Vera Baird DBE KC

Chair Criminal Cases Review Commission. Member Women’s Justice Bd.
Ex Victims’ Commissioner, Solicitor Gen & PCC. Fellow St Hilda’s Oxford. Writer. Labour Party

Tag: Northumbria

  • PCC Vera Baird says In Northumbria sex abuse complainants will be believed as all other complainants are

    Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Vera Baird, is in complete disagreement with Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan Howe who has suggested that police should not believe sex abuse complainants, in contrast to the way every other complainant is dealt with.

    He has said: \”There is a grave danger at the moment with the advice that is around that there is a tendency to always believe any complaint that is made and that\’s not wise for any good investigator.\”

    Vera Baird said: “The Met Commissioner has been criticised for the investigations into two peers whose names were published at an early stage before there can have been evidence to justify a charge, because no charges were ever brought. The key problem was the irresponsible, presumably glory-seeking, publication of their names, not that complaints should not be believed in sexual abuse cases in the same way that a burglary victim is believed and their complaint investigated.

    “Thousands of victims of sexual abuse have been denied justice through the attitude the Met Commissioner now advocates. Sexual abuse is extremely difficult to report, because of its intimate nature and its undermining impact on victims. They have to be told that police will not doubt them as they have habitually done in the past but will believe them as they do in any other kind of complaint, ensure that they get support and investigate the case thoroughly.

    \”In Northumbria we have been judged highly for our investigation of sexual exploitation and domestic abuse. We intend to continue to rely on what complainants say and to give them support. We will investigate thoroughly, not rushing to publicise inappropriately, simply doing a thorough policing job to determine whether a case should go forward to the CPS. We encourage any person who is suffering from any kind of crime to come forward to report it and they will get help.”

  • Changing the Policing Landscape

    The Policing Landscape.

    Policing is at the heart of all communities, it creates safety and promotes confidence. However, the landscape on which policing in England and Wales is carried out has changed dramatically in recent years. Crime has been falling since the mid nineties but there has not been a corresponding reduction in demand for police work. Preventive and protective mechanisms have got on one hand more local and on another more complex and the type of crimes investigated, as well as the numbers of them, continue to change year on year.

    A report entitled \”Reshaping Policing For the Public\” has been published today, a joint piece of work from a group of individuals from the police, trade unions and Police & Crime Commissioners. It responds to the need for a national debate on the future of policing as recommended in last year\’s HM Inspector of Constabulary\’s report, Policing in Austerity, Meeting the Challenge and it will be a useful starting point for that discussion.

    Everyone agrees that the challenge is huge – the major one being finances. Currently police funding is based on a complex formula which causes very unequal distribution between forces, but basically there have been government cuts so far of a quarter of police funding and the plan is to cut another quarter by 2020. Some more affluent areas such as Surrey get more funding from local council tax than areas like mine in Northumbria, which gives them a great advantage in a time of national government cuts. Since 85% of Northumbria Police force budget comes from national government, when that is cut, it\’s a cut into most of our funding. We have lost 23% of our budget whilst Surrey, which gets 52% of its police funding from council tax has lost only 12% of its total. At the same time as my force takes huge cuts my colleague in Devon and Cornwall is arguing that his local taxpayers pay twice for policing, once as part of a large chunk of council tax and again to the inland revenue to fund the Home Office grant. Clearly it is not straightforward but the days of cuts along straight percentages have to end and more regard given firstly to the revenue, capital and reserves of each individual force and then to the demand they are responding to.

    Only 12% of calls to Northumbria Police are about crime; the national average is only 22%. The other 80-90% includes responding to missing people, dealing with road traffic incidents, stop and search, dealing with people with mental health issues and anti social behaviour. There is an additional, relatively new, tranche of work, which is not response policing but continues in the background all the time. It includes child protection programmes, Troubled Families programmes, participating in multi agency public protection teams which monitor known dangerous offenders to protect the public, MARACs which offer wraparound care to repeat victims of the most dangerous domestic abuse and Integrated Offender Management which is working with probation to stop re-offending especially of prolific known criminals. The role of a typical police officer has changed immensely through all of this, piling on new duties which are certainly in the public interest but which take up, according to the College of Policing\’s research, a significant part of the policing day and which simply hadn\’t been invented the last time any one looked seriously at how to fund the police.

