Date of contact: 24/04/2024

Information given in contact:

Complaint Outcome Response.

The Chief Executive has issued a statement in response to a number of complaints about the use of police imagery by the Conservative Candidate.

We received several complaints relating to the Conservative Candidate Festus Akinbusoye, who is the incumbent PCC, using a photograph of a police officer in his election material. We were asked whether its use breaches the local protocol for the PCC election agreed between the OPCC Chief Executive and the Chief Constable, which was circulated to all election teams. We also received complaints suggesting the use of this particular photograph was potentially misleading. The second issue falls outside of the protocol, but we have put these concerns to the candidate’s agent as outlined below.

Following the complaints, we engaged the National Police Chiefs’ Council on the additional guidance issued around the PCC elections, which was published after the Bedfordshire local protocol was agreed and inside the pre-election timeframe. The OPCC issued some clarification to the use of the local protocol on 12 April 2024.

The OPCC discussed this matter with the candidate’s agent, Marc Frost, who accepts that the local protocol sets out that images of Bedfordshire Police officers should not be used in election material. The image is of the Conservative candidate, Festus Akinbusoye, who served as a Special Constable in Bedfordshire Police from 14 August 2020 to 15 October 2020. Mr Frost accepts that the lack of caption explaining that the image is of Mr Akinbusoye when he was briefly a Special Constable was an oversight and could have been included on the election material.

Mr Frost pointed out that the NPCC has recently changed its guidance in relation to pre-election periods for PCC elections, but accepted that no such changes were made to the local protocol as the new guidance was issued during the pre-election period. Notwithstanding that the local protocol is unenforceable and is not part of any electoral law, Mr Frost confirmed that the image that has been subject to the complaints would not be used in any new material that the campaign team did not already have printed. Mr Frost also confirmed that any further use of images of the Conservative Candidate would be appropriately captioned to prevent any misinterpretation.

Date published: 24/04/2024

Date of contact: 17/04/2024

Information given in contact:

I am writing to you regarding the poor state of affairs of the Bedfordshire firearms team, particularly with regards to the application process for Shotgun licenses. I am a member of XXXX and last year, I decided to apply for my own shotgun license. This involved paying a £50 fee to my doctors to fill out the medical form, as well as an additional £80 to actually apply for the license. I submitted this application in August last year, with the website informing me that the process could take upto 12 weeks.

The 12 weeks passed and I used the online ‘contact us’ form on the Beds firearms team website to enquire as to the status of my application, I received no response. A couple of months ago, I again tried to contact the firearms team. Again to no response.

Can I ask if this is something, you, or your team can look into please? The time it is taking is simply unacceptable, especially with absolutely no contact. Is this also something that will be on your radar if you were to be re-elected as PCC? As clearly something is broken within this team.

Response:

Thank you for your email in relation to the 2024 PCC election in May.

The Office of Police and Crime Commissioner is not able to assist with facilitating the development of political material or pledges or responding to candidate queries.

Details of candidates are available on Luton Borough Council’s website as their Chief Executive is the Police Area Returning Officer for this election, so you are able to locate their contact details and contact them directly using this information.

Thank you for your understanding of the need for the OPCC to remain politically neutral and for the PCC not to use the resources of his office, including this email address, for election campaigning purposes.

If you would like to submit a complaint about the timeliness of Bedfordshire Police, please visit the following website link: Complaints | Bedfordshire Police (beds.police.uk)

Date published: 17/04/2024

Date of contact: 16/04/2024

Information given in contact:

Same email from different senders received 9 times

Retail Crime is a blight on our high streets which has a severe cost not only on the retailers who are subject to it, but also shop workers who are all too often on the frontline of this crisis.

Over recent months and years levels of retail crime have soared, and alongside the increased instances of shop theft it is the violence, threats and abuse directed towards retail staff which is most damaging.

In 2023, Co-op Group stores reported around 1,000 incidents a day of retail crime. That represents an increase of 44% on the previous year. This is of particular concern to me as a member of a co-operative society.

Too often, instances of theft and retail crime act as trigger points for violence directed towards retail staff. The British Retail Consortium estimated there were 850 assaults on shop staff a day in 2021-22. In the Co-op Group, there has been more than a 35% increase in violence and abuse in 2023.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council’s (NPCC) Retail Crime Action Plan published in October 2023 has set out clear commitments to attend incidents in shops where there have been violence or abuse, where an offender has been detained and where evidence needs to be collected.

