Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire

20/08/2026

Are victims at the heart of early release decisions?

In his latest blog post the Commissioner discusses the ethics of early release from prison and managing an ever growing prison population.

Chris Nelson, Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire said: "Like many people, I have followed the debate around the Government's prison early release scheme with great interest. It is a complex issue, and I recognise the difficult position. Years of under investment in prison capacity and wider pressures within the criminal justice system have left us facing hard choices. It would be wrong to pretend there are easy answers.

"However, I do believe there should be more exemptions from early release arrangements, and there have been a number of cases highlighted by campaigners that have my support.

"Every day, police officers, firefighters, paramedics, prison officers and other frontline workers put themselves in harm's way to protect the public. When they are assaulted or in the most extreme cases killed in the course of their duties, it is not only an attack on an individual, but also an attack on the people and services that keep our communities safe.

"The case of PC Andrew Harper remains one of the most shocking and heartbreaking examples. His offenders dragged him behind a car for a mile. His family have campaigned to ensure the criminal justice system properly recognises the seriousness of crimes committed against emergency workers. Their courage and determination have my upmost respect and support.

"More broadly, I think decisions around early release need to take greater account of the impact on victims and their families. Victims often carry the consequences of crime for years, sometimes for the rest of their lives. Their voices must be heard, and their concerns considered, whenever significant decisions are made about an offender's sentence. Victims of domestic abuse are a good example of this, regardless of the offence their perpetrator has been charged with.

"That said, simply keeping more people in prison for longer cannot be the only answer. If we are serious about reducing crime and easing pressures on our prisons, we also need to get serious about rehabilitation and crime prevention. Too many people leave custody only to re-offend, creating more victims and placing even greater strain on the system. Breaking that cycle must be a national priority.

"That’s why I want to see greater investment in evidence-based rehabilitation programmes that help offenders address the causes of their offending and build positive futures. Locally, initiatives such as the Prisoners’ Building Homes programme demonstrate the value of early intervention, and practical opportunities to change behaviour. Preventing people from becoming repeat offenders is not a soft option; it is one of the most effective ways of protecting the public and reducing future demand on the criminal justice system.

Ultimately, we need a system that balances punishment, public protection, victim confidence and rehabilitation. Future reforms must put victims at the heart of decision-making while also tackling the underlying causes of re-offending, creating a safer and more effective justice system for everyone."

17/08/2026

Almost finished with our thank yous to the organisations that helped make the OPCC's My Future project such a success.

Hollie Gazzard Trust played a vital role in the programme, delivering sessions that encouraged the boys to explore important topics around masculinity, healthy relationships and respect. Their expertise and engaging approach helped create a safe space for honest conversations, challenging harmful stereotypes and promoting positive behaviours.

The Trust's contribution added real value to the project, equipping young people with the confidence and understanding to make positive choices in their lives and relationships. We are incredibly grateful for what they brought to My Future.

Our full evaluation of the programme is almost complete and the early findings are looking really promising. We're excited to share more about the project's impact and what comes next.

11/08/2026

Last week we continued our big round of thank yous to those who partnered with us on the My Future project.

Young Gloucestershire were at the heart of the programme from day one. They were there every single day, supporting the young people through every activity, building trusted relationships, and providing the consistency and commitment that made the project possible.

Quite simply, My Future would not have happened without Young Gloucestershire. Their commitment to the young people involved was exceptional, and we are incredibly grateful for everything they contributed.

Our full evaluation of the programme is almost complete and early findings are looking really promising. We're excited to share more about the project's impact and what's next.

11/08/2026

More than 60 people were arrested during the month of July as part of Gloucestershire Constabulary's annual summer anti-drink and drug driving campaign.

Of the 61 people arrested, 35 were on suspicion of drink driving, 19 on suspicion of drug driving, three on suspicion of being drunk in charge of a vehicle and four were arrested on suspicion of failing to provide a specimen.

The multi-partnership campaign was co-ordinated by Gloucestershire Constabulary, Gloucestershire County Council, Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire as part of the Road Safety Partnership.

It ran from 1 to 31 July and aimed to educate drivers on the dangers and penalties they could face by getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol and/or drugs.

The campaign, which had a particular focus on the FIFA World Cup, had an emphasis on ensuring people were enjoying matches while being aware of the penalties they could face if found to be driving after drinking alcohol or consuming drugs.

As part of the campaign, officers from the Specialist Operations, Local Policing and Neighbourhood Policing teams, along with the Special Constabulary, took part in roadside police checks and did targeted patrols.

Staff from the Force's Licensing and Harm reduction teams also took part in the operation and campaign communications and promotional materials were distributed to 103 venues across the Forest of Dean and Gloucester, including 36 venues in the Forest of Dean and 67 venues in Gloucester.

In addition to this, 22 venue visits were undertaken across both areas to support campaign delivery and raise awareness directly with businesses. The campaign was further amplified through City Safe communications in Gloucester and promotion on local council websites, helping to extend its reach.

Feedback from venues was overwhelmingly positive, with communications received in a timely manner, enabling materials to be distributed proactively.

Superintendent Jessica Loxley-Clark, from the Constabulary's Specialist Operations Unit, said: "I would like to thank every officer and member of staff who played a part in making this a successful operation and allowing us to take drink and drug drivers off the roads.

"I would also like to thank the members of the public who reported suspected drink or drug drivers to us.

"It's still disappointing that this number of motorists risked their own life and the lives and safety of others by driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

"As a result, an operation like this isn't just for the summer months. Our efforts to make the roads of Gloucestershire safe take place 24/7, 365 days a year."

