County Durham and Darlington residents are being asked to get involved in a scrutiny meeting about trust and confidence in policing.
Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen is inviting members of the public to be part of the discussion as she seeks to address the reported decline in faith in the police force.
A recent survey revealed that more than half of the adult population has little confidence in the police to tackle crime effectively in their area.
This lack of trust makes it more difficult for police officers and staff to perform their duties, damaging the fundamental principle of ‘policing by consent'.
County Durham and Darlington Police and Crime Commissioner Ms Allen, who has prioritised rebuilding trust and confidence in local policing, said she will focus her next Public Accountability Meeting on this issue.
The aim is to scrutinise police performance and identify areas that need improvement.
Residents and business owners are encouraged to submit questions ahead of the meeting.
These will then be answered by the Chief Constable, Police and Crime Commissioner, or senior officers as part of the agenda.
Ms Allen said: "I cannot emphasise enough how important it is local people share their views by questioning the force.
"The issues that are important to residents and businesses are important to me and help me identify where improvements are needed.
"This is their opportunity to share their frustrations and concerns.
"This is their chance to illustrate why their trust and confidence in policing is waning, so that we can address these problems."
The next meeting, scheduled for March 4, will feature an update from the force on efforts being made to improve public trust and confidence in policing and community safety.
Ms Allen hopes that public input will help highlight areas where further change is necessary.
She added: "We are working hard to build trust and confidence in the work we do to improve public safety as this has a huge bearing on how safe people feel.
"We have made huge strides, particularly in relation to our public contact processes, but we can and will do more.
"Please make your voice count by submitting any questions or concerns you have in advance of the meeting to help us understand what we are doing well and what we could do better."
The deadline for submission of questions is February 26, 2025.
Questions can be sent to General.EnquiriesPCC@durham-pcc.gov.uk.
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