Agenda item

(A discussion with the Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police)

The Committee received a comprehensive verbal briefing from the Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police and the Chief Inspector for Boston and South Holland, who attended virtually. The Chairman welcomed both officers and outlined the purpose of the session, explaining that the Committee had invited senior representatives of the Force following a period of heightened local concern regarding resources, community safety and national discussions on police reorganisation.

The Chief Constable began by setting out the strategic position of Lincolnshire Police, noting that the Force had experienced long?standing structural underfunding over many years, resulting in constrained planning horizons and reduced capacity across operational and specialist policing teams. He described how the year?to?year financial uncertainty had historically limited the ability of the organisation to invest, modernise and stabilise its workforce. The Committee was informed, however, that the recent national financial settlement represented a marked improvement and provided the most sustainable outlook the Force had seen in many years. Members were advised that the 2026/27 funding package included an uplift of almost 5% in the central police grant. A Police & Crime Panel?approved increase in the council tax precept and a three?year £12 million annual stabilisation grant, allocated specifically to address the historic funding gaps.

The Chief Constable explained that the stabilisation grant was particularly significant, as it allowed the Force to begin rebuilding officer numbers back to establishment levels, reverse previous reductions in police staff roles, and increase PCSO numbers to strengthen neighbourhood policing and community visibility. The Force was also able to re?examine specialist functions, including areas such as child protection and investigations, where capacity had been stretched.

Turning to national policy, the Chief Constable updated Members on the Government’s ongoing work on police reform. Although proposals were at a high level, he highlighted the importance of ensuring that any future changes preserved strong local accountability, community engagement and the operational autonomy necessary to respond to Lincolnshire’s unique geography and demand patterns.

The Chief Constable emphasised that the Force was working constructively with national partners while maintaining a focus on neighbourhood presence and responsiveness at the local level. The Chairman thanked both senior officers for setting out the strategic picture and invited the Committee to move into discussion.

Members engaged in detailed discussion on policing matters affecting Boston and the wider locality.

Members questioned the levels of violent crime and the perceived prevalence of weapons in the town centre. The Chief Inspector provided an evidence?based breakdown of recorded offences, which demonstrated that the number of incidents involving knives or other weapons in Boston had remained comparatively low over the past four years. Members noted that the data contrasted with some public perceptions, and the Force acknowledged the need to continue improving communication so that residents understood the true picture of local crime trends.

The Chief Constable highlighted reductions in wider violent?crime categories including violence with injury and violence without injury reflecting a broader downward trend. The Committee then discussed retail crime, with Members reporting significant concern from both major retailers and smaller independent businesses. The Chief Inspector outlined the work undertaken under targeted operations, including proactive enforcement days, enhanced evidence?gathering and multi?agency collaboration. The Committee noted that many retail offences had been committed by a small number of prolific offenders, and that coordinated action had resulted in multiple arrests and the clearance of large numbers of cases linked to those individuals.

Members were assured that neighbourhood officers, local partners and business groups would continue to be supported to respond to these issues swiftly and consistently. Concerns were raised relating to the night?time economy, including anti?social vehicle use, noise and behaviour in and around the town centre during evening hours.

The Chief Inspector outlined recent enforcement activity, including operations focused specifically on dangerous driving, vehicle modifications and antisocial use of vehicles. Members were informed that it had resulted in several vehicle seizures, the issuing of Section 59 warnings, and further targeted monitoring of known hotspots.

Members acknowledged the impact that visible enforcement had on community reassurance. They also discussed the issue of cycling within pedestrianised areas. Frequent examples of unsafe cycling in busy zones, such as Strait Bargate, were mentioned. The Chief Inspector explained the role of PCSOs in advising and challenging cyclists, commenting on the limitations of current signage and the need to consider broader public?realm measures such as clearer infrastructure or defined cycle routes to support better compliance.

Members representing rural wards emphasised that policing visibility needed to extend beyond the town centre. They highlighted the importance of PCSOs in maintaining engagement with village communities. In response, the Chief Constable reiterated that neighbourhood policing remained a core part of the Force’s operating model and that the planned uplift in PCSO numbers would support wider coverage across rural Lincolnshire.

It was noted that reassurance and local presence were essential in maintaining trust in policing. Discussions also touched upon public confidence, with Members encouraging the Force to invest further in clear, reliable communication to counter negative perceptions and highlight improvements.

The Chief Constable referred to existing initiatives, such as the Lincolnshire Alert system and the development of more targeted communication channels for specific communities. Members expressed support for enhanced collaboration with businesses, community groups and local authorities to reinforce positive messaging.

The Chairman thanked the Chief Constable and Chief Inspector for their detailed responses and for their continued willingness to engage openly with the Committee.

[The Chief Constable and Chief Inspector left the meeting at 7.45pm, following discussions.]