The Gloucestershire Police and Crime Panel met on Friday 11 September 2026 to discuss the Constabulary's financial position, the Police and Crime Commissioner's annual report, and various operational updates. The meeting also covered the Joint Independent Audit Committee's annual report and the Independent Custody Visitors' annual report.

Finance Update, Incorporating Revised MTFP and Efficiencies Plan 2026/27

The panel was scheduled to receive an update on the Constabulary's financial position, including the revised Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) and efficiencies plan for 2026/27. Peter Robinson, Chief Finance Officer, was expected to present information regarding the police finance settlement, which had been challenging nationally. The report pack indicated that Gloucestershire was one of only six forces granted permission to increase the precept by £18.50, above the proposed cap of £15. While this additional income improved the financial position, it did not fully replace the shortfall in Home Office grant funding. Concerns had previously been raised about the budget relying on achieving £9 million of efficiencies, in addition to £12 million of savings already delivered in 2025/26, and continued reliance on reserves. The report pack noted that at the end of the 2025/26 financial year, the Constabulary had delivered the required savings and underspent its budget by £1.8m, meaning only £0.5m was required from reserves. This resulted in a stronger financial position than anticipated. The report pack also detailed that £1.5m of the £9m saving programme for 2026/27 had already been achieved, with most savings initiatives considered low risk. Savings in staffing were being achieved through vacancy management and delayed recruitment, alongside stricter controls on overtime. The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) was also holding vacancies, removing posts, and undertaking a review of its operations. The MTFP for the next three years forecast a budget gap of approximately £5m, with an updated MTFP to be presented later in the year.

Clarification was sought on how a £1.9m saving relating to officer numbers would be achieved. It was explained that these savings related to police officers only, with Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) included within the separate police staff budget. The proposal would be achieved through reduced recruitment, retirement, and normal turnover. Neighbourhood policing numbers were protected and could not be reduced without significant financial penalties, meaning any reductions would need to come from other areas of the organisation. It was anticipated that officer numbers would move closer to historical levels of approximately 1,300.

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) acknowledged concerns regarding reductions in officer numbers but stressed that the approach was based on recruiting fewer officers and allowing natural attrition. He stated that the wider Constabulary Review and proposed operating model changes were intended to improve efficiency and effectiveness, while also providing greater financial resilience, enabling investment in key areas such as Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and supporting continued improvement in the professionalism of the Constabulary.

A member asked about the financial implications of the anticipated end of OPCCs in 2028 and whether preparations for these changes were impacting the budget. It was advised that future arrangements remained unclear, but it was expected that governance arrangements for policing would continue in some form. Work was underway to identify efficiencies within the OPCC to contribute towards overall savings requirements, but current indications suggested that the office would remain in place in some form, albeit potentially with a different structure and branding. No significant savings directly linked to abolition were anticipated in the short term, and no specific funding was allocated for transition activity, with all current activity being delivered through existing resources.

Members noted that all forces were currently assuming a £15 annual precept increase within their MTFP assumptions for 2027/28, and Gloucestershire had adopted the same approach. While confirmation had not yet been received from the Government, this was considered a reasonable assumption. If the increase was not approved, additional savings would need to be identified.

Regarding reserves, the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) explained that £20 million represented an ideal target level rather than a minimum requirement, with the minimum level of general reserves being approximately £6 million. He advised that current reserves provided an important safeguard against financial shocks and supported cash flow requirements.

In response to a question, it was noted that the Estates Strategy had been delayed due to the need to align decisions with the outcome of the Constabulary Review. Progress was being made in several areas, including the disposal of surplus land, the review of headquarters accommodation, and preparations for space-planning work. Office occupancy remained relatively low, and there were opportunities to consolidate accommodation and reduce future running costs. Planned reviews of operational buildings were aimed at ensuring they remained fit for purpose rather than focusing on station closures.

On vacancy management, the CFO acknowledged that holding vacancies over extended periods could create operational pressures. He explained that natural turnover rates within policing were typically higher due to recruitment and vetting timescales. The Constabulary Review was assessing what workforce arrangements could be sustainably afforded in the future, rather than relying indefinitely on vacant posts being held. The OPCC would continue to monitor performance and challenge the Constabulary where vacancy levels risked having an adverse effect on service delivery.

Investment in ICT continued to be a priority, with annual spending increasing significantly in recent years. The implementation of the 'Niche' records management system had been a major programme of work. Modernising digital infrastructure would enable the Constabulary to improve productivity and explore wider use of technologies such as artificial intelligence in the future.

While previous savings programmes had involved difficult reductions, the aim going forward was to focus on genuine efficiencies that improved service delivery. A key area of focus was strengthening the Force Control Room and improving call management processes. The PCC highlighted plans to expand the use of remote video technology beyond domestic abuse cases into a wider range of crime types, allowing victims to access services more quickly and improve overall efficiency. He advised that the first stage of the Constabulary Review was focused on understanding demand and improving front-end services before moving on to wider transformational changes. The Panel welcomed the more positive financial position than previously forecast and congratulated officers on their work to date.

