart of policing.
Reflecting on my first year in post, it has been productive, and I have been invigorated by the challenge of working towards a safer, fairer Bedfordshire.
I believe that residents across the county should both be and feel safe, with a trusted, responsive police force and a fair criminal justice system they can rely on.
I have met many people who live and work across Bedfordshire and listened to their concerns. Hearing directly from residents across the county has made me more convinced than ever that they want effective policing.
I have met many police officers and staff, discussed their duties, and witnessed their professionalism and commitment. I have also heard about their bravery, problem-solving, challenges, and ambitions.
I have developed constructive relations with and learnt much from local authority political and executive leaders and the wider public sector, including the criminal justice services.
I have established effective and mutually respectful relationships with the county’s seven members of parliament.
The police alone cannot successfully and sustainably reduce crime and criminality.
This requires a collaborative approach between the police, local government, the NHS, schools and colleges, the Crown Prosecution Service, 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. Addressing social injustice is fundamental to tackling some of the root causes of crime and to preventing it in the long term.
Unless inequality, poverty, poor health, low educational attainment, employment opportunities, and wider social and economic factors are tackled, there can be no fairness.
There will not be a sustainable reduction in crime, and people will not feel or actually be safer. 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.
In October last year I published stage one of my four-year police and crime plan designed to make Bedfordshire safer and fairer.
Following extensive consultation, undertaken research and reflecting on national government policy, I have now launched stage two of the plan – my Strategic Direction for 2025/28. This sets out my clear goals for the next three years and beyond. These are:
- The pursuit of social and criminal justice together with human rights as three sides of the same triangle
- High levels of public trust and confidence in policing and the wider criminal justice system, and enhanced police legitimacy
- increasing police performance and the pursuit of excellence
- Effective and responsive policing based in and working with local communities
- Putting victims at the heart of every aspect of policing and criminal justice
- Focusing on the prevention of crime, and tackling the social, economic and environmental causes of crime
These goals reflect my commitments when I was elected a year ago, and most importantly, what residents and community leaders tell me we as a county want and need.
The first year has, in many ways, been a foundation year. I have listened. I have studied research and best practices across the country and internationally.
I have sought advice from the Chief Constable, other police leaders and officers, and a range of local and national stakeholders.
I have taken on some national roles, which have contributed to my fuller understanding of policing and criminal justice. I have reformed and restructured the office of the police and crime commissioner so that it is now effective, efficient, and fit for purpose.
I have introduced new, stronger, more transparent governance arrangements to hold the Chief Constable accountable for delivering an effective and efficient police service with outcomes aligned with my Police and Crime Plan.
This is a fundamental duty of any PCC, and it is one that I take most seriously. I aim for us to benefit from a continuously improving police service with high standards and ambitions. I am confident that we are on the right trajectory.
Whilst much has been achieved and put in place over my first twelve months, much remains to be done. A year ago, I committed to serve the people of Bedfordshire as effective and committed serious PCC. A year on, I reaffirm that pledge.
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.
