‘Policing has suffered through cuts over recent years’

Following my election in May 2024 and the General Election in July, there’s a lot to look back on over the last year but the new year is a time for looking forward, to what can be achieved in the coming months. The opportunity to build on the foundations of the last year is truly exciting.

In the last months of 2024 I finalised my Police and Crime Plan, setting the five strategic priorities for Avon and Somerset Police for my term of office.  This lays out the focus for the work of Avon and Somerset Police and for my office, including strengthening neighbourhood policing and tackling violence against women and girls and knife crime.  Central to the start of 2025 for me is bringing this plan to life, through developing an implementation plan.

An important part of creating the plan was the public consultation, not least because being the bridge between the public and the police is central to my duties.  This consultation was carried out through public meetings, focus groups and meetings with communities and specialists, as well as over 1,000 online submissions.

Clare Moody lost her job as an MEP after Brexit but was elected as PCC in 2024 – photo: Clare Moody

Through these events I met with so many inspirational people that are quietly getting on with transforming other people’s lives.  Some of the excitement of the coming year is that I will be able to continue to work with them and with new people and organisations that provide support, change behaviours and generate opportunities for those around them.

The plan sets the strategic priorities for policing and crime prevention, but I am also responsible for the wider governance of Avon and Somerset Police, to ensure that Avon and Somerset Police deliver an efficient and effective service to everyone in all parts of our area.  As with so many of our public services, policing has suffered through cuts over recent years but, despite this, we still benefit from our biggest asset – the people who are dedicated to delivering our police service.

Every day, officers and staff work to protect our communities and make people safer – they are often the first people our community members turn to in times of need, offering support during moments of vulnerability and crisis. Examples of their impressive impact include delivering lifesaving first aid to a victim of knife crime, designing a fraud prevention tool to protect the most vulnerable from organised criminality and delivering justice for a survivor of sexual assault across a four-year process.

Policing is also fortunate to benefit from a committed group of volunteers, including special constables and police staff volunteers.  In addition, there are volunteers who directly support the work of my office, who help to scrutinise Avon and Somerset Police, making a real and tangible difference to the standards of policing the public receives. If you’d like to become involved during 2025, you can find out more on my website: www.avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk/get-involved/volunteering-opportunities 

I am committed to working alongside these dedicated staff and officers, holding them to account when needed, to make sure the public receive the police service they need. Please feel free to reach out to me and my office with any questions, concerns, or suggestions you may have.

This is an opinion piece by Clare Moddy, the police and crime commissioner for Avon and Somerset Police

Main photo: John Wimperis

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