    Further, crime may no longer be going down. The latest crime figures will show that there is no longer a downturn but a national increase of 2% in recorded crime,which is spread across 30 or more of the police forces in England and Wales. It is never easy to sort out whether increases in recorded crime represent increases in actual crime, more reporting or better recording. The problem is that the Home Office links its funding directly to levels of crime. Everyone has heard Theresa May saying that people have been crying wolf that if police funding is cut crime will go up. The first trouble is that she doesn\’t know whether it has or it hasn\’t. On the one hand police got into trouble from a Select Committee for not recording crime. That has led recently to the Police and crime Commissioner for Norfolk, where crime appears to have rocketed, but really what has happened as he makes clear, is that his force have felt obliged to record somebody throwing a biscuit at someone else, a child swinging his boxing gloves in a silly way and catching another child and a range of other events that the public would not call crime, to be recorded as offences. On another hand, Northumbria Police and their partners have pioneered a ground-breaking operation called Sanctuary which has unearthed considerable sexual exploitation where there was only a hint of it for them to go on. We have the biggest increase in reports of sexual abuse amongst all forces this year and we are, perhaps surprisingly, very pleased, It is not because there is more sexual exploitation most of which goes unreported it is because Sanctuary has made its mark and victims know they can report with confidence because our police and our victims services understand these crimes.

    It takes perhaps twenty times as much officer time and skilled resource to achieve 103 the number of charges of sexual offending in Sanctuary as it does to catch 103 phone thieves, people who damage cars, shoplifters and burglars. So, simply counting recorded crime as the basis for funding is like building a house on mud.

    The report goes beyond funding and looks at the bones of a new model for policing. This would leave local 24/7 response and neighbourhood policing capability, including safeguarding vulnerable people as now, resourced locally and linked even more closely than now with partners like local authorities, whose housing, social services, safeguarding, licensing and a score more functions are required if an all-round job is to be done on problem solving and tackling crime in communities. The emphasis should be on \’getting upstream of crime\’; through work such as Troubled Families programmes. There is a case for shared budgets and management to streamline and boost efficiency

    This would be supported with more collaborative arrangements across forces for
    Specialist investigative work, operational support such as public order resources, dogs, horses, firearms and, criminal justice support would be organised on a regional basis. Public surveys suggest business support such as legal, corporate communications and human resources should follow too.

    As a governance system, local PCCs would soon have insufficient reach to be responsible for all of these ascending layers and though they may not be ideal, they are better than the former unelected, unaccountable police authorities and restoring local government scrutiny would be equally inadequate.

    Recommendations are also made about the buy in from central government. If changes are being implemented locally and regionally, the speed at which Whitehall works needs to increase dramatically. There needs to be more coordinated funding streams and authority to budget, fund and commission jointly the new ways of delivering services.

    The report at least starts the debate and should not now make its way on to a shelf in Whitehall and collect dust. It says that there needs to be clarity on what the role of the police should be and then on how to organise and how to fund that role fairly and that it needs to have emerged by the end of this year and I agree. Nobody foresees forced mergers because the public remain very attached to their local forces and as much can be achieved by collaboration but apart from that if we are to ensure that our low-crime communities continue to be as safe as they are now, anything goes.

  • Commissioner Welcomes Firearms Licensing Fee Increase

    Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird has welcomed the announced increase in firearms licensing fees.

    The Home Office announced the increases on Thursday which are said to create a fairer and more effective system for forces, licence holders and the general public.

    The increases will be applied to new and renewals of firearms and shotgun certificates from April 6 and will be the first time there’s been a rise since 2001.

    Northumbria Police currently recoup around 80% of the cost of issuing a licence. These increases mean the granting or renewing of a firearms or shotgun certificate would become largely cost neutral for the force.

    Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird said: “Fees for firearms licensing are set down nationally and have remained the same for many years. I have called on the Home Office to implement these fee changes for some time, I’m pleased that they have now taken action.

