RETURNING after the Easter break, there's a definite feeling of a new era beginning, both in my office and throughout Humberside Police.
We have bid a fond farewell to our Chief Constable Tim Hollis, and welcome his successor Justine Curran into the role.
Justine and I share the same commitment to deliver the best police service possible to our communities, with less crime and fewer victims. I look forward to working with her.
To be successful, we need a plan, and this week we have published our Police and Crime Plan, which sets out what we are trying to achieve to make our communities safer.
The plan isn't just about setting priorities for the police, but about involving our partners in community safety and the public.
I've spent the last three months listening to as many people and organisations as possible to come up with a strategy which will reduce crime through partnerships and teamwork.
Of course, there is some fantastic work going on already, but it's time to move to the next level.
At the end of this month I'll be holding the first of a number of "summits" with the police and key decision makers across our region, where we will get together around the table and discuss how we will work together to tackle different areas of crime, beginning with violent crime.
The summits will involve senior police officers and specialists from community safety partnerships, the justice system, youth, drugs and alcohol services.
I hope we will all come away with a renewed determination to work even closer together and share our resources to reduce crime.
As members of the public, you also have a huge part to play, the more the public are willing to stand up and play a part, the greater the likelihood of our communities being safer.
For example, being involved with a community group such as Neighbourhood Watch, Farm Watch or becoming a special constable or volunteer, you can help.
In the last few weeks I have visited many of our Neighbourhood Policing Teams, and seen and heard some fantastic examples of how communities are working with their local police constables and PCSOs.
Do you know your local neighbourhood officer? Next time you see them, stop and have a chat, they are part of your community and I am so impressed and proud of the work they do.
I'm committed to giving our Neighbourhood Policing Teams what they need to do their job even more effectively, and over the coming year they will receive new mobile technology, freeing them up to spend less time in police stations and more time in their communities preventing crime and identifying and apprehending criminals.
So, we have a plan, now we must deliver it, and the bigger our team the more chance we have of winning.
Visit Matthew Grove's website www.humberside-pcc.gov.uk where you can read his Police and Crime Plan.
You can contact Matthew at pcc@humberside.pnn.police.uk or write to him at: The Police and Crime Commissioner, Pacific Exchange, 40 High Street, Hull HU1 1PS
