PCC and Chief Constable hold first webcast public meeting

Hertfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Ash-Edwards held the first of a new series of monthly Accountability and Performance Meetings with Hertfordshire Constabulary Chief Constable Charlie Hall on Thursday 18 July.

The meetings are aimed at holding the Chief Constable to account for the performance of the constabulary and the first meeting was broadcast at 10.30am online for the public to view live from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Headquarters in Welwyn Garden City.

A total of 95 people (excluding OPCC and constabulary attendees) logged into this first meeting as Mr Ash-Edwards scrutinised the delivery of policing in Hertfordshire, asking questions about performance and on topics of high importance to the public.

Amongst the topics on the agenda for the first meeting was Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), such as domestic abuse, sexual offending and stalking and what is being done to tackle this; burglary and the attendance rate for the constabulary; anti-social behaviour; firearms licensing and longer waiting times to obtain these licences; the handling of 999 and 101 calls during peak times, as well as the development of digital contact methods and the progress of Operation Hotspot, a £1 million funded Home Office operation to put more officers on patrol across the county.

Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire, said: “I am pleased that we have successfully held our first live meeting and I hope that the members of the public who attended found it a useful and interesting insight into policing in Hertfordshire. 

“It is evident that some very good work is being done, but we will also be monitoring and keeping a focus on areas which can be improved upon.

“This was the first of my Accountability and Performance Meetings, which allows me to discharge my statutory duty to hold the Chief Constable to account on behalf of the public. These will be regular events that will cover a wide range of policing topics in the coming months, with the next being on 15 August.”

The Accountability and Performance Meetings will take place at Police Headquarters in Welwyn Garden City on a monthly basis. A recording of this first meeting is available to view on the PCC’s website and YouTube channel along with more details at hertscommissioner.org/apm.

All future Accountability and Performance Meetings can be attended by registering online – details will be published here on the Police and Crime Commissioner’s website and social media channels.  All future meetings will also be recorded and will be placed online to view.