Rutland Policing Under the Microscope, Funding Gaps and Diversity Failures Highlighted

Rutland Policing Under the Microscope, Funding Gaps and Diversity Failures Highlighted
By Your Democracy Reporter

Rutland County Councillors are set to review a sobering update from the Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland (LLR) Police and Crime Panel, following the latest meeting attended by Cllr Christine Wise.

The report paints a picture of a force grappling with persistent underfunding and internal "breaches in practice" regarding equality and diversity.

Here are the four key takeaways from the December 1st session that will impact how our community is policed.

1. The Funding "Shortfall": A Growing Concern
While the final budget and precept (the amount you pay for policing in your Council Tax) won't be decided until February, the preliminary financial outlook is grim.

The panel discussed a "continual shortfall" in central government funding. The core of the issue lies in unfunded mandates specifically, pay rises and new national initiatives that the Home Office announces but does not fully pay for.

LLR remains in a "disadvantaged position" compared to other regions.

Local leaders have sent a series of letters to government ministers to highlight the persistent underfunding of our local force.

2. "Serious Breaches" in Officer Training
Perhaps the most alarming portion of the report came from the Ethics and Transparency Panel. Members of the Hate Crime sub-panel reported witnessing "serious breaches in practice" regarding Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI).

The Force is instituting immediate, mandatory training for officers, with a specific focus on LGBTQ+ issues.

Officials are now investigating whether these breaches were isolated incidents or indicative of a "bigger systemic issue" within the ranks.

3. Attendance Woes Hamper Oversight
The report highlighted significant hurdles in holding the police to account, largely due to a lack of engagement from "external partners."

The Out of Court Resolution sub-panel which monitors how crimes are handled without a full trial was only able to meet once this year.

The Hate Crime sub-panel also saw a July meeting cancelled.

Both the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and the Chief Constable are now reportedly writing to these partners to demand they show up to the table.

4. Complaints Against the PCC
The Panel’s Legal Advisor confirmed the status of complaints made against the Police and Crime Commissioner over the last year. Currently, the system relies heavily on informal conflict resolution, as the panel has limited legal power to take further action. At the time of the report, two complaints remain active and unresolved at the time of the meeting was held.