OPCC Annual Survey Results 2020 / 2021

Overall 

• A total of 318 residents of Bedfordshire answered the survey. 

• 65% of respondents would like to see a more visible return to policing and to ensure that police are there when they need them. We have used this information to reinforce the position of the PCC 

• Again, we struggled to receive the views from 16-24 year olds as they only made up 0.79% of respondents views in the survey. The OPCC expected this result from survey results in previous years which is why we launched the Bedfordshire Youth Council in August 2020. We will be issuing the same topics from this survey through our online platform for BYC members to engage with as we fully appreciate a survey methodology does not work for all people. The results of that campaign will be looked at for a specific item of work and reported upon. 

• We have also decided to launch a factsheet and bespoke survey to the town and parish councils to encourage further dialogue in place of our annual council event which cannot take place this year due to Covid-19. 

Crime 

What the results told us: 

• Similarly to last year, burglary and anti-social behaviour are the two crime types that people feel most affects them in their local area. When asked about other issues that affected communities (that were not listed) the highest response for concern was county lines / drug dealing. 

• 69% of respondents feel safe or very safe in the area that they live, which is a 12% increase compared to last year. 

What the OPCC will do: 
The OPCC were pleased to note that the rate at which people feel safe has increased, however clearly we wish to pursue a further increase in this number so everyone can feel safe where they live work or visit. The Safer Street fund that the OPCC won in July 2020 will be performance monitored and if the results how us that residents and businesses alike feel safer after such a project this builds a strong platform for the OPCC to work with partners in engaging in similar concepts.  
 
Burglary was placed as a focus for the Strategic Board and the PCC will be updating the Police and Crime panel on progress in this are on December 9th 2020. Anti-Social Behaviour is a focus of the Neighbourhood Enforcement Team, a team the PCC is pleased to report is now at full strength as promised. The OPCC will monitor the progress of the teams focus on ASB to ensure its work continues to be a focus of Bedfordshire Police. 
Drug use and dealing is a key focus operationally for the Boson team at Bedfordshire Police. They have had significant results this year and have been able to operate due to additional funding secured from the Home Office, however the OPCC will support them further by working with partners to introduce conditional cautions linked to supportive programmes for alcohol and drug misuse.  By understanding what works in other areas we will be able to introduce the most appropriate programmes in Bedfordshire to reduce the volume of drug dependency related crimes. 

Victim 

What the results told us: 

• 60% of respondents were unaware of the number of police stations and hubs within Bedfordshire as a result 60% of respondents have not used the current available stations. 

• The respondents’ most popular form of communication is via email. 

• 30% of residents have been a victim of crime within the last three years. However additional comments do show that those close to victims also feel affected. The majority of victims did report the crime.   

  
What the OPCC will do: 
It is a positive result that the majority of respondents have reported the crime that has affected them, this means that Signpost, the service to help people recover from criminal activity can be made aware and support them directly. However, the OPCC will be asking Signpost to focus on a campaign on the impact of family and friends on victims of crime. 
 
The OPCC has asked the Force to review the project they launched after last year’s survey when the information was difficult to find for community members on local hubs. The OPCC have written to all parish and town councils with a guide on how to find a local officer, so they can share with residents to support this message. As the majority of respondents prefer to receive email communication the annual survey for the OPCC will be changed to “Have you engaged vis email with your local team” instead of establishing if they have visited the local team physically.    

Bedfordshire Police Partnership Trust 

What the results told us: 
  

• 64% of respondents said they have never heard of The Bedfordshire Police Partnership Trust (BPPT). 

• After explaining to the respondents about what the BPPT do and the services they provide, 60% of respondents said they would find this service useful.  

   
What the OPCC will do: 
The OPCC has recently taken over management of the Bedfordshire Police Partnership Trust and is pleased that respondents feel the services of this charity would be beneficial, the key is now to ensure people are aware of ways the organisation can support them. A communications campaign has been designed and will launch in the new year. The campaign will be authorised by the trustees of the charity to ensure every focus is kept to the charities original mission and values. 

Way forward 

The recommendations which were highlighted in the findings of the annual survey have a direct focus on how the OPCC both supports and applies scrutiny to Bedfordshire Police and conducts its own programme of work. The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner has a monthly strategic board which is the forum to hold the Chief Constable and his force to account, the recommendations have been shared with the Executive Team and will be monitored from the January 2021 Strategic Board for updates. 
The items the OPCC will be monitoring or conducting directly due to this survey are: 
 
1: BYC Instagram – focus of crimes and reporting for young people 
2: Safer Streets Project performance review   
3: Publication of a Fact Sheet and further survey for Town and Parish Councils 
4: Scrutiny of the work of the Neighbourhood Enforcement Team 
5: Review of communications project the Force conducted for the Community Hub information. The recommendations for changes to be brought to the OPCC for review before completion 
6: Burglary focus paper to be taken to the December Police and Crime Panel and for a communications plan to be undertaken so the people of Bedfordshire can have all the available information on what Bedfordshire Police are doing about this crime area and how best we can all work towards preventing it.  
7: Signpost will launch a communications campaign about their services for family and friends of victims 
8: Bedfordshire Police Partnership Trust Communications plan and rebranding project in 2021 
9: Review of most appropriate drug and alcohol programmes to be linked to conditional cautions to support people away from criminality in a bid to reduce drug dependency issues.