Last updated at 16:40, Monday, 04 March 2013

ONE hundred days have passed since Richard Rhodes became Cumbria’s first ever police and crime commissioner.

The commissioner has the main responsibilities of holding the constabulary and chief constable to account as well as providing the people of Cumbria with a voice to influence policing matters.

Mr Rhodes’ main role has been to set the police budget and he has said protecting visible policing has been one of his main priorities.

He said: “I am pleased with the important decisions that I have made during my first 100 days. I have been able to set the constabulary budget and funding for the next 12 months with the support of the police and crime panel.

“It is without question a challenging financial picture but I am committed to maintaining front-line officers and PCSOs, as many of you have told me how reassured you feel seeing visible community policing.

“Good progress is being made with the police and crime plan which will be launched at the being of April. The plan sets out the priorities for the constabulary and how they will be held to account for its delivery.”

Mr Rhodes added that he had enjoyed the interaction he has had with the public, having held public meetings across the county last month.

He said: “I have undertaken my first public consultation and I have been impressed by the responses. I will be reviewing the answers in the next few weeks, but in addition to the main priorities of crime and anti-social behaviour, early indications are that people would like the police to do more about road safety, both the incidents and the associated noise.

“I will also be looking to include hate crime and would urge any victims of hate crime or disability hate crime to get in contact with the police, as under-reporting is a problem which needs to be addressed.

“I have enjoyed getting out and about and hearing directly people’s views and working with partners.

“At the end of March I will be launching my office of public engagement and this will set out how people can voice their opinions in a range of ways.

“The office of victim services will also be launched and I am committed to working closely with victims to try and make a difference to the way that they are treated when they are at their most vulnerable.”

First published at 16:34, Monday, 04 March 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk