Title and Reference – PCC/D/081
Subject: Funding to further develop the work of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire (BCH) Professional Standards Department (PSD) Prevent Team
Report of: Police and Crime Commissioner
Date: 20/06/2023
Summary:
To approve the funding request from PSD to support:

• Overall improvement of culture within Bedfordshire Police Force
• Increased awareness of the expected standards of behaviour throughout the Force
• Reduction in the volume of conduct and complaints received within PSD.
• Allowing Bedfordshire Police the opportunity to retain and develop those recruited
• Closer understanding of the value partnership working brings and the need to engage with and support our communities as well as colleagues.
• Raising further awareness to external partners as to the standards expected from Police employees.
• Working together to minimise the risk of infiltration by criminal networks.
• Signposting support and welfare opportunities to mitigate the risk of vulnerability.
• Positive development in the skills of line managers.

The past 12 months have seen a rise in the number of requests for the BCH PSD Prevent team to deliver bespoke educational inputs, attend CPD events and provide support to line managers by working alongside them to mitigate identified risk within their business areas.

The focus will be to enhance messaging around priority thematic areas, which have been identified through Local, Regional, and National workstreams:

• An update to our PSD Control Strategy
• Amendments to the Code of Ethics
• Mitigating Risk & Vulnerability
• Learning
There will be a very clear link to the importance of working closely with each other as well as the wider community.
There will be two primary areas have been identified where funding would be utilised.
• Visibility
• Educational Material

In our experience, event attendees are receptive to receiving a small takeaway item when attending a Prevent input and this affords opportunity to include specific educational messaging within that item.

Recommendation:
To note decision
Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner
I hereby approve the recommendations above.