This CoPaCC Thematic examining “PCCs and innovation” is the third in a series of six core CoPaCC Thematics comparing PCCs and sharing best practice.
CoPaCC invited all 41 OPCCs, plus MOPAC, plus a cross-section of interested parties, to contribute their thoughts on “PCCs and innovation”. We received replies from ten OPCCs: one of the ten apologised for not having staff time available to provide a contribution, whilst the remaining nine provided insight on their approach to innovation. Sixteen ‘interested parties’ contributed – these include public, private and third sector organisations as well as individuals. Our thanks to The College of Policing; Peter Neyroud of the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Criminology; Karen Ogborn of the Crimestoppers Trust; Michael Gordon-Gibson of Facewatch; Josie Cluer of Moorhouse; John Tizard; Jon Harvey of Jon Harvey Associates; Clare Fraser of Reform; Susan Ritchie of MutualGain; Cate Moore; Steria; Paul West of Policing First; Ed Hammond of the Centre for Public Scrutiny; Peter Martin of Bluelightworks; Mark Iveson of Capgemini; Charlotte McLeod of Policy Exchange.
Published March 2014: Our second CoPaCC Thematic, on “PCCs and Public Engagement”. This Thematic is available:
- in full (70 pages, 1.5Mb) [link] (includes Report and Appendix)
- or report alone (19 pages, 0.4Mb) [link]
There are four key reasons (acronym: PEEL) why Police and Crime Commissioners’ (PCCs’) engagement with the public is important:
-
Practical: public engagement is key to a PCC obtaining insight and feedback on where (and how) to focus, as well as to building trust and confidence between public and police
-
Ethical: on taking office, PCCs make a “Declaration of Acceptance of Office”, which includes a commitment to engage with the public
-
Effective: partnership with the public can lead to enhanced community safety
-
Legal: PCCs have a statutory obligation to consult the public on some areas of their work
In addition, a PCC may have personal reasons for good engagement with the public: for a PCC wishing to seek reelection, effective public engagement is clearly important in that PCC’s building and maintaining an electoral majority.
Published November 2013: Our first CoPaCC Thematic, on “PCC Statutory Transparency”. This Thematic is available in full here. Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) had at this time been in post for one year, with the first PCCs having been elected on 15th November 2012. CoPaCC marked this first anniversary with an independent review of PCCs’ transparency. PCCs across England and Wales have to publish specified information to allow the public to hold them to account, as made clear in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011. The CoPaCC “PCC Statutory Transparency” Thematic compared the performance of the 42 PCCs (including MOPAC) in meeting their statutory responsibilities on transparency.