‘Increasingly complex’ partnership landscape needs streamlining, says APCC

Its new report highlights how one in one area alone, a police and crime commissioner (PCC) is involved with more 80 partnerships, most of which meet several times a year.

The report, ‘Towards better local partnerships systems in England and Wales’, says the streamlining of groups and boards, along with improvements in the use of data and information, are “critical to reducing crime”.

In their foreword to the report, APCC joint leads on prevention, PCCs Clare Moody and Jonathan Ash-Edwards, said: “We have seen a proliferation of partnerships in recent years – for example, the creation of Combating Drugs Partnerships, the Serious Violence Duty and the duty to collaborate in commissioning of victims’ services.

“A lot of brilliant partnership work is happening as a consequence, but this has also meant that the partnership landscape is becoming increasingly complex. For example, a PCC in a force area with 12 district authorities may need to engage with 12 Community Safety Partnerships. This raises a new question of how we ensure that local partnership systems are efficient and effective overall.”

The report highlights the value of PCCs, police, fire and crime commissioners and deputy mayors in overseeing partnerships in their local area to ensure they are efficient, focused and coordinated, and provide a single source of evidence of what works.

The report recommends that Local Criminal Justice Boards (LCJBs) are put on a statutory footing, with PCCs as their chairs to drive improvements in the criminal justice system.

Other recommendations include using the Government’s current policing system reform programme as an opportunity to align local partnerships with government policing and crime priorities, such as its Safer Streets mission.

The APCC has published an accompanying report that looks at the unique challenges of partnership working in Wales, where PCCs play a critical role in bringing together devolved and non-devolved partners.

Ms Moody and Mr Ash-Edwards said: “Policing alone cannot tackle those issues which are deeply affecting our communities: knife crime, substance misuse and violence against women and girls. We must work with those in other sectors – education, health, local government and charities – to drive change, and guard against an approach where the existence of a partnership board alone is considered the solution.

“PCCs convene and commission local services, responding directly to public concerns and priorities on policing and crime, and are uniquely placed to bring partners together to innovate to deliver real impact for communities.

“This report is clear that focusing and managing limited resources more effectively will deliver genuine improvement at a local level. At a time when finances are stretched, it is vital agencies work together on effective evidence-based solutions that also demonstrate value for money.”