Police and Crime Plan for South Yorkshire launched

March 8, 2013 - PRLog -- Commissioner Shaun Wright launched his Police and Crime Plan for 2013-17 for South Yorkshire on his website (www.southyorkshire-pcc.gov.uk) which details his three priorities to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour, protect vulnerable people and improve police visibility.

As part of his priorities, the Commissioner will replace the 110 officers due to leave the force during 2012/13, as well as replace a further 60 leavers in 2013/14. He will also maintain the number of Police Community Support Officer (PCSOs) during 2013/14.

He will also work with the Force and partners to protect vulnerable people in South Yorkshire by investing £½m to fund additional specialist public protection unit officers and training for staff, as well investing in providing enhanced services for young victims of crime.

To increase police visibility, the Commissioner is further investing in front-line policing, recruiting an unprecedented number of Special Constables to boost numbers from 290 to 650 by April 2015. He also plans to deliver extra police visibility by ‘badging-up’ vehicles that are currently used on non-covert police business together with some of the buildings that currently have no logos or badging to indicate they belong to the police.

The Commissioner explained:

“In delivering these objectives, I am being forced, as a result of Government cuts, to allocate an extremely challenging value for money budget, some £6.1million lower than that of the Police Authority in the previous year.”

Commissioner Wright has promised to be open and transparent, holding the Chief Constable to account to ensure delivery of the priorities contained within his plan.

He added:

“I want to make South Yorkshire the safest place for people to live, learn, work and run their business.  

“Our police officers work very hard, and implementing my priorities will help them to further reduce crime in the county and make people feel safer. Despite the cuts to police funding, I will make sure that people in South Yorkshire receive the policing they have told me they want.

“I have set challenging performance indicators that will be continually assessed throughout the period marked out in the Police and Crime Plan and will report on the progress to the Police and Crime Panel at regular intervals.”

The Commissioner welcomes comments on his plan from residents in South Yorkshire, and they are encouraged to view it at www.southyorkshire-pcc.gov.uk and send any comments to ThePCC@southyorkshire-pcc.gov.uk.