A Safer Nottinghamshire For All
I feel privileged to publish my first Police and Crime Plan for Nottinghamshire which sets our strategic direction for policing and crime prevention and reduction in our area over the next four years. On taking office, it became immediately clear to me that we have some fundamental challenges ahead.
First, is the challenge of restoring public trust and confidence in policing and our criminal justice system. I know this is a national issue and cannot be achieved overnight or by the police alone, but with a sustained effort to strengthen our neighbourhood policing offer, improve our engagement with communities and achieve better outcomes in response to issues that matter most to local people, I am confident that we can make a real difference here in Nottinghamshire.
Second, I am acutely aware of the difficult and uncertain financial circumstances we and our partner agencies face, and the budgetary pressures affecting the City Council in particular. It is therefore essential that we work better and smarter across our public, private and community and voluntary sector to deliver the best possible outcomes for the people of Nottinghamshire. It is in all our best interests to do so. This Plan sets a number of clear priorities which I hope will help to focus our efforts.
And finally, it is my statutory duty to hold your Chief Constable to account for driving improvements in policing services. Nottinghamshire Police was last year found wanting by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) and was placed under enhanced monitoring (‘Engage’ status) on account of improvements required in several areas.
This Plan supports the clear ambition I share with the Chief Constable for Nottinghamshire Police to emerge from ‘Engage’ status during my term of office and become one of the strongest performing forces in the country.
I am confident that this Plan will help us navigate the difficult challenges we face so that, by 2029, our communities are safer and feel safer and our police service is stronger and more connected and responsive to the crime and anti-social behaviour issues that affect you.
My Plan is based on three strategic pillars:
- Communities and Victims First
- Strengthening Partnership Working
- Effective and Resilient Policing
Within these broader strategic pillars, I have set the following specific priorities:
- Restoring and embedding Neighbourhood Policing
- Tackling violence against women and girls
- Tackling knife crime and serious violence
This Plan is an ambitious one and it will require your involvement and support across all our diverse communities. From the city and its suburbs to Nottinghamshire’s towns and rural villages, everyone should be safe and feel safe in their community and have confidence that, if needed, the police, community safety and criminal justice agencies will be there for them.
We can only do this by working together to create and sustain a safer Nottinghamshire for all.
Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner
Gary Godden