Agenda item

This report provides information on the operation of the Community Safety Partnership from October 2016, which summarises the findings of the strategic assessment and provides information on the proposed plan to cover the period from 2016 to 2020.

Discussion:

 

The Chairman welcomed all the partners of the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) to the meeting.

 

The Chairman of the CSP, Councillor Gulvin, introduced the report and reminded the Committee that if Members wished to refer to specific policing issues, these should be addressed at the monthly Police surgeries held at Gun Wharf.

 

The Chairman of the CSP highlighted the following three achievements for the CSP for 2017:

 

·         The introduction of the Cumulative Impact Assessment resulting in Licensing Hearing Panels having statistical evidence to identify problem areas when considering licensing applications.

·         An engagement event held at Mid Kent College involving discussions on the issues of homelessness, rough sleeping and begging.

·         A Safety in Action event staged by students at Mid Kent College aimed at delivering sessions for older primary school children on road safety and drug and alcohol use.

 

The Committee then discussed the following topics:

 

·         Community engagement – A Member requested whether there would be an opportunity for further community engagement sessions on topics such as anti social behaviour.

 

In response, the Chairman of the CSP commented that whilst community engagement sessions were considered valuable, Police resources were stretched, therefore it was necessary to strike a balance between community engagement and tackling the problems that exist.

 

Chief Inspector Marsh gave an assurance that Community Policing was at the heart of the restructure of Kent Police and this had encouraged increased reporting of crime. He reassured the Committee that the Police had a good awareness of the issues that exist in Medway.

 

·         Mental Health – In response to questions about the possible extension of Safe Havens to other areas of Medway, the Chairman of the CSP advised upon the work undertaken by the CSP and Medway Street Pastors to introduce a multi-purpose mobile street triage service capable of delivering health, mental health, wellbeing and community services to the night time economy in Rochester. Medway Norse had donated a vehicle for use by the Street Pastors and there were proposals for the Street Pastors and other services to use the Safe Haven Bus during the day to offer simple health checks on Gillingham Market days.

The Chairman of the CSP also referred to the lack of acute mental health care in Medway and confirmed that all partners of the CSP considered it inappropriate for an individual with mental health issues to be held in a police cell if there was no other place for them to be taken.

 

Chief Inspector Marsh advised that the Police had a good record of  responding to the challenges of identifying suitable placements for individuals with mental health issues and he gave a reassurance that such individuals were a high priority for the Police.

 

He also confirmed that the Police had recently appointed a Vulnerable Intervention Officer to work with vulnerable individuals. He agreed to provide information on the name and contact telephone number of this Officer and to notify Members should the postholder change at a future date

 

Sara Vaux confirmed that the NHS Medway Clinical Commissioning Group would be evaluating the success of the street triage service and advised that people with mental health issues were now being placed more quickly since staffing issues at a local provider had improved.

 

It was confirmed that all agencies involved in the CSP had training in place for staff on Mental Health issues.

 

AeilishGeldenhuys from Public Health outlined the work of the Medway Blue Light Project which was an innovative multi agency project facilitated by the Medway Public Health Department in partnership with Alcohol Concern, to inform joint interventions aimed at adult substance misusers with complex needs and with a history of poor engagement with services. She also outlined the training provided by Public Health and confirmed that all schools would soon have staff trained in mental health issues.

 

·         Community Trigger applications- A Member sought confirmation that the statement that no Community Trigger applications had been received as at September 2017 was correct. The CSP Manager confirmed that such applications were reported via the Customer Contact mailbox at the CSP. He advised that he would check that the statement in the report was correct and notify the Member direct.

 

·         Rogue traders – A Member sought clarification on the process for the reporting of rogue traders in Chatham High Street. The Trading Standards Team Leader advised that officers routinely monitor and respond to reports of rogue traders and he confirmed that he would refer this issue on.

 

·         Medway Model – In response to a request for additional information, Sarah Vaux from the NHS Medway CCG provided a brief outline of the Medway Model. She agreed to provide the Democratic Services Officer with information on engagement events for circulation to Members of the Committee.

 

·         Anti Social Behaviour – A Member referred to the top five wards in Medway where anti social behaviour was a problem and she sought clarification as to how the CSP’s resources would be directed to alleviate problems in these Wards. In response, Chief Inspector Marsh confirmed that the Police target resources where the greatest demand was evident.