    “The current fees simply aren’t sufficient to cover the processes carried out by Northumbria Police to grant the certificates.

    “In an average year, the force grants 600 certificates and renews 2,541. These numbers reflect the force’s large rural area within which many farmers, gamekeepers and landowners keep guns for vermin control and hunting. It’s also an area where organised shoots are common.

    “Like all other forces, we are facing further deep budget cuts in Northumbria and are constantly looking at all our activities to ensure we can make savings and efficiencies.

    “Anything that can help Northumbria balance the books is of course good news and the increases will see us become cost neutral when issuing or renewing a firearms certificates in the future.”

  • COMMISSIONER WELCOMES HMIC REPORT – VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND ADULTS NEED CARE, NOT CUSTODY.

    Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird has welcomed an HMIC report which finds that children need care, not custody.
    In January 2014, the Home Secretary commissioned HMIC to conduct a thematic inspection on the welfare of vulnerable people in police custody. The inspection looked at a number of areas which included those with mental health problems, those from black and minority ethnic backgrounds and children.
    The inspection considered the end to end process. Inspections were undertaken in six force areas, Northumbria was not one, but Police and Crime Commissioner, Vera Baird QC, has committed to learning from the report to ensure Northumbria Police delivers the best care possible when dealing with vulnerable children and adults.
    There are a number of recommendations in the report which Northumbria Police will review carefully to ensure local practice follows national guidelines.  The Force’s current custody action plan and equality delivery plan already cover some of the areas highlighted in the report.  Commissioner Baird will now ensure that the report is updated to include the information highlighted in the HMIC report.
    Vera Baird said: “Custody suites and the use of handcuffs or limb restraints are for those suspected of committing a crime – not for people who are suffering mental health.  In Northumbria, we have dedicated nurses who provide support to people suffering from mental health. 
    \”Moving forward, Northumbria Police will continue to work with partners to ensure the best service available is given. I expect to see a reduction in the use of police custody for those suffering from mental health issues or vulnerable children in custody”.
    Northumbria Police is about to extend their successful street triage project where police officers and mental healthcare workers work together at peak times to avoid detaining people under the Mental Health Act and ensuring they get the support they need.
    Conclusions of the report found that custody should also be avoided for children. Where appropriate, Northumbria Police will seek alternatives to arrest. This could include a voluntary interview at a station, a person’s home or solicitors’ office.
    Mrs Baird added: “We can learn from this HMIC report, moving forward we will continue to work with partners to ensure effective support for young people is achieved, rather than bringing them in to custody. 
    \”The street triage is having a positive effect and improvements to our electronic records system will help ensure we are recording all the information expected by HMIC. 
    \”Northumbria is doing well, our drive and determination will ensure we are delivering an outstanding service for vulnerable people and children in custody.\”

  • Vera’s View – Changes to police bail.

    The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 gave police the power to bail someone who has been arrested while they investigate an allegation. Its authors could never have imagined that today there would be an estimated 70,000 people on police bail and that 5,000 of those have been on bail for more than 6 months.

    A growing number of politicians, lawyers and former ministers have demanded reform. There are no time limits, which can punish people by restricting their freedom when there is only suspicion against them, not even a charge. The police can add conditions,for instance a curfew, a condition of residing at a particular address or a ban on associating with specific other people. Any one of these can have a hugely restrictive impact yet it is difficult to challenge their fairness. The government has cut legal aid so solicitors are less often at police stations to make representation. Custody sergeants are not particularly likely to listen to suspects themselves. However unfair or restrictive bail conditions are , it is a criminal offence to break one.

    Campaigners want to see a time limit of 28 days after which the measure must be reviewed by a Judge not the police.

    The police have a duty to investigate crimes in a timely manner.  Mr & Mrs X were arrested on 27th September 2012 and their homes and offices searched. They  were interviewed and bailed to return on March 12th 2013, with a condition of residence imposed and their computers and iPads seized.  They were re-bailed repeatedly until June 30th 2014 when  they were warned that the investigation is continuing but were released from bail. Clearly it has to be asked why they were ever on bail in the first place.  In West Mercia one person has been on bail for more than 723 days and will hear this month if their case is to be referred to court.

