Agenda item

This report provides information on the operation of the Community Safety Partnership from October 2018, which summarises the findings of the strategic assessment. This report also provides information on the proposed plan to cover the period from 2020 to 2024.

Discussion:

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

The Chairman of the CSP drew attention to a correction on page 22 of the Strategic Assessment (page 48 of the agenda) in that under the column ‘reducing vulnerability’ the topic of ‘domestic abuse’ had been omitted.

The Committee discussed the following topics:

·         Police and Crime Commissioner links to the CSP – In response to a question, the Chairman of the CSP explained that the aims and objectives of the Community Safety Plan were aligned with priorities identified by the Police and Crime Commissioner. He further confirmed that the Police and Crime Commissioner provided the CSP with funding each year to tackle crime, disorder, drugs and re-offending.

·         Rough sleepers – A Member praised the CSP on the work undertaken to reduce the number of rough sleepers in Medway but acknowledged that a small number of rough sleepers were causing anti-social harm to traders and the public through aggressive begging. He also referred to the potential fire risk of unattended bedding.

In response, Chief Inspector Dyball reported upon the partnership approach to dealing with rough sleepers and the work of the Blue Light Project. He confirmed that the Police were able to use powers through Community Protection Orders or Civil Orders to remove rough sleepers where it was appropriate to do so. He advised that through funding received from the Police and Crime Commissioner, 10 dedicated Town Centre Officers had been designated and 8 were already in post and another 2 were soon to take up post.  

The Chairman of the CSP informed the Committee that the Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team worked closely with the Police and that in the past year 100 rough sleepers had been re-housed off the street. However, he acknowledged that there remained a challenging cohort of individual rough sleepers with alcohol and drug addictions.

He praised the work of the Council’s Housing Team for the work that they had undertaken to help re-house rough sleepers and he referred to the Housing First Initiative which was available to provide wrap-around support and provide a programme to give rough sleepers the help and assistance that they required.

Concerning the issue of unattended bedding, Chief Inspector Dyball advised upon the powers of both the Police and the Local Authority to remove bedding but reminded the Committee that what appeared to some people to be an unsightly pile of bedding was often the sole possessions belonging to an individual.

·         Achievements – In response to a Member’s request for information as to the greatest achievements of the CSP in the past year and those which had not been successful in the past year, the Chairman of the CSP outlined a number of initiatives which he considered had been very successful, ranging from the re-housing of rough sleepers, the taskforce, work on the CCTV programme, dealing with traveller incursions and work with young people. He considered that there was more work to be undertaken in engagement with young people but commented that the Medway Task Force was actively working to reduce violent crime by reducing vulnerability and building community resilience. Then work of the Medway Task Force would be focused in key geographic areas across Medway and was currently working in Luton and Wayfield Ward.

·         Re-nationalisation of the Rehabilitation Service  - The Director of the Community Rehabilitation Company outlined those elements of the Rehabilitation Service that were being re-nationalised. She advised that Kent’s Service had received recognition that it was operating successfully and had been requested by the Ministry of Justice to take over the management of less successful Rehabilitation Services elsewhere in the country.

·         The provision of GP services -  In response to concerns about the level of GPs in Medway, the Chief Nurse from the North Kent Clinical Commissioning Group confirmed that Medway was not unique in having insufficient numbers of GPs. Once the Kent and Medway Medical School was established it was hoped that if trained locally, students would remain local.

She also advised that the CCG was actively trying to release pressure on the Emergency Department via use of Primary Care Networks and encouraging access to out of hospital care.

·         Police Statistics – In response to a question about Police statistics and levels of support staff, Chief Inspector Dyball reported upon the way in which Police statistics were compiled and confirmed that Kent Police had been rated as outstanding for its accuracy rate of crime recording.

He confirmed that there had been a significant increase in the recruitment of police officers along with support staff to support these officers.

·         Medway Task force – In response to a question concerning the locations where the Medway Task Force were operating, the Chairman of the CSP confirmed that the Task Force was currently working in the area of Luton Arches. He advised that the Task Force would consider areas of greatest need and had already undertaken work in Gillingham and planned to undertake work in Strood. He suggested that any Councillors wishing to suggest areas for the Medway Task Force undertaken work do so via the monthly Police Surgeries held at Gun Wharf.

·         Gang Culture – A Member sought information on the work being undertaken and its effectiveness in discouraging gang culture in Medway.

In response, Chief Inspector Dyball advised that a Multi-agency Board had responsibility for investigating organised crime groups and gangs. Operation Raptor was a county-wide initiative to tackle, disrupt and prevent violent crime and had dedicated resource to adress ‘county lines’. Also through the CSP, there was an opportunity to explore all safeguarding options for young people and officers would be working with partner agencies to identify young people at risk of being drawn into crime to try and help them find a better path through education and training.

He confirmed that to date, 5 groups had been investigated and 2 gangs had been successfully disrupted in Medway leading to custodial sentences.

The Chairman of the CSP drew attention to the Kent and Medway Gang Action Plan attached to the report at Appendix 4.

·         Night time economy – In response to a question, Chief Inspector Dyball confirmed that the night time economy was not considered to be a significant contributory factor affecting crime levels in Medway. He advised that the Police Licensing Team ensured that licensed premises were appropriately licensed.

·         Secure by design – In response to a question concerning Fire Authority involvement in applications for development, Mick Jackson from the Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Service advised that the Authority had a Business Safety Team which liaised and commented upon all new developments and plans.

·         Engagement events - A Member questioned whether there was merit in increased promotion of the work undertaken by the CSP. In response, the Chairman of the CSP and Chief Inspect Dyball referred to a variety of events that publicise the work of the CSP and the various agencies involved but both agreed that more work could be undertaken in promoting Medway as a safe place.

·         The impact of an increase in population – A Member asked whether the CSP priorities and objectives would change in the future having regard to the predicted increase in population of Medway. In response, the Chairman of the CSP advised that the new 4 year plan for the CSP was due to be considered in early 2020 and the basic themes would remain the same but would be adapted as years progress. He welcomed the Committee’s input when the Plan was submitted for scrutiny.

·         Flooding in Luton – In response to concerns as to recent flooding in Luton, Mick Jackson from the Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Service reported upon the work undertaken by the Authority in collecting data on flooding and he confirmed that the Fire Authority had 5 strategically placed boat stations. All staff were trained to deal with water incidents.

·         Drug use – A Member queried whether drug use was a public health or criminal issue. In response, Public Health advised that substance abuse was a public health issue and she confirmed that a multi-agency group investigated all drug related deaths. She advised that the number of drug related deaths appeared high because there was an ageing population that used drugs in Medway. She advised upon the assistance provided to drug users including health and mental wellbeing checks and ongoing support.

Decision:

The Committee:

a)            noted the findings of the strategic assessment,

b)            supported that the Community Safety Plan priorities be refreshed in the light of the strategic assessment findings.