Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen’s new police, crime and justice plan to make County Durham and Darlington safer, stronger and more resilient to drug and alcohol related crime and anti-social behaviour have been implemented from April 1.
The County Durham and Darlington PCC has considered the views of thousands of residents and businesses across the county in drawing up a new four-year blueprint that promises to get tough on the issues that bring misery to local people’s lives.
Vowing to keep victims of crime front and centre of her safety work, the Commissioner insists her new Plan – which starts today – will deliver a first-class service to victims of crime including faster justice, higher-quality care and support and improved police contact to build their trust and confidence.
It will also deliver robust action where the public want it most and help people to solve the issues that harm their lives and can manifest in offending if left unchallenged.
A Youth Plan is also in development by the Commissioner’s office and will be unveiled at a later stage.
Building on the emphatic success of her first term, the PCC focuses on six overarching themes: Victims, Safer People Safer Places, Safer Neighbourhoods, Safer Countryside, Safer Roads and Delivering a fair, transparent and timely local criminal justice system.
Priorities such as Alcohol and Drugs, Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), Addiction including gambling dependency, Neighbourhood Policing and Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) take centre stage with the PCC pledging to work with partners at every opportunity to identify and protect those who are less able to protect themselves.
Her growing national roles will also bring additional strength to her local work to secure improvements and legislative reform that will enhance the journey of victims of crime through the criminal justice system and help bring more offenders to justice.
The commissioner insists her approach will be dynamic and will draw upon the latest technologies and facilities – aided by the opening of the groundbreaking Durham Investigative Hub.
Joy Allen said: “This plan has been driven by the people I’m elected to serve. The public’s priorities are my priorities, and I’m determined to deliver what they want.
“I am proud of the officers we’ve put back on our streets and I’m fighting to bring more.
“Visible and accessible neighbourhood policing is non-negotiable – 25% of residents who responded to the PCCs consultation in Durham and Darlington placed visibility as their top priority and I too believe that every neighbourhood deserves dedicated officers who know their patch, understand residents’ concerns and can tackle problems before they escalate.
“But we also need to understand why people turn to crime in the first place so we can eradicate the motives and prevent the ‘revolving door’ of crime.
“I am working with national leaders to reform the way we prevent and treat alcohol and drug addiction to lessen its impact on our communities and this will ensure Durham remains at the forefront of these changes.”
Durham Constabulary is already recognised as a pathfinder in several policing areas and the PCC has relentlessly campaigned for more funding to keep the force on a level playing field with other forces.
The PCC said she would continue to work with national decision makers in her role as Association of Police and Crime Commissioners’ (APCC) Joint Finance Lead to press for an overhaul of the current funding formula and to secure additional investment to take account of Durham’s unique socio-economic position and its higher demand pressures.