These commitments are welcome but it will only make a difference to shopworkers if it implemented by individual constabularies.
As a prospective Police and Crime Commissioner or representative with policing powers, I would ask whether if you are elected you will ensure that:

— commitments in the NPCC’s Retail Crime Action Plan is fully implemented;

— the new stand-alone offence of assault against a shopworker is enforced and progress is reported through your Police and Crime Plan.

I would be grateful for a response to understand whether you intend to make tackling retail crime and protecting shopworkers is a central part of your agenda if you are elected.

Response:

Thank you for your email in relation to the 2024 PCC election in May.

The Office of Police and Crime Commissioner is not able to assist with facilitating the development of political material or pledges or responding to candidate queries.

Details of candidates are available on Luton Borough Council’s website as their Chief Executive is the Police Area Returning Officer for this election, so you are able to locate their contact details and contact them directly using this information.

Thank you for your understanding of the need for the OPCC to remain politically neutral and for the PCC not to use the resources of his office, including this email address, for election campaigning purposes.

Date published: 17/04/2024

Date of contact: 16/04/2024

Information given in contact:

I live in Kempston and I’m a Jew.I am terrified of the rise of antisemitism that has occurred since October 7th.
I want to know how you feel and what you will do to make me and other Jews feel more safe in our local communities as we are a minority here and we are so scared.

Response:

Thank you for your email in relation to the 2024 PCC election in May.

The Office of Police and Crime Commissioner is not able to assist with facilitating the development of political material or pledges or responding to candidate queries.

Details of candidates are available on Luton Borough Council’s website as their Chief Executive is the Police Area Returning Officer for this election, so you are able to locate their contact details and contact them directly using this information.

Thank you for your understanding of the need for the OPCC to remain politically neutral and for the PCC not to use the resources of his office, including this email address, for election campaigning purposes.

If you do have any policing concerns, please visit Bedfordshire Police Website – https://www.beds.police.uk/

Date published: 17/04/2024

Date of contact: 12/04/2024

Information given in contact:

Request – Clarification required regarding the Bedfordshire OPCC Election Protocol 2024.

Response:

The purpose of issuing a protocol to cover the election campaign period is to ensure, as far as possible, a fair and level playing field for all candidates and for there to be no opportunity for any criticism of any candidate. The Chief Constable and the OPCC Chief Executive also want to protect police officers and staff from this political environment and being in the position where, because of the perceived power imbalance that exists between a PCC and officers and staff, colleagues might not feel able to refuse to have their photograph taken, which subsequently appears on election material.

The Bedfordshire protocol was drafted based on advice provided by the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, the Association of Police and Crime Chief Executives, and Guidance issued by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC).

Of particular note is the APCC guidance that states: ‘Police and Crime Commissioners will wish to be particularly careful around publicity photos which might risk involving the force in campaign and political material, whether seeking re-election themselves or supporting other PCC candidates. This will assist in avoiding any impression that the PCC is using public resources (such as OPCC or force insignia or branding) to support their re-election, or that the force supports their re-election. It is acknowledged that this may be difficult, as serving PCCs cannot pretend they do not have a relationship with their own office or with the force – but they should consider with care the messages a photo might give in their own campaign material.

It was finalised in January 2024 in consultation with the Chief Constable and the Chief Executive of the OPCC. The protocol has no legal standing. It is essentially an agreement between those involved in the election about how we will all conduct ourselves and ensure that the impartiality of force is not brought into question.

It was published on the OPCC website on 20 February 2024 at the same time as a press release was issued explaining how the OPCC was going to operate during the campaign. Prospective candidates and their agents were invited to a Candidate Briefing held on 12 March 2024. No objections were raised by any campaign team about the protocol. Clarification about the use of photographs was sought and provided to one candidate on 6 February 2024 in advance of material being finalised with their campaign team. That advice was in line with the agreed protocol.

Since drafting, agreeing and publishing the protocol, the NPCC has changed its guidance. The NPCC sent the new guidance to forces on 8 April 2024, less than a month before the PCC election is due to take place, many months after our local protocol was written and agreed, and well inside the commencement of the pre-election period.

The OPCC and the PARO have received complaints about the use of police imagery in some of the election material for one of the candidates. The PARO has confirmed that the complaints do not relate to election law. The OPCC is considering whether the use of police imagery is in line with the local protocol and awaits a response from the NPCC in relation to its guidance.