    The issue has come to the fore because a number of journalists arrested in the phone hacking scandal were on long term bail and then told there would be no further action. Similarly “celebrities” such as Jim Davidson and Freddie Starr who faced sexual abuse allegations were bailed didn’t go forward that make the headline.

    These recent long-term bail victims have Theresa May to thank.Three years ago the Home Secretary had the ideal opportunity to change the law. In May 2011, a curious High Court ruling in a case called Hookway said that nobody could be kept on police bail for more than 96 hours. This was in answer to the problem, even then, of people being kept on conditional bail for far too long, but it clearly it left the police with severe problems.

    The Home Secretary did nothing for weeks and then rushed through emergency legislation simply reversing the case and restoring the status quo. She made no attempt to find a balance between the liberties of the bail victims and the reasonable requirements of a police investigation. If there is to be legislation shortly, as campaigners demand, it means that she will have enacted two sets of law, within three years, having opposite effects and, in the meantime, hundreds of people have continued to suffer unnecessary limits on their freedom and arguably a breach of their right to be considered innocent until proved to be guilty. As the then policing Minister, Nick Herbert said, the Home Secretary had just allowed the police to operate on the same basis as they had for the last 25 years.

    In contrast, the College of Policing carried out a consultation and found that when people are bailed pre-charge, the effect on the police is that the investigation loses momentum.Officers know that they have the option of just repeatedly bailing people and with no pressure of time, other cases take priority. In the aftermath of this report, one police force challenged itself to cut bail times and easily succeeded. In light of those findings, from the police themselves, there really can be no argument against a time limit on pre-charge bail.

    In Northumbria, police are making more use of asking people to come to the police station voluntarily – this reduces the demand on custody suites too. If there has to be an arrest for any reason, people can still be released without bail while investigations continue. It is only if those two avenues are considered and reasonably rejected that it can possibly be justifiable to arrest and put a person onto pre-charge bail. In that situation, only necessity and not convenience, can justify the imposition of conditions and the bail itself must, obviously be time-limited.

    The campaign wants to see a time limit of 28 days but as a Police and Crime Commissioner I would not want to see officers spending time away from inquiries and going to court to justify extending bail when, for instance, it is frequently the case that forensic science reports take a number of weeks.

    A maximum of twelve weeks would give the police a reasonable time to investigate while not imposing greatly on personal liberty. The level of injustice currently being suffered by 70000 people many of whom will never be charged with an offence but are spending their lives on restrictive bail is such that, one opportunity having been wasted it is now urgent for the Home Secretary to introduce legislation to settle this issue

  • Ahead of the Autumn Statement – How Labour will make a difference,

     

    The mood of Britain last week was to enjoy “Black Friday” that became Black weekend as shoppers headed to stores and online to grab a bargain or two.

     

    Today could become “Black Wednesday” depending on what the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, will tell the House of Commons.  We already know this government has broken promise after promise, cut funding to our police service (since 2010, Northumbria’s budget has been cut by more than £80 million) and forgotten about our region. 

    The Tories came to power on a promise to balance the books by 2015  which they have broken. When Labour win the election in six months time, Ed Miliband and Ed Balls are set to inherit a large deficit – which they will address.  Income tax receipts across the Parliament are set to fall short of their 2010 expectations by more than £66 billion and receipts from National Insurance Contributions are a further £22.5 billion lower across the same period – less money in means less to spend on services such as police, schools, NHS and protecting our vulnerable people to name but a few.

    The last few years have been hard for families, real median wages for full time workers have fallen by more than £2000 since 2010.  In Northumbria, I have played a small part in improving the salaries of lower paid members of staff by introducing the Living Wage, all cleaning staff within Northumbria Police now benefit from an increase in pay of more than £1 per hour.  Prior to this the service was contracted out and the cleaners were on the minimum wage.  There are still more than 4.9 million workers earning less than the Living – this is something that must change in the next Parliament.

