The Public Health and Community Safety Cabinet Panel met on Thursday, 4 June 2026, to discuss a range of important issues including policing updates, operational cover for the fire service, trading standards planning, and resilience efforts. Key decisions included the adoption of new national standards for measuring fire service response times and a review of the fire service's operational cover, which confirmed current station locations provide adequate coverage. The panel also received updates on the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy, trading standards priorities, and the council's resilience planning.

Policing and Community Safety

Hertfordshire's Chief Constable, Andy Prophet, provided an update on policing matters. He addressed concerns about potential police force restructuring, noting that a report from Lord Hogan Howe was expected to recommend changes to the number of police forces nationally. Prophet reassured the panel that Hertfordshire Police delivers policing without fear or favour, regardless of an individual's background. He highlighted increased patrols around places of worship due to heightened community concerns following recent attacks on the Jewish community and events in Southampton.

The panel discussed the effectiveness of hotspot policing, which has seen a significant increase in crime solving rates. However, central government funding for this initiative has been withdrawn, prompting the commissioner to find alternative funds. Councillor Ben Crystal raised concerns about residents not knowing their local police teams and the issue of e-bike misuse. Prophet acknowledged these challenges, stating that efforts were underway to improve public awareness of local officers and that a national working group was examining legislation for e-bikes.

Councillor John Hale raised concerns about road traffic policing, noting an increase in road traffic collisions and fatalities. It was explained that shared road policing teams with Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire were in place, but resources were stretched. Efforts are being made to target high-risk drivers and motorcyclists through education and enforcement.

Councillor Phoebe expressed disappointment with the perceived lack of police presence in her area and questioned the empowerment of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) to issue tickets for offences such as abstracted parking. Prophet stated that while PCSOs are involved in engagement and prevention, the delegation of parking enforcement powers would be considered. He assured Councillor Phoebe that neighbourhood policing teams, including Inspector Matt Langley's team in Cheshunt, were actively working to tackle issues like shop theft and antisocial behaviour.

Concerns were also raised about the morale of the police force, particularly in light of recent events. Prophet acknowledged that policing is a challenging job with high attrition rates, but stressed that leadership is focused on reminding officers of their valuable contributions and that morale is generally solid, despite pockets of concern.

Fire and Rescue Service Operational Cover

Mark Barber, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, and David Doar, Head of Service Improvements, presented an update on the operational cover review for Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS). The review analysed seven years of incident data and concluded that current fire station locations provide strong coverage across the county.

A key change being implemented is the alignment of HFRS's response time measurement with national standards. Response times will now be measured from the moment a 999 call is received, rather than from dispatch, and will be reported as an average rather than a percentage. This change aims to improve consistency, transparency, and comparability with other fire and rescue services nationally. The report emphasised that these changes do not alter the commitment to timely response but rather how performance is measured and reported.

The review also confirmed that current planning assumptions, which ensure sufficient resources for a single large-scale incident or two separate incidents, remain appropriate. The service is also enhancing its use of technology for mobilising resources and is part of a wider network of mutual aid agreements with neighbouring services. Specialist capabilities, such as wildfire units and command support units, are maintained to address seasonal and surge demand, as well as complex incidents.

Trading Standards Service Planning

Richard Lewis, Trading Standards Manager, presented the service's priorities for 2026/2027. The service enforces over 300 pieces of legislation and faces increasing demands due to new government responsibilities. Priorities for the year include tackling doorstep crime and rogue trading, scams and scam prevention, food allergens and food fraud, product safety, illicit tobacco, underage sales, and animal health and disease prevention.

The report highlighted the growing challenge of organised crime, particularly concerning illicit tobacco and the increasing complexity of vape regulations. The service is investing in apprenticeships to address a national shortage of qualified professionals and is preparing for new legislation, including the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 and the Renters Rights Act 2026.

Councillor Russell Howe praised the support provided by trading standards to residents and welcomed the apprenticeship scheme. He raised concerns about the proliferation of vape shops and the potential for illegal trade, to which it was explained that efforts are focused on intelligence-led investigations and test purchasing, with a particular emphasis on tackling illicit tobacco due to its greater harm to public health.

Councillor Beth Kelly inquired about the scope of scam prevention, which was confirmed to cover all types of scams, with a focus on transactional issues. She also asked for more details on the apprenticeship scheme, which was described as a Level 6 qualification with a mix of tutor-led sessions, home study, and field shadowing, open to applicants from diverse backgrounds.

Councillor Paul Seeby questioned trends in criminality related to products like slimming drugs and asked how communities could support trading standards. It was emphasised that community intelligence is vital and that promoting initiatives like Friends Against Scams and sharing visual information about illicit products could be beneficial. The service also highlighted its work in tackling multi-million-pound fraud and the need for greater public awareness of trading standards' role.

Resilience Update

Owen Tomlinson, Resilience Manager, provided an update on the county council's resilience and emergency preparedness arrangements. As a Category 1 Responder under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, the council has statutory duties to assess risks, maintain emergency plans, and ensure business continuity.

The council works within the Hertfordshire Local Resilience Forum (LRF) to coordinate with other emergency responders. A continuous resilience cycle guides activities, from risk assessment and planning to training, exercising, and debriefing. Key risks identified include flooding, extreme temperatures, pandemics, utility failures, terrorism, and cyber attacks. Horizon scanning is also crucial, with attention being paid to potential impacts of the conflict in the Middle East, industrial action, and protests.

The report detailed the council's incident response plan and business continuity framework, which are regularly tested and reviewed. Training is provided to staff and councillors to ensure they understand their roles during emergencies. The council also participates in multi-agency exercises, such as Exercise Frostbite, and collaborates with central government on national exercises like Exercise Pegasus.

Councillor Fiona Thomson inquired about the frequency of updates to the National Risk Register, and it was explained that while the register is reviewed annually, continuous monitoring and operational responses occur at various government levels. Councillor John Hale asked for clarification on logist training, which was explained as a new initiative to train staff in systematically logging decisions and actions during incidents to ensure consistency and provide an evidential record for inquiries and debriefs.

Councillor Ben Crystal asked about the mass fatalities framework, which outlines multi-agency plans for dealing with a large number of fatalities, and the resilience messaging system, a pilot system for sharing situational awareness. It was confirmed that the council works with central government on exercises and that there are robust plans in place for cyber-attacks and internet outages, including the use of the Airwave network for emergency services. The panel was invited to note the contents of the report.