Nick Evans, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner and Chair of Gloucestershire's Road Safety Partnership said: "More than 60 people arrested sends a really strong message to motorists in Gloucestershire and is a good result from our hard-working police team.

"These officers have done a great job at protecting all of us who use the road network in our county.

"It's good that we caught these people but it is disappointing that so many people choose to get behind the wheel while under the influence. We will continue to take action to arrest those who flout the law."

If you have information about anyone who is driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs, call 101 or 999 if an offence is happening at the time.

Try and provide as much information as possible, including a description of the driver, the vehicle and direction of travel.

Alternatively you can report information anonymously to the independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or online at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/

10/08/2026

Our Independent Custody Visiting (ICV) scheme has been awarded a prestigious ‘Platinum’ award!

‘Platinum’ is the highest achievement an ICV Scheme can achieve by the Independent Custody Visiting Association’s (ICVA) Quality Assurance Framework.

Independent custody visitors (ICVs) are volunteers from the community who undertake unannounced visits in pairs to our police custody suite at HQ.

Here in Gloucestershire, we have 16 of them.

After their visits, the volunteers file reports to the scheme manager who makes sure any issues are addressed.

The scheme is a critical part of the Commissioner’s work to deliver accountability to the public and maintain the integrity and transparency of the force’s custody provision.

Schemes that are assessed as Platinum status have passed a rigorous assessment process, requiring detailed evidence to be submitted against an extensive set of criteria. These are grouped into six core themes: recruitment and training, managing volunteers, communications, holding the force to account, public assurance and detainee welfare.

Annie White, the Volunteer and Scrutiny Officer, and the ICV Scheme Manager in the OPCC is responsible for recruiting, training, managing and supporting all volunteers appointed to Gloucestershire’s Independent Custody Visiting Scheme (ICVS). She reviews the reports made by the ICVs and leads in holding the police to account with any issues raised from the visits.

She said: “I am so proud of my volunteers. They have allowed us to achieve this top award. They have dedicated huge amounts of time, some of them decades, to this important work and I would like to thank them all.

“They perform their duties with professionalism and empathy.

“Anyone can end up in police custody, and everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and our volunteers help make sure detainees are treated as they should be.

“The scheme also plays a key part in both ensuring the voice of the community is heard within its police force and in the Office’s role of holding the Constabulary to account. Something our Office cares deeply about."

We're looking to recruit more ICVs in the coming months so if that sounds of interest to you keep an eye out!

04/08/2026

27/07/2026

We were very lucky to get the iconic Gloucester Rugby Foundation involved in our My Future project.

My Future was a pilot project with the aim of supporting boys aged 14–16 who had been permanently excluded from mainstream education and had some contact with the criminal justice system.

Specifically, the pilot aimed to support them in their pro-social identity development, as well as helping them to explore employment options.

The professionals at Gloucester Rugby taught them not only skills such as teamwork and communication, but also provided vital role models for the boys to look up to.

We went along to the stadium to present them with a certificate and thank them for their commitment to this project.

Evaluation work is almost complete and we'll soon be able to share more!

09/07/2026

In the PCC's latest blog he welcomes the new legislation cracking down hare coursers. Read the full blog below:

When I talk to people across our diverse county, I come away with the impression that those who live in the far ends of Gloucestershire, in our rural communities, can sometimes feel left out of policing.

That our towns and city get all the attention and investment. When in fact we are a predominantly rural county. That is why I welcome the tougher sentencing guidance for hare coursing offences that came into force on 1 June 2026.

Hare coursing, if you didn’t already know, is when criminals release dogs, typically sighthounds such as greyhounds, whippets, or crossbreeds like lurchers, to chase hares by sight rather than scent. The activity can be competitive, where dogs are judged on their ability to run, overtake, and turn a hare, rather than simply capturing it. Often these brutal activities are filmed or live streamed and people online can bet on the dogs.

It is cruel, barbaric and very much illegal, but we still see a fair amount of it taking place seasonally in our county.

Hare coursing is serious criminal behaviour that causes significant harm to our rural communities.

Too often in the past, hare coursing is dismissed simply as a rural nuisance. In reality, it damages property, harms wildlife, intimidates farmers and landowners, and is frequently linked to organised criminality and extreme violence. The impact on those living and working in our countryside can be profound.

The new framework gives courts clearer direction when sentencing offenders, taking into account both the level of harm caused and the offender’s culpability. Greater weight is now given to factors such as planning, intimidation, threats, financial motivation, damage to land and crops, and harm caused to people and animals. In the most serious cases, this can result in custodial sentences that better reflect the true impact of these offences.

The guidance properly reflects what rural communities have been telling us for years: that organised groups travel into our counties, causing damage, distress and fear, often for financial gain. It is right that courts now have a framework that recognises both the level of planning involved and the real harm caused.

These guidelines will only deliver the change our rural communities need if they are consistently understood and applied across the justice system. Everyone involved, from policing and prosecution through to the courts must be aware of the full range of powers available and confident in using them.

By combining stronger legal tools with effective enforcement and partnership working, we can better protect our Gloucestershire countryside.

06/07/2026

Last week we continued our big round of thank yous to those who partnered with us on the My Future project.

Blackbridge Community and Sports Hub not only provided top-notch facilities for the tailored interventions the young people were receiving, but also had the best attitude. A true public health approach to crime prevention!

Our full evaluation of the program is ongoing, once complete we're excited to share all about the project, and what's next.