     

    We need a government that is going to support the 1.4 million people who are currently on zero-hours contracts – many of the people affected work regular and predictable hours but don’t benefit from sick and holiday pay.  I know that with Ed Miliband as Prime Minister, we will see zero hour contacts abolished.

     

    It will be interesting to see what George Osborne says in his Autumn statement, as he has to account why the Tory led Government has borrowed more in four and a half years than the last Labour government did in 13 years.  The Chancellor needs to explain why he has borrowed almost £4 billion more than he did in the same period last year. 

     

    Labour is clear that we need an economic plan that can earn our way to rising living standards for all.  I want the next Labour government to help families in Sunderland and Newcastle just as much as David Cameron has helped millionaires with their tax break in this Parliament.  I want Labour to be given the opportunity to build 200,000 new homes a year to help get first time buyers on the property ladder.

     

    Let’s help the next generation by creating more apprenticeships. Since I took up my post of Police & Crime Commissioner, my small office has been able to help boost the career of two young people by securing them apprentice opportunities.  Ed Balls has made no promises without saying where the money is coming from, the Labour Party manifesto will have no commitments paid for by additional borrowing.

     

    Labour will balance the book, I suspect George Osborne will shuffle a few pages today – he has failed to deliver over the last four years, he has forgotten the North East.  I know it will take a Labour Government to make the changes happen that we want to see.

     

  • PRESS RELEASE: Domestic abuse. Children can learn by example.

     

    \"Northumbria

    \’Children can learn by example\’ – that\’s the message of Northumbria Police and Vera Baird\’s campaign tackling domestic violence over the festive period.Launched on Thursday 27th November, the forcewide initiative asks those involved in a domestically abusive relationship, whether as the victim or the perpetrator, to think about the affect their behaviour is having on children living under the same roof. It\’s being supported by Vera Baird, Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria.

    Regardless of whether the child has been physically abused, witnessing violent behaviour in their home by seeing it, hearing it or just noticing signs of injury, will have a profound affect on them.

    Domestic abuse is any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality.

    Mrs Baird, who made domestic and sexual abuse a priority of her police and crime plan and with her fellow north east Commissioners launched the Violence Against Women and Girls strategy in 2013, said: “It is well known that the victims of domestic abuse are not just those who bear the brunt of the assaults and abuse but the children who witness these events on a daily basis.

    “Sadly these youngsters can also be the target for this violence meaning that the impact of this behaviour has a far reaching and long-lasting impact which is often perpetuated through generations.

    “Domestic abuse is a terrible legacy for families and we must protect the victims and any children to ensure this crime is tackled.

    “One important area where this can be implemented is through education. This is by taking the key messages into schools, youth clubs and colleges, and talking with teachers and youth leaders about the effects of domestic violence and how the different strands of awareness can be best communicated to young people, as they look at the areas of healthy relationships.

    “People must not stay quiet and think it is their fault – this is never the case and there are people working in various organisations who can help victims to safety and the assistance they need.

    “And while this is a Christmas campaign, it is not a crime which is just limited to the festive season. Domestic abuse happens every hour of every day of every year and we must ensure this crime is never forgotten.”

    Temporary Detective Superintendent Lisa Orchard said: \”Children can \’witness\’ domestic abuse in many ways.

    \”They don\’t have to see this first hand. They may be in another room and hear everything that\’s happening. They may see the aftermath of a violent episode such as injuries to their parents or guardians or breakages in the house.

    \”However it\’s witnessed, it can still go on to have a detrimental impact on a child\’s own behaviour.

    \”They may become withdrawn, anxious or depressed; have problems with school or even go on to display aggression themselves.

    \”While we completely understand the trauma faced by victims of domestic violence, we\’re urging them to think about how this is also  traumatic for any children involved and can affect the rest of their lives. They can stop this cycle of abuse by reporting it to police or speaking to a support agency.

    \”The same message goes to those who commit acts of domestic violence who should seek help to alter their behaviour.\”

    Anyone suffering abuse can call 0800 066 5555 for independent and confidential advice.

    To change abusive behaviour, call Respect on 0808 802 4040.

    In an emergency, call 999 or to speak to your local Neighbourhood Policing Team call 101, extension 69191.

