Beds Police and Crime Commissioner supports HAF programme this summer
Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Festus Akinbusoye is working in partnership with local authorities in Bedfordshire to support their Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programmes this summer. The HAF programme, funded by the Department for Education (DfE), is a holiday provision for school children from reception to year 11 who receive benefits-related free school meals […]
PCC secures funding for fourth Safer Streets project in Bedfordshire
More than £1 million is to be invested in projects to improve community safety in Bedfordshire after the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) secured funding from the fourth round of the Safer Streets project. Around £730,000 will be spent to support efforts to tackle violence against women and girls and make them feel safer […]
Spotlight on… Embrace – child victims of crime
Helping Bedfordshire teenagers overcome the trauma of domestic abuse Maisie (14)* and her brother Jack (11)* from Bedfordshire have felt like they’ve been piggy in the middle of their parents’ abusive relationship. Two years ago, their parents split up because of their dad’s violent behaviour towards their mum. The abuse was having a lasting effect […]
Update from Bedfordshire PCC on interim leadership arrangements for Bedfordshire Police
Following the announcement that Chief Constable Garry Forsyth is retiring in the new year, some interim leadership arrangements need to be put into place. From 26 September 2022, Deputy Chief Constable Trevor Rodenhurst will become the Acting Chief Constable for Bedfordshire Police. Assistant Chief Constable Dan Vajzovic, currently Head of the Eastern Region […]
Beds PCC launches first Annual Report
Police and Crime Commissioner, Festus Akinbusoye has launched his first Annual Report for 2021-22. The report, published this week, gives an overview of progress made against the PCCs strategic objectives from his Police and Crime Plan. The PCC said: “I am pleased to publish my first Annual Report. I am delighted to say that, with […]
Work experience students ‘wow’ Beds PCC with social campaign
Fifteen teenagers have been given a unique opportunity to find out what working for Bedfordshire Police is like, after the force launched its very own work experience programme. The youngsters from schools across the county enjoyed a packed fortnight of activities at the force’s headquarters in Kempston. They were given behind-the-scenes access to different departments, […]
Bedfordshire Police Chief Constable Garry Forsyth has announced he is stepping down from his role after five years with the force.
He has 28 years’ service with policing across a number of forces including West Midlands Police and the Met and joined Bedfordshire as Deputy Chief Constable in 2017, becoming Chief two years later. Mr Forsyth has helped turn Bedfordshire Police around to become recognised as one of the country’s leading forces across a range of […]
PCC expresses sincere thanks to multi-faith communities at event in Luton
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) hosted their first-ever multi-faith conference in Bedfordshire last week with over 100 attendees from different faith groups. The aim of the event was to give all faith groups the opportunity to hear from the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and Bedfordshire Police while last getting the […]
PCC goes on the buses with powerful domestic abuse campaign
In a first for the county, the Bedfordshire Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), is reaching into new audiences with a bus and audio campaign to highlight the support that is available to people affected by domestic abuse. The campaign, which launched on Monday 6 June, is aimed at three groups of people – victims […]
School Absence needs a common national framework to better protect children
A few weeks ago, I walked into the office of Bedfordshire Police’s Missing Person’s Unit to find out what they know about young people who go missing. Prior to this unannounced visit, I have been visiting at least two to three schools each week as Police and Crime Commissioner, engaging with pupils and some truly […]