PCC puts police performance under the microscope

Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion featured the voice of the public in his latest performance monitoring meeting with West Mercia Police's Chief Constable.

The meeting, held on Friday 27 February, included a focus on Bromyard following public engagement in the town and the recent dispersal orders issued to tackle youth related antisocial behaviour and criminal damage.

Drawing on what residents told him, the PCC asked the Chief Constable to set out the action being taken to address concerns and deliver a level of service the community expects. The Chief outlined ongoing prevention and intervention work, including youth initiatives and a Bromyard plan to address issues, while recognising more needs to be done.

To support increased visibility, the PCC has committed additional resources to boost officer presence in the coming months. He also welcomed the force’s community survey and wants to see the findings drive meaningful improvements through existing multi‑agency working.

Crime trends across West Mercia were also reviewed, with overall recorded crime down year‑on‑year, though the reduction has slowed.

More people are being brought to justice, but a 4% rise in burglary in South Worcestershire, an outlier in West Mercia, and a drop in victim satisfaction were raised by the PCC. The Chief Constable provided reassurance around the reasons for this increase and expects proactive enforcement activity to help reverse this trend. He also set out how the new way in which policing is delivered in communities will improve the victim journey.

The meeting also noted improvements in 999 and 101 response times and concluded with scrutiny of Out of Court Resolutions (OOCR), which have risen by 22.6% this year. OOCRs are often used for first-time offenders and when they will not receive a custodial sentence. The PCC reiterated his expectation that their use continues to grow to help offenders change behaviour and contribute positively to society.

PCC John Campion said: “My latest meeting with the Chief Constable was an important opportunity to examine the performance issues that matter most to the public.

“It’s clear that more needs to be done to address the concerns raised in Bromyard, and I am reassured that the Chief Constable is treating this with the seriousness it deserves. I also welcome the focused work under way to tackle the recent spate of burglary in South Worcestershire and to improve victim satisfaction.

“As Commissioner, I will continue to scrutinise West Mercia Police’s performance closely, and provide additional resources where necessary, to ensure the public receive the level of service they rightly expect and deserve.”