This Council notes that:
1. There were 29,652 recorded crimes (April 20 – March 21, Kent Police Data November 2021).
2. There were 106 crimes per 1000 people according to the Community Safety Partnership report agreed in December 2021.
3. The Victim Based Crime Statistics highlight Medway is the fifth highest Unitary Authority area for reported crime per 1,000 people. Higher than other major urban areas like Bristol, Nottingham, Darlington, Thurrock and Brighton & Hove.
4. There were 9574 incidents between Apr 20 - Mar 21 of anti-social behaviour representing a 59% increase or 3551 additional incidents on the prior reporting period representing a significant spike in anti-social behaviour.
5. That Medway has had a relatively high level of crime for a sustained period; and that the Community Safety Partnership annual report does not provide sufficient contextual benchmarking data for Member scrutiny.
This Council also believes that:
1. That several inner urban Medway wards are amongst the highest level of reported crime in the South East region.
2. That Medway is not getting sufficient resources from the Kent Police & Crime Commissioner and this needs to become a strategic priority for Kent Police.
Therefore, this Council resolves to:
1. To ensure the next Community Safety Partnership Annual Update report includes datasets with peer-based authority comparisons; victim based crime data (per 1,000) and local authority heat map comparisons.
2. To write to the Kent PCC to request allocation of an additional 80 Police officers to Medway from April 2022 in light of additional Kent Police budget capacity, ensuring a visible deterrent to crime.
Minutes:
This Council notes that:
1. There were 29,652 recorded crimes (April 20 – March 21, Kent Police Data November 2021).
2. There were 106 crimes per 1000 people according to the Community Safety Partnership report agreed in December 2021.
3. The Victim Based Crime Statistics highlight Medway is the fifth highest Unitary Authority area for reported crime per 1,000 people. Higher than other major urban areas like Bristol, Nottingham, Darlington, Thurrock and Brighton & Hove.
4. There were 9574 incidents between Apr 20 - Mar 21 of anti-social behaviour representing a 59% increase or 3551 additional incidents on the prior reporting period representing a significant spike in anti-social behaviour.
5. That Medway has had a relatively high level of crime for a sustained period; and that the Community Safety Partnership annual report does not provide sufficient contextual benchmarking data for Member scrutiny.
This Council also believes that:
1. That several inner urban Medway wards are amongst the highest level of reported crime in the South East region.
2. That Medway is not getting sufficient resources from the Kent Police & Crime Commissioner and this needs to become a strategic priority for Kent Police.
Therefore, this Council resolves to:
1. To ensure the next Community Safety Partnership Annual Update report includes datasets with peer-based authority comparisons; victim based crime data (per 1,000) and local authority heat map comparisons.
2. To write to the Kent PCC to request allocation of an additional 80 Police officers to Medway from April 2022 in light of additional Kent Police budget capacity, ensuring a visible deterrent to crime.
The Portfolio Holder for Resources, Councillor Gulvin, supported by the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Services, Councillor Doe, proposed the following amendment (see marked changes):
This Council notes that:
This Council also believes that:
2.
That Medway is not getting sufficient resources
from the Kent Police & Crime Commissioner and this needs to
become a strategic priority for Kent Police.
2. Kent Police has recruited a record number of new police officers, with 788 being gained since 2016 with plans for an additional 185 new officers, which will benefit Medway.
Therefore, this Council resolves to:
1.
To ensure the next Community Safety Partnership
Annual Update report includes datasets with peer-based authority
comparisons; victim based crime data (per 1,000) and local
authority heat map comparisons.
2. To write to the Kent PCC to
request allocation of an additional 80 Police officers to Medway
from April 2022 in light of additional Kent Police budget capacity,
ensuring a visible deterrent to crime.
1. Write to the Kent PCC and thank him for his hard work within Medway which includes providing the Medway Taskforce, the return of town centre Officers in Gillingham, Rochester and Chatham, the Problem Solving Taskforce of PCSOs, Police Cadets, the expansion of the rural policing team, the dedicated teams investigating domestic abuse and sexual violence and the new Schools team which has led to a decrease in all reported crime by 11% for the year April 2020-March 2021.
Amended motion reads:
1. There were 29,652 recorded crimes (April 20 – March 21, Kent Police Data November 2021).
2. There were 106 crimes per 1000 people according to the Community Safety Partnership report agreed in December 2021.
3. The Victim Based Crime Statistics highlight Medway is the fifth highest Unitary Authority area for reported crime per 1,000 people. Higher than other major urban areas like Bristol, Nottingham, Darlington, Thurrock and Brighton & Hove.
4. There were 9574 incidents between Apr 20 - Mar 21 of anti-social behaviour representing a 59% increase or 3551 additional incidents on the prior reporting period representing a significant spike in anti-social behaviour.
5. That Medway has had a relatively high level of crime for a sustained period; and that the Community Safety Partnership annual report does not provide sufficient contextual benchmarking data for Member scrutiny.
This Council also believes that:
1. That several inner urban Medway wards are amongst the highest level of reported crime in the South East region.
2. Kent Police has recruited a record number of new police officers, with 788 being gained since 2016 with plans for an additional 185 new officers, which will benefit Medway.
Therefore, this Council resolves to:
1. Write to the Kent PCC and thank him for his hard work within Medway which includes providing the Medway Taskforce, the return of town centre Officers in Gillingham, Rochester and Chatham, the Problem Solving Taskforce of PCSOs, Police Cadets, the expansion of the rural policing team, the dedicated teams investigating domestic abuse and sexual violence and the new Schools team which has led to a decrease in all reported crime by 11% for the year April 2020-March 2021.
2. To invite the Kent PCC to a cross-party meeting to discuss some existing challenges with crime in Medway, especially anti-social behaviour, and get his input on how best to manage these.
Upon being put to the vote, the amendment was carried.
Decision:
This Council notes that:
1. There were 29,652 recorded crimes (April 20 – March 21, Kent Police Data November 2021).
2. There were 106 crimes per 1000 people according to the Community Safety Partnership report agreed in December 2021.
3. The Victim Based Crime Statistics highlight Medway is the fifth highest Unitary Authority area for reported crime per 1,000 people. Higher than other major urban areas like Bristol, Nottingham, Darlington, Thurrock and Brighton & Hove.
4. There were 9574 incidents between Apr 20 - Mar 21 of anti-social behaviour representing a 59% increase or 3551 additional incidents on the prior reporting period representing a significant spike in anti-social behaviour.
5. That Medway has had a relatively high level of crime for a sustained period; and that the Community Safety Partnership annual report does not provide sufficient contextual benchmarking data for Member scrutiny.
This Council also believes that:
1. That several inner urban Medway wards are amongst the highest level of reported crime in the South East region.
2. Kent Police has recruited a record number of new police officers, with 788 being gained since 2016 with plans for an additional 185 new officers, which will benefit Medway.
Therefore, this Council resolves to:
1. Write to the Kent PCC and thank him for his hard work within Medway which includes providing the Medway Taskforce, the return of town centre Officers in Gillingham, Rochester and Chatham, the Problem Solving Taskforce of PCSOs, Police Cadets, the expansion of the rural policing team, the dedicated teams investigating domestic abuse and sexual violence and the new Schools team which has led to a decrease in all reported crime by 11% for the year April 2020-March 2021.
2. To invite the Kent PCC to a cross-party meeting to discuss some existing challenges with crime in Medway, especially anti-social behaviour, and get his input on how best to manage these.