Police and Crime Commissioner's Annual Report and Police and Crime Prevention Plan Update

Ruth Greenwood, Chief Executive of the OPCC, introduced this item. The Panel was informed that this year's annual report update had been combined with the Police and Crime Prevention Plan update, as the issues aligned well to provide a good level of detail. It also included information about the role of the OPCC, which had been raised at a previous Panel meeting.

A member referred to Gloucester's two-year pilot of City Centre Engagement Officers and sought the PCC's assessment of its success to date, particularly given concerns regarding the long-term sustainability of funding. The PCC expressed strong support for the City Centre Engagement Officers and wider visible community safety presence in town centres, noting that public surveys consistently demonstrated that residents wished to see more visible policing and reassurance activity. He highlighted the positive impact of anti-social behaviour hotspot patrols funded through government grants and explained that, despite funding pressures, resources had been identified to continue patrol activity due to the tangible benefits delivered, including reductions in street drinking, drug dealing, and anti-social behaviour in town centres. It was acknowledged that maintaining such initiatives required balancing competing funding demands. An action was noted to provide a written response regarding the working relationship between the City Protection Officers and City Centre Engagement Officers (employed through partnership funding) and the police.

The PCC advised that e-bikes and e-scooters remained a significant issue nationally. He highlighted concerns around the ongoing rental e-scooter trials, which he felt had created public confusion regarding the legality of privately owned e-scooters. He advocated for a national decision on whether e-scooters should be fully legalised and, if so, subject to appropriate regulation. Gloucestershire Constabulary had undertaken enforcement operations in both Cheltenham and Gloucester, involving multiple resources such as uniformed and covert officers, vehicles, and drones. While these operations had been effective, they were resource-intensive and difficult to carry out regularly given competing policing demands. An action was noted to provide an up-to-date definition of Anti-Social Behaviour.

A member queried the focus on hare coursing and poaching within the report, suggesting these were not issues commonly raised within their rural ward and whether the definition of rural crime should encompass broader criminality in rural communities. The PCC advised that specialist rural crime officers had been integrated within neighbourhood policing teams following recent restructuring. While acknowledging that speeding, anti-social behaviour, and drug-related concerns were often raised by residents, he explained that hare coursing and poaching remained significant within farming communities and were frequently linked to organised crime groups. He described the serious impact these offences could have on farmers and rural communities and welcomed the Constabulary's continued focus on tackling them. An action was noted to provide further information as to why Gloucestershire was the only force within the 'Most Similar Groups' showing an increase in neighbourhood crime (reference page 32) and Violence Against Women and Girls (reference page 43).

A member welcomed the wide range of positive initiatives highlighted within the report, including youth engagement projects and Project Vigilant, but expressed concern regarding the visibility of neighbourhood policing. The member noted that residents continued to identify burglary, theft, anti-social behaviour, dangerous driving, and drug-related activity as key concerns and queried how these issues were being addressed. In response, the importance of visible neighbourhood policing was acknowledged, as well as investment in technology that would enable the Constabulary to better monitor and demonstrate officer presence within communities. There was a balance between providing visible patrol activity with the significant demand created by offences such as domestic abuse. Fraud and online offending were other growing areas of concern nationally and were attracting increased focus by police forces and inspectors. The PCC added that, despite reductions in PCSOs arising from budget pressures, neighbourhood policing officer numbers had increased, with additional police constables being allocated to neighbourhood teams. He noted improvements in training, supervision, and problem-solving approaches across neighbourhood policing and highlighted ongoing national work to share good practice.

In relation to anti-social behaviour specifically, this required a collective response from multiple agencies, rather than policing alone. There was a need to address both lower-level community concerns and more complex cases involving mental health, substance misuse, and housing issues. The PCC added that anti-social behaviour had been a major focus since his election and that significant reductions had been achieved previously. However, recent increases demonstrated the need to maintain momentum. He advised that anti-social behaviour would form part of a new performance accountability framework through which he would regularly challenge the Constabulary's performance.

Another member raised concerns about the increase in neighbourhood crime, hate crime, speeding (both in terms of enforcement and the ability to report persistent offenders anonymously), and anti-social behaviour. They shared a personal experience of racially aggravated abuse and requested a greater focus on hate crime reporting and analysis. The PCC advised that continued investment was being made in enforcement and problem-solving approaches, including the anti-social behaviour action plan and neighbourhood policing initiatives. He highlighted support for road safety enforcement activity while emphasising the importance of proportionality in enforcement practices. Anonymous reporting mechanisms already existed through Crimestoppers, which continued to pass relevant intelligence to the Constabulary. Actions were noted to include more emphasis on hate crime, community cohesion, and related activity within future Annual Reports, and to correct a typo on page 24 ('Volume of ape').

A member also observed that students appeared largely absent from the report despite representing a significant, and often vulnerable, population within Gloucestershire. Concerns were raised that students might be underrepresented in surveys and community engagement activity despite experiencing issues relating to hate crime, online harm, sexual misconduct, and personal safety. It was advised that the OPCC already maintained positive working relationships with the University of Gloucestershire and had collaborated on several projects, including evaluation work, volunteer recruitment, and safer streets initiatives. An action was noted to consider opportunities for further engagements with students.

