Agenda item

This report provides information on the operation of the Community Safety Partnership in 2013–2014. 

Discussion:

 

In the absence of the Chairman and Vice Chairman, the Committee agreed that Councillor Mackinlay chair the meeting  and Councillor Griffin act as Vice Chairman for the consideration of this item .

 

The Chairman of the Community Partnership, Councillor Hicks introduced a report on the operation of the Community Safety Partnership for 2013 – 2014.

 

It was noted that in the absence of Chief Inspector Vaughan Lukey, Superintendent Thomas Richards was in attendance to represent Kent Police.

 

In line with the request of the Committee at its meeting on 10 April 2014, a detailed report was submitted setting out work undertaken over the past 12 months along with a copy of the Community Partnership Action Plan which set out indicators, targets and updated information under each of the five priorities in the Community Safety Partnership Plan 2013-2016 together with a look ahead to future planned activity for the following:

 

• Priority 1 – Tackle drug and alcohol abuse
• Priority 2 – Tackle anti-social behaviour and enviro-crime
• Priority 3 – Reduce re-offending
• Priority 4 – Tackle domestic abuse
• Priority 5 – Reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in road traffic collisions

 

The Committee then discussed various elements of the report and action plan including the following:

 

Family Function Therapy

 

It was confirmed that the Family Function Therapy had been available for two years and had two themes, one involved keeping young people out of care and the other to keep young people out of custody. Early indicators showed that the therapy sessions had helped to reduce re-offending and further statistics would be available within the next six months. A full review would be undertaken when the pilot project ended in March 2015.

 

The number of persons killed or seriously injured in Road Traffic Collisions

 

It was noted that there had been an unfortunate peak in 2013 in the number of persons killed or seriously injured in road traffic collisions with a 9.8% increase on 2012 data from 51 to 56 persons.

 

The representative from the Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Service briefly outlined the work that the Road Safety Team undertake in conjunction with Officers from Medway Council in staging activities in local schools aimed at educating young people in aspects of road safety.

 

He further advised that a new Road Safety Experience would be available from September 2015 at the new Fire Station in Rochester. This would  enable young people to experience the hazards of driving.

 

PCSO’s

 

Superintendent Richards advised that there were currently 38 PCSO’s operating across Medway and there was a 6.4 % vacancy rate. Two new PCSO’s would be starting in August.

 

It was confirmed that overall, PCSO’s had 20 standard powers and 22 discretionary powers that could be grated to PCSO’s at the discretion of the Chief Constable. In Kent, 10 out of 22 discretionary powers had been granted to PCSO’s. A paper was currently with the Chief Constable for consideration to be given to the remaining 12 discretionary powers. If the powers of the PCSO’s were to be increased in the future, Superintendent Richards would communicate this to the Council.

 

In response to a request for PCSO’s to be granted powers to issue parking tickets to vehicles parked on pavements, Superintendent Richards advised that this was not a power that could be granted to PCSO’s in a Non-Metropolitan Police Force. A Member expressed concern that this information had not been provided in the past when this issue had been raised. Superintendent Richards reassured the Committee that he understood that this was an issue of significant concern to Members and agreed to investigate other possible action either via the PCSO’s or other policing resources.

 

April 2013 – March 2014 statistics

 

It was noted that the Police had recently introduced a different crime recording mechanism and that this had contributed to a small increase in recorded crime. Superintendent Richards advised that some categories of crime were affected by outside influences and reducing crime was the only target set for the Police by the Home Office.

 

Referring to level of increase in the statistics for Violence Against the Person, it was confirmed that this was of concern for both the Community Safety Partnership and Kent Police. As a result, significant resources had been directed towards this area and a number of activities were currently being pursued in an attempt to reduce this criminal activity. This included a Peer Group Review at the College of Policing to assess whether there were best practice examples from which lessons could be learnt.

 

A Member referred to the statistics for ‘Burglary from Dwellings’ and drew attention to the increased figures over the past two years. He suggested that in the light of these increases, the Community Safety Partnership may wish to consider this area a priority in 2014 – 2015.

 

Tackling Substance Abuse

 

In response to a Member’s concern regarding treatment for alcohol abusers, Dr Alison Barnett - Director for Public Health, confirmed that funding for treatment had focussed on drug use but confirmed that the new service would cover both alcohol and drug users.

 

She advised that Alcohol Identification and Brief Advice (IBA) was evidence based intervention which was low cost and effective and aimed to treat people and change drinking habits. She advised that a member of Turning Point would be happy to attend an appropriate meeting of the Council to discuss the service once it was up and running, if this was required.

 

Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC)

 

Superintendent Richards confirmed that MARAC’s were very successful in managing domestic abuse issues and in the light of their success they may be expanded for use in medium risk cases in addition to high risk cases.

 

The Assistant Director – Front Line Services confirmed that domestic abuse was not just a Police matter and required partnership working. He confirmed that domestic abuse was now receiving a higher level of support than previously and there would be increased work on signposting access to services for medium and lower visible groups. A Co-ordinator was now in place to work with partnerships and to put projects in place.

 

Sexual Offences

 

Concern was expressed at the increased level of sexual offences in the past year. This had been almost a 50% increase above previous years.

 

Superintendent Richards confirmed that all Police Forces had experienced an increase in the recording of sexual offences and it was considered that this had been a direct result of the national publicity surrounding police investigations into various individuals/celebrities. Therefore, the data related to historical reporting of sexual offences rather than current cases. Superintendent Richards advised that if required he could obtain specific statistics and supply them outside of the meeting. 

 

On a positive note, the increased number of reported sexual offences indicated success in getting across the message that sexual offences should be reported.

 

Identity Crime

 

A member referred to an emerging issue in Gillingham involving persons sorting through refuse, possibly seeking information that could be used for the purposes of identity fraud.

 

The Assistant Director- Front Line Services confirmed that this issue was Medway wide and also experienced by local authorities across the United Kingdom

 

He referred to a recent operation carried out jointly with the Police following which two groups of individuals had been challenged. Both related to individuals searching for scrap metal in rubbish rather than obtaining data.

 

Community Payback

 

It was suggested that if any Member knew of any projects that would be suitable for the Community Payback Scheme, they advise either Tim England – Head of Safer Communities or Neil Howlett – Community Safety Partnership Manager.

 

Decision:

 

a)                 The representatives of the Community Safety Partnership be thanked for attending the meeting to report on the work of the Community Safety Partnership for 2013 – 2014.

b)                 The Assistant Director – Front Line Services be requested to discuss with the partners of the Community Safety Partnership the issue of pavement parking.

c)                  It be noted that the Chief Constable is currently reviewing powers granted to PCSOs and that Superintendent Richards will provide an update on the full range of PCSO powers in the near future.

d)         It be agreed that the annual scrutiny of the Community Safety Partnership should take place at the same time that the Committee considers the findings of the Strategic Assessment and Action Plan, noting that the effect in 2014 will be the scrutiny of the Community Safety Partnership in December 2014.