Hello

This week, I joined key leaders & organisations at 10 Downing Street to discuss how to further tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) across the country.

The meeting was the first of a series of roundtable discussions which follow the Prime Minister’s speech at the beginning of the year, where he stated that cracking down on anti-social behaviour is a key priority for Government.

Discussion points included: how anti-social behaviour impacts the public; what forms of ASB create the greatest barriers to communities’ feelings of safety; the effectiveness of existing solutions currently in place and the role that youth groups play in cutting anti-social behaviour and supporting young people.

It was an insightful meeting and will feed into the Government’s current review as PCCs (along with police, partners, agencies and specialist organisations) continue to seek the best possible outcomes for victims of ASB.

Just last week, I was delighted to attend Bramber Bakehouse’s Open Day. Bramber Bakehouse are an award-winning charity providing vital support to survivors of trafficking and modern slavery.

Last year, I had the chance to award money through my Safer in Sussex Community Fund so it was good to hear directly from graduates of their programme and learn more about the positive, life-changing impact the charity has had. You can read more about the visit on my website.

I also accompanied Tim Loughton, the Member of Parliament for East Worthing & Shoreham for a walkabout around Lancing. It is always important to me that I see, first-hand, the issues some residents are facing and hear directly from them about their experiences. You can read more about the walkabout on my website.

You can’t catch criminals with crooked officers

Trust in police was shaken again this week when we heard that a serving police officer is a serial rapist who had exploited his warrant card and status to coerce, abuse and rape women over a 20-year period.

Carrick was an armed police officer who was still entrusted with protecting diplomats and politicians despite repeated complaints and investigations.  

You cannot gain the public’s trust if a predatory police officer can carry out their abuse in plain sight, unchallenged by their peers and superiors. Not only that, but it casts a shadow across the exemplary work of thousands of police officers and staff who are trying hard to keep us all safe from harm 365 days a year.

Following the recent HMICFRS report, which outlined 29 recommendations for forces to improve vetting, I have used two webcast Performance and Accountability meetings to scrutinise Sussex Police’s vetting protocols and procedures to see how they are implementing these.  I intend to revisit this again next month.

There is a great deal of work going into improving vetting at a national level as well as in Sussex. The force’s anonymous ‘Break The Silence’ internal reporting route has been used by officers and staff to confidentially report colleagues’ unacceptable behaviours and led to swift disciplinary action and, in a few cases, officers being dismissed.

You can listen to my interview with Nick Ferrari on LBC where I talk about this in greater detail. If British policing wants to regain and retain its global reputation for professionalism, competence, fairness and integrity, we will have to do what it takes - we can’t afford not to.

Katy Bourne OBE

Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner