Friday 15th November2013 marks a year since the first election for Police and Crime Commissioners around the country.
Since his election as Surrey’s Commissioner, Kevin Hurley has approached the role with the same vigour for which he was well known in his previous role as the Zero-Tolerance Police Commander in Hammersmith and Fulham.
Kevin Hurley:
– Was the first PCC to scrap numerical targets in his Police and Crime Plan;
– Was the first PCC to open his management meetings with the Chief Constable to public scrutiny via live webcast;
– Is leading county-wide efforts to work in partnership with local authorities to develop a joint approach to enforcement against anti-social behaviour;
– Has regularly spoken out against reductions in pay and conditions for new police constables and against direct entry into the police service at Superintendent level;
– Has been closely involved in victims issues nationally and locally, Chairing the National Working Group for Victims Services Commissioning which will manage Government reforms to victims services; appointing Surrey’s first Victim’s Commissioner to advocate for victims interests in the criminal justice system locally; and speaking out against poor treatment of victims of crime;
– Has taken a lead in arguing for fundamental reform of the current police funding arrangements, which do not take into account the true costs of policing and which wrongly penalise Surrey residents;
– Has, with his Sussex counterpart Katy Bourne, driven forward collaboration between their two forces, helping to protect services and save public money;
– Ended Surrey Police’s involvement in a multimillion pound ICT development project and commissioned an independent audit of its history. Instead, Surrey Police has chosen an ‘off-the-shelf’ system, saving money and facilitating closer collaborative working with neighbouring forces;
– Hosted a series of successful meetings and Crime Summits with the public; and
– Has been a prominent national voice in defending whistleblowing in public service and the freedom of the press
Kevin Hurley, Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey said:
“I am determined to use my time in office as Police and Crime Commissioner to make things better for the public in Surrey and to do everything in my gift to make life harder for the criminals and antisocial elements that prey on the innocent and the vulnerable.
“Over my first year, I have been impressed by the motivation and commitment of Surrey Police officers and staff, local council officers, politicians and businesspeople to try and improve our sense of safety. Equally, it is humbling and inspiring to see so many passionate people in volunteer groups doing their best for victims and preventing reoffending.
“A direct democratic link between the public and the police service that serves them was a healthy step in the right direction for this country. One year on, the next step is quite clear to me – Police and Crime Commissioners’ remit – and the direct democratic link with the public – should be extended more widely across the criminal justice system. PCCs – with their democratic mandate and strategic role – can provide the strong direction and dynamism necessary to improve the treatment of victims in the criminal justice system and improve its service to society as a whole.”