The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), John Tizard, officially launched his Police and Crime plan at an event last night, Thursday 3 October attended by over 80 key figures of the Bedfordshire community including MPs, council leaders, blue light partners and charities. 

The PCC said: “This is a plan aiming at social justice and criminal justice together. Whole system change is needed to put victims at the heart of the system, and this can only be achieved through effective collaboration and partnership working. 

“I cannot apologise for my impatience and ambition to secure change because radical change is required. 

“Reducing crime levels requires improvements in education, enhanced employment opportunities, youth services, excellent mental health services and more. There are also limits to how much we can arrest our way out of social and criminal issues. 

“Criminal justice requires excellent policing, CPS, courts, probation, prison service and local authority collaboration as well as the involvement of businesses, trade unions and community sectors and communities themselves. 

“We can only succeed if we work collaboratively to achieve system change and the ensure victims are at the heart of the system.” 

He further commented “By March 2025 we will have a Stage Two long-term plan with key partners signed up and committed to delivering the ambition of helping to make Bedfordshire a safer and fairer place to live and work”. 

Partners from Bedfordshire Police, Bedford Borough Council, Luton Council and Central Bedfordshire Council as well as local MPs and representatives from the NHS, fire service and several charitable organisations attended and spoke up in support of the plan and its missions. 

It was recognised by those that responded at the event that prevention of crime can only be tackled by addressing societal factors such as support for young people, prison leavers and ethnic minority communities. 

You can read the Police and Crime Plan on our website or email pcc@beds.police.uk