Strengthening Policing in Sussex

Strengthening Policing in Sussex

Last Friday, I was pleased to attend and take part in the Sussex Police and Crime Panel.  This is the body that scrutinises the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner, Katy Bourne.  The panel has a total of 18 members, made up of councillors from across the whole of Sussex representing their local authorities, plus there are two independent appointed members.  Representing West Sussex County Council were myself and Cllr Zack Ali, both of us from Crawley.

This meeting was setting the Sussex Police budget for the year ahead.  We’ve seen significant investment in policing over the last few years, thanks to the police element of Council Tax that we all pay, which has been wisely invested.  I’m confident that with Katy Bourne as our Police and Crime Commissioner, we will continue to see progress in police performance.     

We heard about the strengthening there has been over the last few years.  By this March, police numbers in Sussex will have increased by 10% since March 2012, going up from 2,959 officers to 3,251.  It’s also worth noting that in the year to last September, Sussex Police solved 36% more crimes than in the previous 12 months - a very welcome increase.

Over the last three years, Sussex Police have been improving their service and utilising the additional investment put in, by focussing on the delivery of the priorities in their Police and Crime Plan.  This plan sets out strategic priorities for our police that are enabled through the annual budget.     

The first of these public priorities is strengthening local policing.  My own recent observations in the town centre and in Crawley’s neighbourhoods, are that we are seeing more police officers and PCSOs out and about.  We are also seeing some good public engagement by our police in Crawley.

To ensure improvements can be sustained, the budget tabled by the Police and Crime Commissioner was supported by the Police and Crime Panel.  For the next financial year, there will be an annual increase of £11.56 for a Band C property, which is 96p a month or 72p a month for single-person households.   

 

Councillor Duncan Crow, Leader of Crawley Borough Council Conservative Group

31st January 2024

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

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