Deputy Mayor responds to Crime and Policing Bill amendments

Our front-line emergency service workers should feel safe when they’re doing their job, whether they are out in the community or in a private home.

That is why I, welcome the new measures that were amended in the government’s Crime and Policing Bill in June. This will close an existing loophole that allows people to get away with racial and religious abuse towards all emergency service workers when they attend private homes. The amendment, whilst yet to be given royal assent, will ensure that our emergency services are protected whilst they serve and protect us all.

Being abused in any form whilst doing the job, should not be part of the job. We are committed to ensuring that everyone feels and is safe – including our emergency service colleagues. We will work with our policing teams to ensure that we can deal with any changes quickly, both from an organisational perspective and with North Yorkshire Police Hate Crime teams and force leads to ensure that they are on the front foot in making officers aware of any changes or potential changes.

Here in York and North Yorkshire, we have already set up an Independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board. Launched in Spring last year, our volunteers from across the region are our connection between the work of the Police Race Action Plan team, who focus on all ethnic minorities, and the public providing transparency, scrutiny and oversight. Working together, alongside the investment made in recruiting more neighbourhood policing means, we can tackle complex and community issues, identifying and protecting the most vulnerable people in our region.

Our second Independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board took place recently. This included discussions around Workstream One: Culture and Workforce, of the Police Race Action Plan.  A newly implemented Workplace Development Programme which every officer and staff of North Yorkshire Police are currently undertaking, will help us be at the forefront of any future changes, supporting our commitment to keeping our emergency services safe.

We will continue to use this board, alongside my online public meetings to hold our policing and fire teams to account on the priorities you told us that were important to you.

Read the minutes of the Independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board here.