Date published: 12/04/2024

Date of contact: 11/04/2024

Information given in contact:

MEDIA REQUEST – We’ve been passed the below and asked Festus for comment too, he has not responded to us but has commented on it publicly on social media.

Is the OPCC in a position to comment on how this is being dealt with and if Festius is in breach of the protocal as suggested.

Response:

Thank you for the below email.

We have been made aware of concerns regarding the use of police-related imagery by a candidate in some of their election material.

We are working with the Police Area Returning Officer (PARO) and National Police Chief’s Council to review the material to ascertain whether it is in breach of our local protocol. If it is determined to be so, the candidate will be asked to remove the image from their campaign material.

Date published: 12/04/2024

Date of contact: 11/04/2024

Information given in contact:

NB: Same email from different senders received four times

Dear Candidate

I am writing to you as a candidate in the upcoming elections for Police and Crime Commissioners, through the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), as a constituent involved in shooting.

Firearms licensing comes within the PCC’s responsibility for policing plans, budgets and holding Chief Constables to account. I hope you share the objective of your force running a firearms licensing system which protects public safety and provides an efficient service to those who shoot.

As firearms licencing is an administrative rather than an operational function, if elected you would have a vital role in the allocation of resources and accountability for your Chief Constable’s performance.

Should you be elected, I would like to know if you will ensure that:

• The firearms licensing department is sufficiently well-resourced to deliver certificate renewals and grants in a timely manner within 17 weeks. Except those involving serious safety concerns which may require more investigation.

• If it doesn’t already exist, will your force be setting up an Independent Advisory Group, where key stakeholders can give feedback to the force on its decisions and performance with respect to firearms licensing.

Both of these objectives are referred to in the latest College of Policing Approved Professional Practice (APP), which can be found by visiting https://www.college.police.uk/app/major-investigation-and-public-protection/firearms-licensing . If elected, you should reference this is your Policing Plan and it should be included in the Chief Constable’s Strategic Demand Assessment of the force’s firearms licensing department. Both documents should be published on your PCC website.

Thank you for taking the time to reply to me, I will be notifying BASC of your response which will be made available ahead of the election to those who shoot in your area.

Yours sincerely

Response:

Thank you for your email in relation to the 2024 PCC election in May.

The Office of Police and Crime Commissioner is not able to assist with facilitating the development of political material or pledges or responding to candidate queries.

Details of candidates are available on Luton Borough Council’s website as their Chief Executive is the Police Area Returning Officer for this election, so you are able to locate their contact details and contact them directly using this information.

Thank you for your understanding of the need for the OPCC to remain politically neutral and for the PCC not to use the resources of his office, including this email address, for election campaigning purposes.

Date published: 12/04/2024

Date of contact: 10/04/2024

Information given in contact:

I have been asked about what I know about your period as a Bedfordshire Police Special Constable.

Could you kindly assist me by letting me know when you were sworn in and what date you resigned, thank you.

Response:

The current PCC served as Special Constable from 14 August 2020 To the 15th October 2020.

Date published: 15/04/2024

Date of contact: 09/04/2024

Information given in contact:

What do P&CCs actually do? They were introduced by May & Cameron in 2012 to replace police authorities (which usually comprised: magistrates, councillors and some independent members, about five of each, paid only expenses). The average P&CC salary is £70+k with a staff of upto 40, giving an annual basic wage bill of approximately £1.4m, exclusive of benefits, pensions and expenses costs. As an example of the upper echelons of such a staff let me delineate that of Ms Joy Allen’s at Durham: 2 PAs, 1 media officer, 1 engagement and events officer, 1 strategic partnerships manager, 1 head of projects policy commissioning, 1 policy and commissioning assistant, 1 senior governance officer, 1 performance analyst. The justification for such an establishment is the enhanced democratic control of the Police Service, as evidenced by the average national turn out of 15 % at P&CC elections.

One does not know how the Bedford set up compares with Durham but, in the absence of local data, one must assume structure at costs are similar.

As to effectiveness, J. Tizard claims that: 94.3% of crimes are unsolved, Bed’s weapon possession has increased by 12.3%, and thefts from shop shelves by 22.1%. The logical deduction from these stats is that the P&CC presence may have contributed to the solving of 5.7% of crimes and that without it the unsolved figure could approach 99%. It has always puzzled we laymen how Chief Constables who have risen through the ranks and learnt policing from the ground up, can benefit professionally from those who haven’t. Where it is asserted that commissioners have secured extra funding, unless this is year on year and greater than the expense of their departments, it still seems like a diversion of funds that we, the community charge payers, would prefer to see spent on beat officers. Were more of the public aware of the use to which their money is put, perhaps some pressure would reach central government to rescind this pointless American import.

