Category: Police & Crime Commissioner
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Consultation on taxi licensing to protect passengers.
‘The current taxi licensing system is unfit for purpose and requires an urgent re-think’ says Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Dame Vera Baird, following today’s (12, February, 2019) government announcement to launch a consultation on rules to improve passenger safety. Dame Vera has repeatedly expressed concerns over the granting of taxi licences and the application…
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Consultation shows public want investment in policing
Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner has been consulting with local communities and the clear verdict is – nearly 90% of residents want to see more investment in policing. Residents were also asked if they would pay 31p a week more towards policing for a Band A property or 46p per week more towards policing for…
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Welcoming the Domestic Abuse Bill.
Vera Baird QC welcomes the domestic abuse Bill in particular banning alleged perpetrators from personally cross examining their partner in family courts Dame Vera Baird said: “When that happens the court is allowing the perpetrator to use its processes as a tool to tighten control over the victim, showing her that even the court thinks…
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HOME SECRETARY FAILS NORTH EAST COMMUNITIES – say North East PCCs
The three Police and Crime Commissioners for the North East have today slammed the Home Secretary for increasing council tax bills to fund policing, instead of the Government providing a fair funding settlement for the communities of Cleveland, Durham & Darlington and Northumbria. Residents across the North East of England are facing a significant increase…
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Northumbria PCC’s Response to the HM Inspectorate of Prisons Stakeholder Survey 2018
The annual survey invites stakeholders to give their views on all aspects of the work of HM Inspectorate of Prisons over the last 12 months. To read the PCC’s questionnaire response, please click on the following link:
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BAIRD SLAMS CPS
Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Dame Vera Baird QC responds to reports that Prosecutors have been urged to ditch “weak” rape cases to improve figures. Dame Vera Baird said “This approach is completely hostile to the principle of access to justice. The point of the CPS is to bring fair prosecutions, not to deliberately avoid…
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Brexit needs the best deal possible, not a no deal!
As the dark nights start to draw in, I think the Prime Minister will be having many dark days – wondering how to control her rebels over Brexit. The government are making a monumental hash up of this process, it is stumbling from crisis to crisis and as they do this they are failing to…
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OPCC signs up as a Mindful Employer
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria has signed up as a Mindful Employer. Commissioner Dame Vera Baird QC is now a signatory for the voluntary charter, which encourages organisations to show a positive attitude to employees and job applicants with mental health issues. The Commissioner joins almost 1,900 organisations that have…
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North East PCCs call to reduce the breathalyser limit
Today, the government has announced a number of measures to improve road safety – but miss out one important factor, reducing the limit. The three North East PCCs welcome any initiative that will help make our roads safer, but Commissioner Baird, along with her colleagues, Ron Hogg, PCC for Durham and Barry Coppinger, PCC for…
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Commissioner Baird calls on Home Secretary to take lead from Scottish Government
Labour MSPs have successfully ensured that the Scottish Government will hold an independent review into the actions of the police during the miners’ strike in Scotland. Dame Vera Baird QC, Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria who was one of the barristers defending northern miners in the Orgreave Trial and who also acted in many…