St Ives Town Council have passed a motion expressing no confidence in both the office of police and crime commissioner and in the PCC herself.
The motion was brought forward by councillor and deputy mayor Ken Messenger. “I’ve got no faith in the police and crime commissioner at all because crime isn’t being reported, and they’re trying to say that because crime isn’t being reported we’re a low-level crime area, which is not true,” told full council.
He added that he thought the role should be non-political. His motion was seconded by Paul Kennedy.
St Ives suffers from problems with anti-social bahaviour, drugs, and theft. These issues have to be tackled by two community officers and a PCSO. Supporting the motion, “born out of frustrationn” he suggested, Paul Viney, a former police officer with some 30 years’ experience, pointed out that in 2000 there were at least 26 police officers in St Ives.
When the police station was closed in 2021, the PCC said it was no longer suitable for the needs of modern policing, promising that sale proceeds of nearly £1 million would be reinvested in local policing. Nearly five years later, there was no sign of that promised reinvestment.
Anti-social behaviour, drugs problems, theft. The role should be completely non-political.
“Despite claims by the PCC of record numbers of police officers across Devon and Cornwall, we do not have resources or presence 24/7 in our town,” he said. “We rarely see police officers on the street, let alone a foot patrol, even in the busy summer months.”
Local knowledge and intelligence are crucial in towns like St Ives, he pointed out. The public fear the police are not there when they want them, and when they do report something it’s often too late to do anything. So they don’t bother reporting incidents.
“I am concerned that the PCC role is failing in its statutory duty to provide an effective police service for the community and parish of St Ives, and I will support this motion.”
Cllr Kennedy pointed out that there was little support for the PCC role generally. The election for the post saw a low turnout. He suggested there was top-down accountability at the expense of community accountability.
“Essentially, St Ives contributes £4m a year to the PCC and we get virtually nothing for that,” he said. “What we do get is great, but it’s nowhere near value for money for our residents. We have to say the system is failing us.”
He comment echoed those of others keen to point out that the motion was, in no way, a criticism of St Ives’ community officers and PCSO.
The council resolved: to write to the deputy prime minister, the home secretary, and Cornwall Council, to report this council’s passing of a motion of no confidence in the PCC role and the PCC herself, and to call for a more broadly representative form of governance and oversight reflecting Cornwall’s status as a nation which ensures that a local accoutability, effectiveness, and value for money for our area will help restore public confidence in our police force. The town clerk will write to other local councils asking if they agree with St Ives’ stance.
