Commissioning Annual Report

Introduction

Police & Crime Commissioners (PCCs) can commission or grant fund to services to support the delivery of their priorities. This includes the commissioning of services that reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, support victims and communities. These services can range from grassroots community-based organisations that provide diversionary activities to multi-year contracts that provide support to victims across Kent & Medway. All services that support victims of crime in Kent provide support regardless of when that crime took place or if it has been reported to the Police. This report sets out my commissioning achievements across all funding I have issued for the financial year 2021/22.   

As part of my office, I have a dedicated Commissioning Team, and they are responsible for commissioning services, issuing grants as well as managing and monitoring the contracts and service delivery of these services. They are also responsible for attracting additional funding to Kent through successful bid writing. I also have a dedicated Victims hub in Ashford, Compass House, which houses several of my services enabling closer working and a more joined up approach to delivering services to victims. It also provides safe spaces for victims to receive much needed support and give evidence at court.

Funding

My yearly commissioning budget consists of approximately £2.1m of government grant from the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) to deliver services to support victims. I match fund this with £2.1m of my own budget to support delivery of services related to crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour (ASB).

During 2021/22 several additional funding streams were offered by the Government and my team worked hard to ensure that Kent and Medway got its fair share to enable new and existing services supporting victims or aimed at reducing crime or ASB to be delivered. Overall, I and my team have been successful in securing additional funding of over £3.2m in 2021/22. This brings the total commissioning budget for 2021/22 to just over £7.4m.

Despite continued COVID challenges during 20/21 and increased demand on all commissioned services, they have continued to respond and quickly adapt delivery models resulting in impressive outcomes, with examples are given below.