Weekly PCC round up: news summary, problems with a 'zero tolerance' approach and analysis of PCCs' 'manifestos' A number of newsletter recipients have been in touch to ask for a summary of PCCs' pledges. Crest's clients have received detailed briefing already, but for others we have replicated the 'high level'analysis from the Local Government Information Unit. (more...)

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PCC update: Weekly round up: 26th October 2012

This week: the Prime Minister gave his first crime speech since taking office. Damian Green articulated the principles behind the introduction of PCCs. Nick Herbert, who pushed through much of the police reform agenda, argued that Boris Johnson's oversight of the Metropolitan Police in London was proof that Police and Crime commissioners will work. John Prescott said that PCCs would fight the involvement of the private sector in policing, and Gordon Wasserman gave his first high-profile interview.

PCC update: Weekly round up: 12th October 2012 The curly sandwiches have all been eaten, the beer has all been drunk and everyone has a cold. It must be the end of party conference season. A post conference headache is par for the course, but Police and Crime Commissioner candidates can be forgiven for reaching for the painkillers having been bombarded with (well-meaning) advice from groups who want a particular policy implemented or an "investment" made. Crest have documented the policy announcements that were made by national politicians elsewhere, and so this update focuses on two of the topics that received significant attention at the Conservative party conference, held earlier this week in Birmingham. (more...)

Breaking: Two chiefs step down following misconduct allegationsIn the week that the Shadow Home Secretary called for a stronger police standards and complaints authority (details of how the system might work will apparently be set out next Spring), two senior Chief constables have been forced from their jobs following allegations of misconduct. Earlier this morning Chief Constable Sean Price was sacked after a disciplinary panel found him guilty of gross misconduct; the first force boss to be kicked out since Stanley Parr in 1977. (more...)

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Weekly update for PCC candidates - Friday 24th August

In this update: coverage of the PCC elections and the challenge facing independents, how we are helping building an effective office for prospective PCCs and the Royal College of Policing.

Coverage of the PCC elections and emerging independents.

This was the week that interest in PCC elections spluttered into life like a bank-holiday weekend barbecue. The BBC covered the elections with numerous packages (on the World at One, the Today Programme, and BBC Breakfast) with other pieces in the print media. Coverage focused on the warning from the Electoral Reform Society that polls in November could have 'record low turnout' (that was challenged), the Oath of Independence and the relationship between PCCs and Chief Constables.

Our work with Police and Crime Commissioner clients has kept us out of the office and away from writing this bulletin so here is a mid-month update packed full of information about ASB, PCC presentations and the PCP. Perhaps if there were more 'reflexive coppers' (also below) there might be fewer TLAs? Anti-social behaviour (ASB) Earlier this month the Home Office published the results of anti-social behaviour call handling trials that were held in eight forces (Avon and Somerset, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, the Metropolitan Police Service, South Wales, Sussex, and West Mercia). The aim of the work was to focus on the harm that victims experience – rather than just ticking boxes on a form – and to quickly identify and deal with the highest-risk cases. (more...)

Weather and crime, 'Open Public Services', bulletin timings and Crest's new associate network OPEN PUBLIC SERVICES AND MUTUALS The original Open Public Services White Paper, published in July last year, set out the Government’s approach to public services by applying five key principles intended to provide people with the best possible services for the money spent: choice, decentralisation, diversity (‘public services should be open to a range of providers’), fairness and accountability. The update to the White Paper was published yesterday (with more than 30 references to the police service, here: http://bit.ly/GYgFwq). The Prime Minister also penned an article to accompany this update: "Brick by brick, we’re tearing down the big state", (here: http://tgr.ph/GYvXRP) (more...)

As the Leveson enquiry continues to examine the relationship between the police and the press, we discuss the impact of the media on perceptions of crime. We also provide details of our first web based training session alongside news of our newest Advisory Board member. (more...)

This week we explore the reasons why campaigners need to tell compelling stories, and why commercial leaders need to draw on powerful anecdotes. And following responses to last week’s post (http://bit.ly/yvzb2Z), we share an example of data visualisation. We also highlight reactions to the Winsor Review, the Electoral Commissions' concerns and the pitfalls that await the private sector when they bid to transform services. (more...)

CREST ADVISORY PCC BULLETIN - Friday 9th March The number of PCC candidates tweeting - now more than 25 - started a series of conversations with clients about the importance of social media. Before too long, we were discussing the enormous increase in the amount of data available to the police and their partners. Without the appropriate tools for organising, managing, and sifting through this tsunami of data, police may be drowned rather than helped. What implications does an exponential increase in data have for the police, communities and PCCs? And in a week in which the media has been full of comment about the involvement of private companies in policing, might private partners be most useful as analytical experts? (more...)