Newsletter from the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire

To Resident

Welcome to my second newsletter to you as your Police and Crime Commissioner.

Welcome to my second newsletter as Hertfordshire’s new Police & Crime Commissioner. 

Since my first newsletter last month, I have held the July and August meetings of my new Accountability & Performance Meetings with the Chief Constable. These meetings are webcast live for transparency with recordings available on the PCC website shortly after.

This month, I scrutinised the Constabulary’s approach to shoplifting, vehicle theft, the implications of the forthcoming earlier release of prisoners announced by the Government and how victim’s rights are being met in Hertfordshire. I received some useful updates on the progress being made in these areas, including how the constabulary is tackling low-value shoplifting, of which more details below.

Hertfordshire did not see any incidents of the violent disorder we witnessed earlier this month in other parts of the country. Considerable work was undertaken by the constabulary and other local services to keep the county safe and reassure residents who were feeling vulnerable, while ensuring that police officers were available to respond should it have been necessary, and I’m grateful for the efforts put in.

This newsletter is designed to keep you up to date with my work on your behalf and I hope you find it informative. Should you ever wish to contact me please email commissioner@herts-pcc.gov.uk

Best wishes

Jonathan

Myth of £200 shoplifting limit busted during PCC’s accountability meeting

The myth that police won’t prosecute shoplifting of goods under £200 has been busted by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire.

PCC Jonathan Ash-Edwards asked the Chief Constable Charlie Hall about the misconception during his new monthly public webinar Accountability and Performance Meetings.

He raised the topic as he was concerned that public confidence in the Constabulary’s ability to tackle the crime was being damaged by the belief that thieves could get away with stealing lower value goods.

The Commissioner was given a categorical assurance that there was no lower limit for the police to investigate shoplifting.

Evidence presented in the meeting also showed that all of the last 10 shoplifting cases the Constabulary sent for prosecution were for values under £200, with four being below £50.

Recordings of the meetings are available to watch back, along with dates of future meetings, at hertscommissioner.org/apm. The next meeting is due to be held on Tuesday 17th September.

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Op Hotspot: More than 1,110 hours of additional patrols during first month

More than 1,100 hours of additional police patrols were carried out during the first month of a new initiative to tackle anti-social behaviour and serious violence across Hertfordshire.

Following a successful bid through the Police and Crime Commissioner’s office, the constabulary secured £1m worth of Government funding to launch Operation Hotspot.

The funding is providing extra foot patrols and increased visibility in identified hotspot areas across all 10 districts of the county.

Throughout June, officers:

Jonathan Ash-Edwards said: “Operation Hotspot is all about getting more high visibility patrols into anti-social behaviour hotspots, often in town centres. This is exactly the proactive, visible policing that the public support to provide reassurance and to tackle anti-social behaviour and criminality.”

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PCC opens fund to tackle fly tipping in Hertfordshire

Victims of fly tipping on private or unregistered land can apply for funding to clear up the rubbish left behind and towards measures to prevent further tips.

Hertfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Ash-Edwards is making the help available to those whose land has been impacted by the illegal dumping.

Landowners and farmers in all local authority areas across the county will be able to apply for financial aid to assist with clean-up operations, including those which happen in urban areas on unregistered land.

In addition to paying for tip clearance, funds are also available to match fund the implementation of target hardening measures which could include the installation of security gates, high-visibility signage, bollards or digging trenches.

In all fly tips cases, representatives of the local council or Constabulary investigate the waste for clues to those responsible and collect any evidence which could be used in a prosecution. Those organisations or individuals found responsible for fly tipping face criminal charges and fines.

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Groundbreaking ceremony marks important stage in redevelopment of Hertfordshire Constabulary Headquarters 

A groundbreaking ceremony for Hertfordshire Constabulary’s new police headquarters (HQ) was recently held, marking an important stage in the redevelopment.

The ceremony marks the beginning of the construction phase that will result in a state-of-the-art building which will provide a brand-new working environment for more than 600 operational staff. The 9,000 square metre HQ will reduce the current estate’s long-term running costs as well as provide a home for services and departments based at the site.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Chief Constable Charlie Hall and Stewart Brundell, Managing Director of the main contractor, Willmott Dixon, put spades in the ground during the event.

Jonathan Ash-Edwards said: “The redevelopment of police headquarters is an important and major project to provide fit for purpose facilities for police officers and staff delivering critical operational police services to the public. The decision was taken by my predecessor following full scrutiny of the various options, which concluded that redevelopment of the site was the cheapest option. I will be maintaining close oversight of the project as it comes to fruition.”

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Thank you for reading

Jonathan Ash-Edwards