1. Welcome/Apologies and Introductions
Apologies from Steve Smithies, The Youth commission and Leaders unlocked.
Present –
AB – Andrew Bailey – Chair
CD – Ceri Davies – Scrutiny Sergeant – Cheshire Constabulary
MC – Mike Cunliffe – IAG member Widnes
LR - Laura Roberts – Senior prosecutor CPS
GW – Gareth Wrigley – Superintendent – Use of Force
JT – Jez Taylor – Superintendent – Hate crime (previous) & Training. Chair Andrew Bailey
2. Police Accountability Meeting Chair comment and update
Review of actions
PAM6 and PAM7 closed.
PAM9
PAM17 to remain open – JT stresses that there is an open invitation to view training and that we would welcome it.
PAM 18 – closed – Review of police officer OC16 during hate crime. JT explains that the numbers are small and usually relate to MH crisis or education.
Pam 21 – Closed.
Pam 24 – Closed. This is not supported by the force due to issues with insurance and safeguarding – we are looking at different ways to engage with the youth community.
Actions PAM 25, PAM 26, PAM27, PAM30 and PAM 32 are to remain open and to be reviewed at the next meeting at the request of the panel.
Chair Andrew Bailey
3. Members updates
Laura Roberts – CPS has updated that the Mersey-Cheshire Chief Crown prosecutor has steeped down and that the new Chief prosecutor is Sarah Hammond from West Midlands. It is not know yet what date Ms Hammond will start.
CD updated with a good new story about young people and front line police officers taking part in a Lived Experience workshop in relation to Stop and Search and that this was a really positive day with good feedback.
CD updated that there is PSU training throughout the summer where ‘actors’ can get involved. Members are welcome to take part – invites have been sent to the youth commission via email.
AB mentioned the impact of the election and police members explained that planning is now well underway. GW said that Purdah officially begins on 30th May but has effectively now started for the police service.
All
4. Hate Crime
LR – Hate Crime uplift rate is 73% in the last quarter which is below the national average of 75%. This could be due to some new prosecution staff not asking for the uplist at court. It could be due to the types of offences charged. 220 cases referred to CPS only 4.9% are NFA suggesting good quality coming through from the police. 95.8% guilty plea and 100% conviction rate – again this is suggestive that the evidence and files are strong that are coming through. 9 of 15 non race hate crime offences reviewed in the last month were police officer AP’s. Clear from the BWV that these are impactive on officers. LR mentioned the case of Greenwood an Op Tarlac case that wasn’t flagged to CPS some learning back to the force for that. This has been finalized – Guilty plea, 12 month community order and MH treatment plan.
ML and SJ
5. Use of Force
MC – Mike mentioned that there had been an increase in the number of incidents at police stations. Numbers are still very low. This could be due to an increase in scrutiny in custody as they now have their own CCG and scrutiny. Officers are getting better at documenting – so for example, where 5 officers use force there will be now 5 forms submitted.
MC noted that how is it possible to have more ‘RED DOT’ within the CED data than drawn / aimed (for example). GW explained that it is the highest level of force which is recorded. So every RED DOT will have been drawn / aimed but that it not included in the data as it is the highest level of force only recorded when it is the same tactic (i.e. CED).
MC made a note about the data and said that the math’s doesn’t add up. He referenced page 36 and said that the comparison of force by ethnicity doesn’t match the earlier data. Both GW and JT tried to explain but it was decided it may be best if the data analyst takes a look. Agreed plan for MC to send an email with his concerns and for this to be reviewed by Thomas Shimin.
A - MC to send an email detailing his concerns with the Data and CD will follow this up.
All agree that there are no concerns with the type of force used and the ethnicity data.
GW explains that there are parts of the data that he has identified require a bit of further work. It is noted that the ethnicity and impact factors show an increase in ‘impact factor’ ‘Size, Build, Gender’ when the perceived ethnicity is Black. There is a decrease in other impact factors such as alcohol and drug, but this data has been noticed across the past two quarters and GW has agreed some further analysis. GW has requested that all 102 incidents where force was used against a person who is perceived ethnicity black to be reviewed. This request has gone to the SLT of each LPU and results have been requested by 7th June 2024. Each review will take place using a MS Forms QATT prepared by CD and will include a review of BWV. The data will be analysed by CD once the results are collated. AB asked whether the officers will be made aware of the review – GW and CD both explain that there is no plan to do this, although it will be at the discretion of individual area commanders. This data should be ready for discussion at the next PAM.
A - CD to bring an update to the next PAM MC and AB
6. Stop Search
CD - Increase in the number of stop and search throughout the last quarter, particularly in the West and in the North. Police action was taken in 30.4% of all stop and search. There was a significant increase in the number of stop and search in March 2023 – this is likely to due to several police operations at Crewe and Chester Train Stations utilizing drugs dogs. There was also an increase on the North- this may be due to some plain clothes operations / Op Spectre. The app upgrade will include the option to detail when a stop is part of a police operation, and this will give us better oversight into increases such as this.
Over 12 months the positive outcome rate is 30% but there was a drop in March 24 to 28%. This tied in with an increase in the number of searches and is not what we want to see- hope that the positive outcome rate will increase again during the next month.
3 searches of <10yrs in the last 12 months – reviewed by scrutiny sergeant and feedback given – also now included as part of the CPD – safeguarding must come first.
Increase in the disproportionality rate for the stop and search of people who are black. 4.3 times more likely to be stopped if black than white. Previously this was 4.1, All searches are reviewed by scrutiny sergeant – nothing stands out as being problematic with regard area / LPU or individual officers and the quality of grounds has actually seen an increase. Increase in stop search as a whole may impact especially as many of these stops relate to the train stations where the subject stopped may not be a Cheshire resident. 48% of the diverse community groups who were stopped and searched were Cheshire residents.
PRAP has been included as part of stop search CPD training as well as work around trauma informed policing and lived experience. CPD has stated in May for all front-line police officers.
No new Section 60’s for Q4.
Exposure of Intimate Parts searches – Nothing significant of note. Find rate is 48%. Every EIP is now reviewed by the scrutiny sergeant. No concerns. 4 <18yrs in the last 12 months. 1 <18yrs in the last quarter (15 year old) – policy was adhered to – search was for drugs during a MH episode, secreted items for self harm were found during the search.
Ceri Davies
7. CCG overview
The panel were shown the feedback framework and how the CCG feedback is reported to PAM / PJ and ultimately can shame organizational learning.
Q3 CCG data discussed – it was noted that there was no major developmental requirements for individual officers from the various panels. There was LPU feedback in relation to UoF form compliance (Crewe) and docking and storing BWV correctly (Congleton). There was no organizational learning identified.
MC noted that when he attended the CCG in Widnes their data was incorrect, specifically around Taser usage – MC expects that the PCSO you prepared the data needs some extra training as to how to obtain it – feedback to be sent directly.
MC also said that the UoF footage viewed was all compliant handcuffing. And that everyone agreed it was proportionate because they were being put into police cars. GW said that the UOF data is randomly chosen and because handcuffing if the most common UoF, it is understandable how this could happen.
A – CD to have a decision with CCG coordinators about how to keep the footage randomly selected while maintaining that it is interesting for the panel. Ceri Davies
8. Race Action Plan for Cheshire – update
No update this quarter – further to follow. Jason Murray
9. AOB
Update from CD to say that if there are any guest you would like to join or police representatives / items for the agenda then to let her know in plenty of time and she will try to arrange. All
Next meeting: 22nd August 2024