  • Northumbria’s Police & Crime Commissioner welcomes White Ribbon Day (25th November 2014)

    Vera Baird QC, Northumbria’s Police & Crime Commissioner welcomes 2014 White Ribbon Day and calls on men across the North East to take a stand against domestic violence as part of International White Ribbon Day.

     White Ribbon Day is inspired by the White Ribbon Pledge lead by men who campaign to stop domestic violence against women.  They believe that men need to take a share of the responsibility of putting an end to domestic violence against women.

     Vera Baird hopes men across the region will support White Ribbon Day by wearing their ribbon.

     Mrs Baird said: “Wearing a white ribbon shows that men are saying loud and clear that they will never condone, take part in or remain silent about domestic abuse against women.  To stop domestic abuse and violence we all have to take a share of the responsibility in putting an end to it.\”

     Supporting White Ribbon Day is local Member of Parliament Nick Brown. Mr Brown said: “Everyone in public life should take a stand against domestic violence. Bullying is unacceptable. Victims should be able to approach the police confident that those in authority will take the issue seriously.”

     Mrs Baird added: “Quite simply domestic violence is unacceptable and we will continue to do everything within our powers to put an end to it”.  But we can only do this if we all work together – this includes, men, women, businesses and charities.\”

     Vera Baird has worked closely with Ron Hogg (PCC Durham) and Barry Coppinger (PCC Cleveland) to develop a North East regional strategy to ensure all victims can expect the same level of service from the police, no matter where they live. Next month the Commissioners will be marking one year of the regional strategy, looking at successes during 2014 and plans for the year ahead. 

     

    Mrs Baird concluded: “I will continue to ensure that Northumbria Police and its partners do everything they can to tackle domestic violence.  The effects of domestic abuse affect many people – the victims, children, family members and even employers.  I hope that White Ribbon Day shows local people that they have a role to play in tackling domestic abuse.  Let’s no longer allow it to be the silent crime and give victims the voice to report it.”

    Across the Northumbria Force region there are a number of services available to support victims. 

     

    Vera Baird will be speaking at Gateshead’s White Ribbon Day event on Friday 28th November 2014 that is being hosted at Caedmon Hall, Gateshead Library, Prince Consort Road in Gateshead between 11am and 3pm.

     

  • Restorative Justice – Making A Difference in Northumbria

    Restorative Justice really does make a difference – here is a story from the Evening Chronicle about how it made a difference to two ladies in Whitley Bay. 

     

     

  • PRESS RELEASE: Commissioner demands Government takes urgent action.

    Commissioner demands Government takes urgent action

    New Government powers to tackle anti-social behaviour must be supported with extra funding, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird has said.

    The Government has introduced five new powers which have come in to effect today, which the Government believe will enable the police, local authorities and others to respond quickly and effectively to anti-social behaviour (ASB) as part of the Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB), Crime and Policing Act 2014.

    Northumbria Police has worked closely with partners to ensure the smooth implementation of the powers and the Commissioner’s office has consulted on the community remedy list with the public in Northumbria who clearly favour the following two options:

    Educational or rehabilitative activities                                           20% of respondents

    Unpaid work within the community                                                  21% of respondents

    For these options to be effective, they need funding. The Government cannot rely on the police and Local Authorities to pick up this cost.

    Since 2010, the Northumbria Police budget has been cut by nearly £70m and local authorities have faced similar pressures. Local authority ASB leads have said they are concerned about the cost implications brought by Community Remedy with no additional funding provided for the options to provide structured activities or activities which put something back into the community.

    The Commissioner Vera Baird said: \”Like everything this Government does, changes are rushed through and no extra funding provided to ensure the transition is successful.

    \”Most of the remedies need resources to ensure their success and the Government should be funding this initiative as it’s important local residents and police officers have confidence in the system they’re working with.\”

    The Commissioner has called on the Justice Secretary to convene an urgent meeting with colleagues in Parliament to secure the extra funding needed to pay for this initiative.

    \”Northumbria Police continue to tackle ASB head-on – but if the Government wants this new scheme to work, they need to fund it,\” Mrs Baird added.