Response:

Thank you for the below email.

If you wish to find out more about the role of Police and Crime Commissioner, please visit the following link: https://www.bedfordshire.pcc.police.uk/pcc-election-2024/

PCCs were created by the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 to replace police authorities in England and Wales (with the exception of Greater London and the City of London). For more information on the role of PCC, and for further information on the role, please visit the following Association of Police and Crime Commissioner’s web page – https://apccs.police.uk/role-of-the-pcc/

I am unable to comment on observations made by PCC candidates, as the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) is to remain politically neutral.

Date published: 10/04/2024

Date of contact: 09/04/2024

Information given in contact:

What is the budget of the OPCC?

Response:

With reference to your recent enquiry and in response to your question, the total cost of running the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire (including staff salaries) for the 2022/2023 financial year is £1,210,233.
Please note that we are still finalising the 2023 – 2024 year end position, so I am unable to provide this information at this time. 
We hope this information proves useful. Please come back to us if you require further assistance on this matter.

Date published: 10/04/2024

Date of contact: 08/04/2024

Information given in contact:

A current PCC candidate,  has been shown in campaign literature wearing police uniform – What are the OPCC doing about this. MEDIA ENQUIRY.

Response:

Thank you for the below email.

We have been made aware of concerns regarding the use of police-related imagery by a candidate in some of their election material.

We are working with the Police Area Returning Officer (PARO) and National Police Chief’s Council to review the material to ascertain whether it is in breach of our local protocol. If it is determined to be so, the candidate will be asked to remove the image from their campaign material.

Date published: 10/04/2024

Date of contact: 02/04/2024

Information given in contact:

Dear Candidate, One of the key roles of a PCC is to hold the force’s Chief Constable, who is responsible for service delivery, to account. PCCs also sign off the police budget and Policing Plan. Consequently, they play a vital part in ensuring the local police force fulfils its statutory obligations on firearms licensing and delivers the service in an efficient and effective manner that protects public safety.

I would like to know what your stance is on shooting.

Also please can I have some reassurance on the following:

The firearms licensing department is sufficiently well-resourced to deliver certificate renewals and grants in a timely manner. ie. 95 per cent of all renewals and grants (except those involving serious safety concerns which may require more investigation) are completed within 17 weeks.

If it doesn’t exist, the force should set up a liaison system, often called an Independent Advisory Group (IAG) where key stakeholders have the opportunity to give feedback to the force on its decisions and performance with respect to firearms licensing.

Both these objectives are referred to in the latest College of Policing Approved Professional Practice.

Are they referenced in your Policing Plan and the Chief Constable’s Strategic Demand Assessment of the force’s firearms licensing department?

I look forward to your reply.

Response:

Thank you for your email in relation to the 2024 PCC election in May, further information can be found here: https://www.bedfordshire.pcc.police.uk/pcc-election-2024/

The Office of Police and Crime Commissioner is not able to assist with facilitating the development of political material or pledges or responding to queries regarding the election. 

Once nominated, details of candidates will be available on Luton Borough Council’s website as their Chief Executive is the Police Area Returning Officer for this election. Contact details for prospective candidates and their agents before this time will, I am sure, be available on social media, for you to make contact with the campaign team.

Thank you for your understanding of the need for the OPCC to remain politically neutral and for the PCC not to use the resources of his office, including this email address, for election campaigning purposes.

Date published: 10/04/2024

Date of contact: 28/03/2024

Information given in contact:

When does Purdah come into play for the PCC elections?

Response:

Thank you for the below email. The pre-election period information is available on the OPCC Website: https://www.bedfordshire.pcc.police.uk/pcc-election-2024/

Date published: 28/03/2024

Date of contact: 28/03/2024

Information given in contact:

I recently moved to Leighton Buzzard and will be voting in my first PCC election.

I would like to learn more about you, as I like to be informed when I vote.

Firstly, I would be interested to know what would you consider to be your best / favourite achievement (something you look back at and feel great about) in your first term as PCC?

Secondly, what would you consider to be something which has not gone as well in your first term or something you think you could do better in, and if elected a second term, how would you address this in your second term?

