Challenging but successful year for Cambridgeshire’s Police Commissioner
Sir Graham Bright. - Credit: Archant
Police in Cambridgeshire have made savings of about £1million thanks to working with two other county forces on major crime, according to a report.
The saving has been welcomed by Sir Graham Bright, who has celebrated his first year as the county’s police and crime commissioner.
The £1million budget savings have been made thanks to working with Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire police on major cases.
A Major Crime Unit, launched in April last year, has dealt with some large investigations simultaneously across three counties, meaning local officers are not taken away from the communities they serve.
Sir Graham said his first year had been busy and seen many successes as well as challenges.
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He cited a faster pace of response and getting agencies working together more effectively as two of the biggest advantages of his role.
He said: “This job is all about listening to the public and getting things done and that is the biggest advantage this role has over a committee – things get done quicker.
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“It was challenging in the beginning, setting up new processes that could support the new demands of the role while ensuring I met some very tight deadlines around the budget and police and crime plan.
“All of this happened while the role itself was, rightly, coming under intense scrutiny from the public.”
Also included in his first-year achievements are a faster response time to emergency and non-emergency calls and increasing the number of special constables.
An outreach worker for Fenland and Peterborough has been put in post, which means more support in listening to the public.
Increased technology means thousands of operational hours have been saved thanks to minimising form-filling.
Sir Graham said his priorities in the years ahead included a focus on mental health, victims, road safety, alcohol, integrity and helping Neighbourhood Watch to increase its members.
