There has been a great deal happening in the policing world in the past week or so.
The extraordinary announcement by the Home Secretary that the Police and Crime Commissioner role is to be abolished in 2028 without any consultation whatsoever was an enormous shock for those of us involved in policing. Furthermore, there was less than an hour and a half before the public announcement in parliament – no wonder the country seems to be drifting along like a rudderless ship. That said, in Suffolk we are in a better position than many other forces as we already knew the Police and Crime Commissioner’s responsibilities (including looking after victims, setting the budget and level of policing council tax and holding the Chief Constable to account for the performance of the Constabulary) will pass to the new Norfolk and Suffolk Mayor on April 1st 2027.
Just to make matters crystal clear, whilst I am standing as a candidate for the mayoralty next year, the work being delivered by the team and myself will continue – no ifs or buts! For example, I have just agreed our latest round of awards for our Police and Crime Commissioner’s Fund; the fund will continue throughout next year and I am also supporting the new Suffolk Community Foundation Youth Intervention Fund with an £80,000 contribution. We must support our younger generations much more in these challenging economic times to help them make good life choices and keep out of trouble. Next year will see the continuation of longer-term funding for the wonderful charities who do so much countywide to help victims of domestic abuse, serious sexual offences and childhood exploitation - I’m not prepared to see this work compromised by ministerial prejudice and incompetence.
On other matters, I’d like to highlight the new Winter of Action campaign being rolled out across the county through December and January. The initiative is loosely based around the successful Safer Summer Streets campaign earlier this year, and includes the original Home Office list of nine town centres with the addition of our fourth biggest settlement, Haverhill, which is now (quite rightly) included. Residents and businesses will benefit from the additional redeployment of police resources to reduce neighbourhood crime and anti-social behaviour so many more offenders are brought to justice and punished accordingly.
Conversations with senior officers have made it quite clear that this additional policing work happens every year as part of the Christmas and New Year activity. There will also be the annual drinking/drug driving awareness campaign launch at the beginning of next month. All responsible people know what the law says and there really is no excuse for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, those who do potentially endanger not only their own life, but the lives of others.
I think it is also time to mention that the government is doing absolutely nothing to rectify the injustice within the police funding settlement. Why rural policing is treated with such contempt is, frankly, disgraceful. At the time of writing, I have no idea what effect the budget announcements will have for us in Suffolk but I will be astonished, and delighted, if there is any good news for us locally. I want to place on record that Suffolk residents and business have had enough on paying our taxes and dues for public services whilst this unfairness continues unabated.
Why I am raising this now? The point is I am now starting to consider council tax level. Many people have reached breaking point as they try to make ends meet. I really do not wish to increase taxation further, so I hope the Home Office settlement is equitable and we do not get subjected to the normal arrant nonsense about giving Police and Crime Commissioners lots of extra funding when at least half of it is down to council tax increases. In short enough is enough. Time for the government and Home Office to stop taking us for granted.
Lastly, I am delighted Suffolk Constabulary has recorded the third lowest recorded crime rate nationally for the fifth consecutive time. Very well done to all involved and just imagine what else could be delivered with a fairer funding settlement, especially for remote rural homes and businesses. As long as I am Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioners that fairer funding campaign continues!
Published in East Anglian Daily Times in November 2025