Commissioner Zoë makes the work of her office more available to the public stating her team of employees provide ‘huge value’
Commissioner Zoë makes the work of her office more available to the public stating her team of employees provide ‘huge value’
Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe has today published a delivery plan for the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (OPFCC), which maps out the extensive work its employees undertake and how they make a positive difference for the public every day.
Whilst the Commissioner is a politician who is elected by the public, the OPFCC is a non-political impartial organisation, whose purpose is to support the public’s elected Commissioner to deliver what they must do by law (their statutory duties).
The Delivery Plan for 2023-24 sets out the OPFCC’s main roles and responsibilities, its staff structure and planned activity for 2023. It explains the organisation will enhance public confidence, keep people safe and support victims in York and North Yorkshire.
It’s important to note that the OPFCC costs significantly less than the Government benchmark of 1% of the local police fund. The OPFCC is a public service, and in 2023/24 will be primarily paid for using just 0.7% of the Commissioner’s police funding allocation.
The OPFCC is structured as follows:
Commissioning and Partnerships
· Commissioning and Partnership Management: Deliver around £5million worth of services that support victims, perpetrators and those who are most vulnerable in York and North Yorkshire.
· Offending and Justice: Drive improvement in the criminal justice system and address offending and re-offending
· Supporting Victims: An in-house team devoted to helping victims cope and recover after crime, whether they have received services from North Yorkshire Police.
Delivery and Assurance
· Delivery and Assurance: Focus on supporting the Commissioner to hold the Chief Constable and Chief Fire Officer to account for delivering the police and crime plan and the fire and rescue plan.
· Business Governance: Provides executive support to the Commissioner and senior managers to ensure the overall running of the organisation and all its business functions, including compliance with legislation and best practice.
· Fire and Rescue Authority: Ensures that the Fire & Rescue Service is properly governed and held to account.
Public Confidence
· Communications and Engagement: Develop multi-media work to raise awareness of how the Commissioner carries out the public’s priorities and how communities can get involved in shaping that work.
· Customer Service: North Yorkshire’s unique approach to feedback - the only team in the country who handle both police and fire and rescue services complaints and compliments functions - alongside organising, recruiting, and supporting the Commissioner’s statutory scrutiny work.
· Public Confidence and Inclusivity: a brand new function focussing directly on public trust and working closely with Police and Fire to ensure that police and fire services are employees of choice for all and that they meet the needs of the diverse communities of York and North Yorkshire.
Commissioner Zoë said:
“To be effective as a Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioner, I need to be supported by an organisation that works well and can deliver tangible results for the people of York and North Yorkshire.
“There’s a mountain of hard work that goes on behind the scenes at the OPFCC which helps me to fulfil my statutory duties, to hold Chief Officers to account for the delivery of effective services, ensure that what matters to the public is reflected in local policing and fire and rescue plans, and commission services to support those impacted by crime.
“During my time as Commissioner, the OPFCC has continued to demonstrate its huge value and I hope that by publishing this delivery plan the public can understand how dedicated the organisation is to making a positive difference every day.”
In June this year Commissioner Zoe and the OPFCC team relocated their office to Harrogate Police Station on Beckwith Head Road in Harrogate, whilst continuing to work from other police and fire service buildings. This decision was to ensure that the joint estate is used as efficiently as possible, especially at a time of strain on public resources, and aims to improve collaboration with police and fire services, saving approximately £80,000 a year.
Simon Dennis, Chief Executive of the OPFCC added:
“A key part of my role as Chief Executive is to ensure that the OPFCC turns the Commissioner’s mandate from the public into reality. I’m immensely proud to lead a team that’s committed to making a positive difference for the public every day.
“Over recent months we’ve reduced our office overheads and restructured our team, ensuring we provide maximum value for money for local taxpayers and better able to deliver for the public.
