I KNEW when I was elected as your Police and Crime Commissioner in May that I had four years to make a difference on your behalf.
For several months I have been gathering thoughts, ideas, and concerns from residents through my Police and Crime Plan consultation.
The response has been outstanding. More than 1,140 people shared their ideas for how the priorities I had outlined could be delivered.
The consultation was a huge thing to ask of the public, and I want to personally thank all of you who took the time to take part.
As well as all the responses I received through our online survey, my team and I reached out to our communities in lots of ways, through public forums across the area, a postal survey and numerous focus groups to hear the quiet and under-represented voices so often missing from policing.
I am pleased to say that the Police and Crime Plan I developed following this feedback has now been accepted by the Police and Crime Panel for Avon and Somerset.
You can read the plan on my website at tinyurl.com/2zxte625.
The priorities outlined in my plan reflect the priorities raised with me throughout my time campaigning and since I was elected.
You told me your policing priorities are:
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Strengthening neighbourhood policing (including tackling anti-social behaviour)
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Reducing Violent Crime (particularly male violence against women and girls and serious youth violence)
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Prevention of crime
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Supporting victims
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Improving policing standards
This plan is not about me making unrealistic promises. We all know it isn’t possible for me, or the police, to solve all the problems we face as a society in the remaining three and a half years of my term.
I do promise that this plan is about improving the way we work together, the collective impact we can have, about setting the conditions for success and laying the foundations for safer and more resilient communities now and for future generations to come.
Delivery of my plan will mean working with all the relevant partners, not just the police, to focus on prevention, intervention, diversion, engagement, education and opportunities to have a bigger impact – improving lives for all our communities.
This plan is a means to deliver change.
I will develop a plan of action in the first months of this year, which will be continually refreshed throughout my time in office. This work will continue to benefit from hearing your views about what will make a difference in your community.
For me, being in politics is about making a difference. That is what I will continue to strive to do for you during 2025, and for the remainder of my time in office.