The Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel is scheduled to convene on Thursday 17 September 2026. The meeting's agenda includes an update on an independent review stemming from a Court of Appeal judgement against Northamptonshire Police, an overview of the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner's (OPFCC) complaints and customer service functions, and the Joint Independent Audit Committee's annual report. The Panel is also expected to discuss its work programme and receive an update on complaints and conduct matters.

Update on Independent Review Following Court of Appeal Judgement

A significant item scheduled for discussion is an update on the independent review initiated following a Court of Appeal judgement against Northamptonshire Police. This review, overseen by the Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Marianne Kimani, aims to assess how and why the force failed to comply with subject access requests and subsequent court orders. The review's terms of reference, detailed in Appendix A of the Public reports pack Public reports pack 17th-Sep-2026 14.00 Northamptonshire Police Fire and Crime Panel, focus on identifying systemic and cultural barriers that contributed to the force's failings. The review commenced with an assessment of existing materials, including court rulings and internal reports. The independent reviewer has indicated that Northamptonshire Police has undertaken a substantial programme of review and identified significant organisational failings. The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Danielle Stone, is expected to monitor progress on improvements and hold the Chief Constable to account. The final review report is anticipated to be presented at a future Panel meeting.

Overview of OPFCC Complaints and Customer Service Functions

The Panel is also scheduled to receive an overview of the OPFCC's complaints and customer service functions. Since February 2020, the OPFCC's Customer Service Team has managed less serious complaints against Northamptonshire Police, and since April 2023, has also handled the Fire and Rescue Service's complaints process. The team has dealt with over 16,000 contacts from the public, with approximately 78% of complaints being resolved to the complainant's satisfaction. The report highlights that the OPFCC's Customer Service Team is outperforming the majority of other forces nationally in areas such as initial contact and acknowledgement times for complaints. The team has achieved the Customer Service Excellence (CSE) Standard and engages in ongoing professional development, including operational shadowing and training, to ensure a high standard of service.

Joint Independent Audit Committee Annual Report

The Joint Independent Audit Committee (JIAC) will present its annual report for the financial year 2025/26. The JIAC provides independent assurance to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) and the Chief Constable regarding corporate governance, risk management, and the control environment. The report details the Committee's activities, including its review of corporate governance, internal controls, risk management, and audit functions. The JIAC met formally on four occasions during the financial year. The report notes that while progress on HMICFRS recommendations has been positive, the Committee awaits the outcome of independent reviews concerning the contempt of court ruling against the Chief Constable, which highlighted significant weaknesses in data management and legal services. The JIAC's work programme for 2026/27 is expected to include monitoring the implementation of recommendations from independent reviews.

Police, Fire and Crime Panel Work Programme

The Panel is expected to review its work programme for 2026/27. This programme outlines the Panel's statutory and discretionary scrutiny work, as well as matters relating to its operation. The work programme is a rolling 12-month plan that is reviewed and updated at each meeting to ensure it remains focused and reflects available capacity. The report also provides an update on actions taken in response to previous Panel resolutions. Additional topics identified for future consideration include the implementation of Police Governance Reform proposals, the impact of a place-based approach to serious violence, responses to violent and sexual offences, the use of digital technology in policing, hate crime, the role of citizens in community safety, and the protection of vulnerable adults.

Complaints and Conduct Matters Update

An update on complaints and conduct matters relating to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner is expected to be provided. This report covers the period from March to August 2026. According to the report, one non-criminal complaint concerning the conduct of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner was considered by the Panel's Complaints Sub Committee under its Informal Resolution Protocol. The Sub Committee's findings indicated a need for a further review of the original complaint about Northamptonshire Police and suggested the PFCC consider improvements to communications with disabled complainants. There are no other outstanding complaints or conduct matters at the time of the report.