County Durham and Darlington Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen is to examine how accessible Durham Constabulary is to the public in her latest accountability meeting.
Commissioner Allen is set to host a public accountability meeting on Thursday, May 26, where she will discuss the contact arrangements for anyone wanting to pass on information, report crime or communicate with the force.
The meeting will review the police non-emergency number 101 and other forms of communication including on the website, social media and in person.
Public accountability meetings enable the PCC to hold the Chief Constable and Durham Constabulary to account for policing and identify where improvement is needed.
They were developed by Commissioner Allen as part of her commitment to delivering transparency and openness on behalf of the public.
Local people are invited to pose questions to the force via the PCC at each meeting under separate themes, with the next meeting focusing on contact methods.
Commissioner Allen said: “Building relationships with our communities is a top priority which is why it is important to review the way in which local people can contact or access the force to ensure we are meeting their expectations.
“Like every area of policing, this scrutiny needs to take place in an open forum to increase trust in our processes and systems and deliver change where it is needed.
“I actively encourage the input of residents in my public accountability meetings. Asking pertinent and relevant questions of the force helps me to deliver an efficient and effective police service for our communities and one that delivers on the needs of people in County Durham and Darlington.
“All meetings are recorded which enables our communities to see for themselves how the accountability process works.”
In previous public accountability meetings, the commissioner has scrutinised proposals for a centralised custody facility, off-road bikes and violence against women and girls.
The PCC is encouraging anyone with questions relating to calls to the 101 non-emergency number, or other ways in which the police may be contacted, to submit them via email to: [email protected] before 5pm on Wednesday, May 18.