Response:

Thank you for your email in relation to the 2024 PCC election in May, further information can be found here: https://www.bedfordshire.pcc.police.uk/pcc-election-2024/

The Office of Police and Crime Commissioner is not able to assist with facilitating the development of political material or pledges or responding to queries regarding the election. 

Once nominated, details of candidates will be available on Luton Borough Council’s website as their Chief Executive is the Police Area Returning Officer for this election. Contact details for prospective candidates and their agents before this time will, I am sure, be available on social media, for you to make contact with the campaign team.

Thank you for your understanding of the need for the OPCC to remain politically neutral and for the PCC not to use the resources of his office, including this email address, for election campaigning purposes.

Date published: 28/03/2024

Date of contact: 05/03/2024

Information given in contact:

A typo has been highlighted one of the candidates leaflets. This is a typo, it is not going to be pulled as leaflets have been delivered already, but should be noted on the register as has been bought to CEO’s attention. It was found by a member who is part of the campaign, and we are not aware of members of the public who have commented on this. The number of Police Officer’s has been overstated by 200 (quoted 1655 officers when it should be 1455) and a note has been put out on social media by the candidate acknowledging that there is a typo.

Date published: 20/03/2024

Date of contact: 05/03/2024

Information given in contact:

Please can I have a statement to explain why it’s ok for the Deputy PCC to be out campaigning for current PCC.

Response:

Chief Executive of the OPCC, Anna Villette said: “As Deputy PCC, Ian Dalgarno is able to support campaigning providing it is in his own time and not while carrying out his duties for the OPCC. Ian is in regular contact with me to ensure that this is the case and that there is no conflict with his role in the OPCC.”

More information about the PCC election can be found here….
https://www.bedfordshire.pcc.police.uk/pcc-election-2024/

Of note the following line may be of interest:

OPCC staff are politically restricted and cannot actively support PCC candidates, apart from the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner.

Whether or not a Police and Crime Commissioner is connected to a political party, it is recognised that this is a political role. During the pre-election period whether a PCC is seeking re-election themselves, or supporting other individuals seeking election, they should be aware that when doing this, they are acting in a personal capacity and should not use their public office to influence the outcome of the PCC Elections.

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioners are in much the same position, since they are not in a politically restricted role, and they should follow the advice for Police and Crime Commissioners rather than the advice relevant to the other staff of the OPCC.

Where an incumbent PCC is planning to stand for re-election and the Deputy (who is one of the OPCC staff) is proposing to help the PCC.

The Deputy is not politically restricted and so can help the PCC but, this does not permit them to work on their PCCs campaign in paid work time. It is suggested that Chief Executives keep a careful record of the Deputy’s paid hours and what they were engaged.

Date published: 08/03/2024

Date of contact: 07/02/2024

Information given in contact:

Email received – Requesting for pledges to be added to campaign –

MAG has developed the Fight Motorcycle Theft Pledge to help candidates and riders’ votes find each other.  The pledge contains three simple bullet points that we believe are reasonable and deliverable, but which would make a massive difference to levels of motorcycle theft in the UK.

The ‘Fight Motorcycle Theft’ Pledge

Within motor vehicle theft, motorcyclists are disproportionately impacted to unacceptably high levels due to an historically weak response to the issue.  Nationally, a motorcycle owner is 11 times more likely to become a victim of vehicle theft than a car owner.

Today, by making the Fight Motorcycle Theft Pledge, I am sending a clear message to motorcycle thieves: “We are coming for you”.

1. I will work to halve motorcycle theft in my jurisdictional area by
   the end of my four-year term in office.
2. I will work for the victims – motorcyclists – to hold the Chief
   Constable to account for the performance of the operational police response, requiring regular published progress reports toward my goal of halving motorcycle theft by 2028.

3. I will proactively work with the victims – motorcyclists – to ensure
that a local multi-agency approach to creating a meaningful prevention strategy is adopted, including riders’ groups, police, local authorities, crown prosecution service, and the judicial system.

Response:

Thank you for your email in relation to the 2024 PCC election in May.

The Office of Police and Crime Commissioner is not able to assist with facilitating the development of political material or pledges.

Once nominated, details of candidates will be available on Luton Borough Council’s website as their Chief Executive is the Police Area Returning Officer for this election. Contact details for prospective candidates and their agents before this time will, I am sure, be available on social media.

Thank you for your understanding of the need for the OPCC to remain politically neutral and for the PCC not to use the resources of his office, including this email address, for election campaigning purposes.

Date published: 20/02/2024