 

The Chairman of the CSP outlined the types of projects on which the CSP funding was expended and advised that the CSP did not undertake its own fundraising.

 

·         Organised crime and gangs – A Member referred to public perceptions of organised crime and gangs and commented that this did not appear to be reflected in the CSP report and she sought further information.

 

In response, Chief Inspector Marsh explained the difference between  organised crime and gangs from a Police perspective and outlined the work being undertaken to alleviate both. In particular, he referred to  work being undertaken with Youth Engagement Officers in schools and officers within the Youth Service to target individuals at risk of being drawn into gang culture.

 

AeilishGeldenhuys from Public Health advised the Committee that Medway had been proactive providing training for staff to help them identify people at risk or of being radicalised and this training was now being shared with other local authorities.

 

·         Begging – In response to a request for information on actions being taken to reduce begging on the streets of Medway, the Chairman of the CSP outlined the work undertaken by agencies to encourage individuals to change their way of life. He advised that many homeless people had alcohol and/or drug dependency and many housing providers would not agree to house such people. Whilst agencies worked to help people overcome their difficulties, unfortunately the good intentions of the public in providing beggars with money/food sometimes only served to encourage them to remain on the streets.

 

He advised that a charity was in the process of being set up with a view to providing collection boxes in High Street shops with funds collected being given to established organisations that help and support the homeless.

 

·         Engagement with the Voluntary Sector and local businesses – It was noted that the CSP was seeking to improve engagement with the voluntary sector and local businesses.

 

·         Memorandum of Understanding  - A Member referred to a recent meeting with the Chief Superintendent and Chief Inspector following which it had been agreed that a Memorandum of Understanding on how to deal with travellerswould be drawn up. It was confirmed that this had now been completed and it was agreed that this be circulated to all Members.

 

·         Involvement of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) – It was noted that the PCC was often represented at meetings of the CSP.

 

·         Setting CSP priorities -  The Chairman of the CSP outlined the process followed by the CSP in setting its priorities and suggested that if any Councillors had suggestions for future priorities, they contact him direct or email the CSP.

 

·         Issuing of parking tickets around schools –Chief Inspector Marsh agreed to provide information outside of the meeting on the likely  timescale for powers to be granted to PCSOs to issue parking tickets.

 

·         Community Payback  - Emma Vecchiolla from the Kent, Sussex and Surrey Community Rehabilitation Company (KSS CRC) agreed to provide information for circulation to Members on the Community Payback schemes that had taken place in 2017 and those projected for 2018. She advised the Committee that the KSS CRC would welcome suggestions from Ward Councillors for possible Community Payback projects. 

 

·         Statistics – The Chairman drew attention to statistics referred to on pages 35 and 42 and pages 43 and 44 of the report and sought clarification that they were correct. The Head of Safer Communities and Greenspaces agreed to check these statistics and respond to the Chairman direct.

 

·         Neighbourhood Watch  - The Head of Safer Communities and Greenspaces agreed to provide Members with literature on current scams for circulation thorough Neighbourhood Watch Groups.

 

Decisions:

 

The Committee:

 

a)            noted the findings of the strategic assessment.

b)            supported in the light of the strategic assessment findings, the Community Safety Plan priorities remaining unchanged, it being noted that the Action Plan reflects some new and emerging issues contained within the strategic assessment.

c)            noted that:

 

·         the Police have agreed to supply the name and contact number of the newly appointed Vulnerable Intervention Officer to the  Democratic Services Officer for circulation to Members and to provide subsequent updates should the postholder change at a future date.

·         the  Community Safety Partnership Manager will respond direct to the Member concerned on the number of Community Trigger applications that have been received by the CSP.

·         the  Trading Standards Team Leader will refer the issue of rogue traders in Chatham High Street .

·         the NHS Medway CCG will supply via the Democratic Services Officer, information on the Medway Model engagement events for circulation to Members.

·         a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding on Travellers will be circulated to Members.

·         the Police will supply information as to the anticipated timescale PCSOs to be provided with powers to issue parking tickets for circulation to Members.

·         the KSS CRC will provide information on the Community Payback projects undertaken over the past year and those projected for 2018 for circulation to Members.

·         the Head of Safer Communities and Greenspaces and Community Safety Partnership Manager will check the statistics contained within pages 35 and 42 and 43 and 44 of the agenda and will advise the Chairman direct if these statistics are correct.

·         the Police will provide to Members information of current scams for circulation to Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators.