Farewell from Festus Akinbusoye
As you will know by now, I am moving on from my role as Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire after three incredible years. In that time, I have had the honour to lead a fantastic team of people in the OPCC and provide strategic direction and challenge to Bedfordshire Police through my Police and […]
John Tizard elected as Bedfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner
A new Police and Crime Commissioner has been elected for Bedfordshire. John Tizard will take up the role officially on Thursday 9 May, after he was the successful Labour candidate in the public Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections, which took place yesterday, (Thursday 2 May). The PCC is elected by the people of Bedfordshire […]
PCC secures government backing to combat serious organised crime in Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire Police is set to receive a continuation of special grant funding recognising the need to combat serious organised crime in the county. During his term as Police and Crime Commissioner, Festus Akinbusoye has secured additional Special Grant funding awarded by the Home Office to support operations specifically set-up to tackle serious violence in Bedfordshire. […]
PCC celebrates visiting 100th school in Bedfordshire
The Police and Crime Commissioner, Festus Akinbusoye reached a key milestone this week as he visited his 100th school in Bedfordshire. Mr Akinbusoye attended Bedford Academy to mark the occasion and spoke with year 10 students at an assembly. This is as part of his commitment to engaging with and listening to young people in […]
Beds PCC and supermarket collaborate on crime prevention
In a country-first, the ‘public access terminals’ are being rolled out into Morrisons stores in Bedfordshire. The Police and Crime Commissioner, Festus Akinbusoye is continuing to deliver on his community-based policing commitments, with investment in four terminals across the county. The state-of-the-art touchscreen devices will give shoppers a new way to report crime as well […]
PCC speaks at CBC Police and Crime Advisory Panel
Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) John Tizard attended the third meeting of the Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) Police and Crime Advisory Panel last week (12 June), to formally introduce himself to members and discuss the concerns of councillors for the towns and villages of Central Bedfordshire. This followed a meeting of the Bedfordshire Police […]
£1.4m anti-social behaviour investment announced by Beds PCC
Every police force in England and Wales will receive at least £1 million from the government to ramp up patrols to tackle violence and disorder, targeted in areas with high levels of anti-social behaviour. It is estimated that the funding, hitting £66 million for England and Wales, will enable each force to deploy more uniformed […]
OPCC funds CESAR scheme to offer half price tracking equipment to farmers
A major new project to help tackle rural crime by tracking stolen agricultural vehicles is being launched in Bedfordshire. The CESAR scheme is the latest initiative funded by the county’s Safer Streets project, which is focused on tackling neighbourhood crime issues such as anti-social behaviour and burglary. A new half price discount will be available […]
PCC confirms police precept increase
Investments in tackling shoplifting, speeding and improving the force control room are in the pipeline after a rise in council tax to fund policing was approved this week. The majority of respondents to a public survey backed increasing the police precept, with the move approved by the county’s Police and Crime Panel on Tuesday (6 […]
PCC backs zombie knife ban as anti-knife crime campaign reaches 5,000 Bedfordshire students!
Bedfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Festus Akinbusoye, has backed new legislation that will see the sale of dangerous zombie-style knives banned, as a flagship anti-knife crime campaign for the county reached more than 5,000 students. More than 5,000 students across 15 schools in Bedfordshire have received assemblies around the devastating impact of knife crime as […]