Leicester experts to contribute to national policing report

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and Deputy Chief Constable (DCC) of Leicestershire Police are part of a group of experts gathering this week to discuss the future of policing in austerity.

PCC Sir Clive Loader and DCC Simon Edens are attending a national debate in Birmingham on Thursday 5 March.

The event will provide an opportunity to exchange ideas, share thoughts and examine options that could shape policing in the future.

Discussions from the event will be used to produce a range of options for a national policing plan which will be published in a HMIC report on 5 June.

The debate follows the HMIC’s report Policing in Austerity: Meeting the challenge, which was published in July 2014 and called for an open debate to examine how the future of policing will be organised and resourced. 

More than 60 delegates from across the police service will be taking part in the discussion, including police and crime commissioners, chief constables, officers, staff, academics and representatives from crime prevention and criminal justice.

Questions to be discussed include:                   

• What should be the role and mission of the service in the future? What does this mean for policing priorities?

• In the future, which policing functions should be provided at a local and/or regional and/or national basis? How prescriptive should this be?

• Are there successful models which bring together local public services to prevent and reduce crime and/or keep victims safe which could be adopted more widely?

• How should the funding available for policing be distributed to match demand, maintain viable forces and encourage efficiency? How should local freedoms and flexibilities to raise additional funds be provided?

• At what point might a force be deemed unviable? What are the warning signs that this is likely to happen?

PCC Sir Clive Loader said: “I am very much looking forward to attending this debate and discussing a number of key issues that will help to shape the future of policing.

“Even in times of austerity, it is vital that police forces deliver the best service possible. By coming together we can share ideas and best practices from across the country to ensure this happens.”

DCC Simon Edens said: “In a time of reducing budgets and changing public expectation and demand, it is important that policing services come together to discuss the future of forces across the country.

“Last month Leicestershire Police made significant changes to the way it delivers aspects of policing, but there is still more to do. We need to be thinking now about what policing will look like in 2020 and beyond.”