“Our Delivery Plan shows how we drive improvements in policing and fire services as well as playing our vital role in protecting victims and the most vulnerable - keeping people and businesses in York and North Yorkshire safe and feeling safe.”
The Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Delivery Plan titled ‘Who we are and what we do’ can be viewed online at: www.northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk/public-delivery-plan
Or downloaded here:
https://www.northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk/content/uploads/2023/09/Download-the-Delivery-Plan-Who-we-are-and-what-we-do.pdf - Full Version
https://www.northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk/content/uploads/2023/09/Download-the-Delivery-Plan-Who-we-are-and-what-we-do-SV.pdf - Short Version
https://youtu.be/1pQFWLFuYBk - Animation
Commissioner announces NEW funding to help prevent and tackle serious violence in York and North Yorkshire
Commissioner announces NEW funding to help prevent and tackle serious violence in York and North Yorkshire
Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe, in partnership with local organisations, is offering communities an opportunity to apply for up to £40,000 of grant funding, to support ongoing or new initiatives that address serious violence in their area.
Much like the Commissioner’s Community Fund and Community Safety Fund, applications for the Serious Violence Prevention and Early Intervention Fund will be open to any community group, organisation or individual linked to an organisation, with the support of their local Community Safety Partnership.
Underpinning this work is the Serious Violence Duty (SVD), which was introduced by the Home Office in January 2023 and details a programme of work that requires local services to work together in their approach to reduce serious violence.
Commissioner Zoë has since convened partners including North Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, Probation Service, North Yorkshire Council, City of York Council, Youth Justice Services and the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board to develop a Strategic Needs Assessment (SNA) and implement a Response Strategy to address it.
Commissioner Zoë and partners are committed to a commissioning approach to support this work, through investing in evidence-based initiatives at a local level, which aim to reduce serious violence and achieve positive outcomes for individuals and communities.
Applicants will be asked to provide specific detail on the type of serious violence the project will focus on and what activity it will deliver to tackle or prevent it. Types of serious violence may include knife crime, stalking and harassment, robbery (serious injury), violence linked to alcohol and substance misuse, domestic violence, and homicide.
Applications will close on Thursday 19th October and will be reviewed by representatives from the Statutory Agencies involved in delivery of the Serious Violence Duty locally.
Commissioner Zoë said: “This new funding is a fantastic opportunity for additional money to be invested into communities to address forms of serious violence and keep local people safe. I encourage applications that are innovative, inspiring and present activities that will really make a difference in reducing acts of serious violence, and therefore the devastating impact these crimes have on victims, families and our North Yorkshire communities.”
Chair of North Yorkshire Community Safety Partnership, Assistant Chief Constable Scott Bisset said: “We welcome the funding allocated by the Commissioner and encourage the many organisations who do invaluable work in our communities to apply. The understanding which local community organisations have is invaluable in keeping people safe. There is some great work taking place and this funding will help it to continue and progress. Addressing serious violence is a concern for us all. It is a foremost priority for the police service and prevention and early intervention remains key to keeping people safe.”
Chair of Safer York Partnership, Detective Superintendent Fran Naughton, added: “I echo the comments of ACC Bisset and welcome the funding that will make a difference in helping to reduce harm across the city. There are many great causes and initiatives across York that would benefit, and I encourage them to apply.”
Cllr Michael Pavlovic, Executive Member for Community Safety, said: "This welcome funding provides an opportunity for us to work together with partners to tackle the most serious forms of violence which, whilst rare in York, can be devastating for individuals, families and communities.”
Chair of the North Yorkshire and York Serious Violence Working Group, Thomas Hirst, Area Manager and Director of Community Risk and Resilience for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for organisations, groups and partnerships to apply for funding to help support work towards early intervention, prevention and reduction of serious violence. We are looking for evidence-based initiatives that demonstrate effective ways to identify and support people most at risk of becoming involved in serious violence.”
For more information about the Serious Violence Prevention and Early Intervention and details on how to apply please visit: www.northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk/svd
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