PCC to grill senior police officers

Police Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne will question senior police officers on the results from the Police Federation’s Demand, Capacity and Welfare Survey.

COMMISSIONER Bourne will question senior officers on the results from the Police Federation’s Demand, Capacity and Welfare Survey at a monthly Performance & Accountability Meeting (PAM) on Friday, March 15 at 1pm.

Findings published from the Police Federation’s Demand, Capacity and Welfare survey reveal that almost 90% of Sussex Police officers have said morale within the Force was low and almost four out of five have faced mental wellbeing issues over the last 12 months.

Commissioner Bourne, said: “This survey only highlights even further the increasingly difficult job police officers have in keeping us all safe. We are living in an ever-changing landscape of sophisticated digital criminality, organised crime groups and external security threats and often this is the policing response that goes unseen by the public.

“Nationally, additional resources are needed to combat some of the pressures placed on our forces and in Sussex work has started to address this. Sussex Police has already begun recruitment for 250 more police officers and 50 specialist investigators. In March recruitment also begins for the 100 extra PSCOs promised from this year’s rise in precept, offering welcome support to officers in their investigations and directly tackling anti-social behaviour and drug-related crime in our communities.

“I know that the Force have, in recent years, introduced a significant number of schemes and support mechanisms so officers and staff get the help they need but still more could be done.

“I am seeking assurances that appropriate investment will be made in what they need to support them in their role. After all, these are men and women who put themselves in dangerous and sometimes life threatening situations that many of us would run away from.”

Other topics under discussion on March 15, will include:

• Reassurance to Sussex communities – London and Manchester knife attacks
• Serious and organised crime
• Acquisitive crime
• HMICFRS – police response to domestic abuse
• Information management – freedom of information and vetting standards

To watch the PAM meeting online, click here: