The Warwickshire Police and Crime Panel met to discuss the HMICFRS PEEL inspection, the annual finance report, and the panel's annual report. The panel agreed to accept its annual report, and also agreed that Councillor Adrian Warwick, Councillor Cliff Brown, and Sue Gill would form a working group to look at the budget in more detail. The panel also agreed that Sue Gill, as chair, would write to the minister to ask them to look at the police funding formula.

HMICFRS PEEL Inspection

Philip Seccombe, Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner, introduced the update on the His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) Police Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Legitimacy (PEEL) Inspection. The inspection, which took place over several weeks at the end of the previous and beginning of this calendar year, resulted in a mixed report that was released to the public in June.

The force was graded as good at recording data about crime and preventing crime. It was graded as adequate in police powers and public treatment, investigating crime, and managing offenders. It was told that it required improvement in protecting vulnerable people, developing a positive workforce and leadership, and force management. The most disappointing grading was in responding to the public, which was deemed inadequate. According to the HMICFRS PEEL Inspection 2025 Update Report, the main concern was the time it takes for patrol officers to get the instruction to move to an incident, and the time it takes to get there.

Councillor Adrian Warwick sought clarification on the report's statement that:

The force needs to improve its understanding of disproportionality in the use of police powers.

Philip Seccombe explained that disproportionality refers to how the force treats different people with different characteristics, giving the example of stop and search, where a higher percentage of black people are stopped and searched than their representation in the general population.

The panel agreed to accept the report.

Finance Report

Sarah Ansell, treasurer in the OPCC office, introduced the finance report, giving an overview of the financial cycle, the financial position, and the approach to budgeting. She noted that police officer, PCSO, and staff pay-related costs make up around 80% of the total budget, at around £121 million in 2025-6. She also noted that the cost of continuing as they were, without any changes, would create an additional pressure of around £10 million, requiring savings to be found.

She reported that the force has been successful in identifying savings in recent years, with a further savings target of just over £1 million required for 2025-6, and a further £2 million required in 2026-7, according to the medium-term financial plan.

Based on figures at the end of July 2025, the current forecast position is an underspend of just over £1.6 million, mostly from underspending on pay-related costs and increased grant funding. The original budget for 2025-6 was built on a drawdown from reserves of £1.4 million, which may not be necessary if the underspending is maintained.

The audit work for 2024-5 is mainly complete, with an extraordinary joint audit and standards committee meeting scheduled where the external auditors will present their draft audit findings report. No significant issues have been found.

The OPCC budget includes running costs and commissioning activity, grants, and partnership funding, totalling around £4.1 million in 2025-6. The revised budget for capital spending is around £10.3 million across the whole estate, including the Justice Centre investments.

The medium-term financial plan indicates that reserve levels may dip below £10 million in later years, but this is being closely monitored.

Councillor Stuart Green noted that staff vacancies were driving the underspend and asked if vacancies are deemed not required if they aren't filled within a certain time. Philip Seccombe responded that the force is reviewing all vacancies before recruitment, but most are needed.

Philip Seccombe added that he attempts to deliver a balanced budget each year, and that the funding formula gives Warwickshire a poor return compared to other forces. He also mentioned that the force is asked to make efficiencies each year, but without diminishing service to residents.

Councillor Adrian Warwick suggested that Sue Gill, as chair of the panel, write to the minister to ask them to look at the funding formula, and also suggested a working group of panel members to work with Sarah Ansell to have a better knowledge and understanding of offering value for money to taxpayers. This was agreed, with Councillor Adrian Warwick, Councillor Cliff Brown, and Sue Gill volunteering.

Andrew Davies, Independent Member, asked about the sustainability of officer salaries, given that the £12 million increase next year is not fully funded centrally. Sarah Ansell explained that some government grant funding is dependent on maintaining officer numbers, but the grant doesn't keep pace with incremental increases in pay.

Councillor Claire Edwards asked about plans for investigating ethical AI to reduce costs and increase efficiency. Polly Reed from the OPCC responded that the force is doing quite a lot around AI, with a project team and board, but security requirements are a major consideration.

Councillor Cliff Brown asked if the leader of the council has discussed his policing plans with Philip Seccombe. Philip Seccombe responded that he has had one meeting, but is not aware of any plans that will have an impact on policing in Warwickshire.

Councillor Adrian Warwick suggested that the leader of the council offer a meeting with Philip Seccombe and the chief constable to decide how money promised to each of the county councillors can be best spent to meet policing objectives.

Panel Annual Report

Sue Gill requested that the panel endorse the annual report, noting that it highlights the panel's key activities and achievements during the last year and looks ahead to issues that the panel will examine in the coming year. The panel agreed to endorse the report.

Work Programme

Sue Gill noted that the work programme was thin and suggested adding a review of how the police are responding to and preparing for hate crime events, and how they are working with partners such as Equip.

Philip Seccombe noted that the list misses out the meeting where the Chief Constable is invited to attend the panel in January.

Councillor Claire Edwards requested that local government reorganisation be added to the work programme at an appropriate time, and also raised concerns about skyrocketing numbers of hate crimes and incidents, particularly affecting diverse communities.

Councillor Cliff Brown suggested a process for group leaders to receive information about incidents of high public interest, given the difficulty of councillors getting accurate information.

Polly Reed encouraged all councillors to follow police social media or refer to the force website, and also mentioned Warwickshire Connected as a distribution route from the force.

The panel discussed when to add local government reorganisation to the plan, with Councillor Adrian Warwick suggesting after 14 October, when the county's preferred position will be set. It was agreed that Philip Seccombe could provide a brief verbal update on what it's looking like, rather than a full report. The panel also requested that the new victim strategy be brought to the panel when it's ready.