Monthly Column by Beds Police and Crime Commissioner John Tizard: A new year: a new resolve

When I was elected in 2024, I pledged to fulfil seven missions designed to make our county safer and fairer. I have begun to turn these missions into practical outcomes, but much remains to be done.

As we commence the new calendar year, my intention is to build on these missions, and my focus will be on:

• enhancing victims’ rights and experiences across the criminal justice system
• preventing crime through system and behavioural change including tackling the causes of crime especially the underlying structural social and economic causes – this requires action by councils – for example Luton’s 2024 Vision, the NHS, schools and government which why I am pleased that the government is ending the two child benefit cap, expanding children’s centres and school meals
• securing further improvements in police performance and improving public confidence and trust, including gaining a positive report from the HMICFRS inspection this summer whilst ensuring the police respond to the findings of the More in Common opinion poll conducted in the autumn; and securing the financial sustainability of Bedfordshire Police Service
• promoting a “Stop Hate” campaign across the county, building on the “No Place for Hate” initiative in Luton, celebrating the county’s diversity and having zero tolerance to all hate crime
• changing and improving the local police complaints system and service

Neither I alone nor the police alone can secure all these outcomes. It will require effective partnerships across the public sector and social activism in and by our communities. As PCC, I will encourage and orchestrate collaborative approaches; I plan to reform partnership governance arrangements to secure the best possible outcomes efficiently and effectively.

It will require the effective and efficient use of money and other resources. All the public sector bodies including the police face budget pressures so sharing and collaborating makes much sense.

In spite of increased government funding, the Bedfordshire Police Service has a funding gap, which is why I plan to increase the council tax for policing to the maximum allowable under government council tax capping controls whilst also lobby government for more and fairer funding. I am determined that our police service is financially sustainable and able to offer the services Bedfordshire residents and businesses need and deserve.

2026 promises to be an exciting year.