Joint Independent Audit Committee Annual Report

Fiona Lloyd, a member of the Joint Independent Audit Committee (JIAC), attended remotely to provide a summary of the Annual Report. The Committee welcomed the establishment of the Recommendation, Improvement and Learning Board by the Deputy Chief Constable. The Board had strengthened oversight of recommendations arising from inspections and internal audits, ensuring that actions were progressed more promptly and effectively. The implementation of the 'Niche' records management system had been a significant programme of work, and although it had previously received a low assurance audit outcome, the system had been successfully implemented in February 2025, with lessons learned being embedded into future ICT projects. ICT programmes remained a standing item on the JIAC agenda to provide ongoing oversight. Confidence in the Constabulary's financial management had improved significantly. Previous turnover in the CFO role had presented challenges in addressing longstanding process and efficiency issues. However, since the appointment of the current CFO, stronger financial controls and processes had been introduced, reporting timescales had improved, and management information was being provided more quickly. These improvements had strengthened financial oversight and supported the successful delivery of savings by enabling more effective monitoring and management of the organisation's finances.

Independent Custody Visitors' Annual Report

The report was taken as read, and the Panel was invited to ask questions. A member noted that the report highlighted a clear gender disparity within the Independent Custody Visitor (ICV) volunteer group and asked what action was being taken to address this, recognising that women in custody can have different experiences and vulnerabilities to men. In response, it was explained that while the scheme compared favourably with many other areas, improving the demographic representation of ICVs remained an ongoing priority. Work had been undertaken with universities and community groups to broaden participation and improve diversity. The scheme also benefited from volunteers with disabilities, whose contributions provided valuable perspectives. In response to a question, the Panel was referred to the Recommendation Improvement and Learning Board, which provided strategic oversight of recommendations arising from scrutiny activity, inspections, audits, and civil litigation. The Board ensured that learning was embedded within the Constabulary and that actions arising from findings were implemented, creating a continuous cycle of learning and improvement. The ICV scheme had recently been awarded Platinum Status by the Independent Custody Visiting Association, recognising it as one of the strongest schemes nationally, while acknowledging that there was always scope for further improvement. An action was noted to provide a link to the previous ICV annual reports and a comparison on the number of children detained over the previous two years.

Update from the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC)

The Panel noted introductory points of PCC activity since the last meeting. These included contributions to the National Leadership Commission, participation in national neighbourhood policing and Special Constabulary task forces, continued involvement with the Public Contact Board, Force Control Room Board, and the national Police AI programme. The PCC also supported national merger work, with a member of the team contributing expertise on police finances. Oversight of the Constabulary Review and the new operating model remained a significant area of work. Continued work on the My Future Work initiative, aimed at supporting vulnerable young people, was highlighted, along with collaboration with partners to provide young people with opportunities, practical skills, and positive role models. This was described as a preventative, public health approach to reducing crime and improving outcomes for young people, with hope for future expansion. Preparations for an upcoming gross misconduct panel had required a substantial commitment of time and resources.

A member welcomed the success of the first phase of the My Future programme and noted the intention to deliver a future programme focused on girls. They asked whether future funding would be sought jointly with Gloucestershire County Council or if the programme would be fully funded by the Council, and whether future delivery would include a focus on Cheltenham, noting that the previous programme had concentrated on alternative provision settings in Gloucester. In response, the Commissioner recognised that the next phase would require careful consideration to ensure it addressed the needs of girls, including developing relationships with participants at an earlier stage and tailoring activities to their specific needs. Addressing funding, the Commissioner explained that the long-term position had not yet been determined, and while early indications suggested the programme was proving successful, evaluation was still underway. Discussions would be held with Gloucestershire County Council and other relevant partners. The Commissioner commented that there was an argument that this type of preventative work should sit within local authority services and noted the link between reductions in youth services and increased vulnerability among young people. It was emphasised that crime prevention was a shared responsibility between councils and the police. Concern was expressed that, without long-term support, the initiative could cease in the future, and members were encouraged to become advocates for the scheme. Actions were noted to clarify where in Gloucestershire the first cohort of young people were from for the programme and any information regarding the second phase, and for officers supporting the My Future programme to provide a full presentation to the Panel.

Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner - Chief Executive Report

A member noted that HMICFRS had highlighted the need for more proactive and structured wellbeing support for officers dealing with online child sexual abuse and asked how this was being implemented. It was advised that the Panel had considered an item on staff wellbeing at its March meeting, where the occupational health team presented the findings of the national Oscar Kelo survey. The OPCC and Constabulary had reviewed these findings and would implement the actions identified nationally. It was added that there was a national, and Gloucestershire-specific, shortage of detectives which, due to the complexity of these crimes, directly impacted the caseload of officers working on these investigations. This was something that continued to be an absolute focus for policing leaders locally and nationally.

Work Plan

The Panel expanded the item on 'rural drug use' allocated for the September meeting to include urban areas, dealing, and prevention. It was advised that the Combatting Drugs Partnership covered all these areas. A future item was requested to discuss the work of the Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership.