Agenda item

To provide an update to Panel members on Community Safety and its delivery at county and local level (report of the Executive Director of Place and the Portfolio Holder for Communities and Facilities enclosed).

The Portfolio Holder for Communities and Facilities and the Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Governance and Transformation will be in attendance for this item.

Consideration was given to the report of the Executive Director Place and the Portfolio Holder for Communities and Facilities, which provided an update to Panel members on community safety and its delivery at county and local level.  The Portfolio Holder for Communities and Facilities, the Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Governance and Transformation, the Community Safety and Enforcement Manager and the Communities Manager were in attendance to provide information to members.

Members considered the information and the following issues were raised:

·         The report stated that the Anti-Social Behaviour Officer had dealt with 28 new cases between April and September, and that the current case load was now 26, suggesting that only 2 cases had been completed.

o   Members were advised that although there had been early intervention in all of these cases, they were not always easy to resolve due to many complex issues.

·         Members of the public often fell victim to issues such as scams and cons – there had to be education so that people could take control in these situations.

o   Members were advised that education was key to combat this area – partners were being worked with, awareness weeks were held and certain information could be targeted.  The public needed information to safeguard themselves.

·         Members raised concerns regarding CCTV and how it was used to address anti social behaviour – the report provided a positive picture but members could not recognise this from a local viewpoint.  In their opinion the police response to antisocial behaviour was poor; the use of CCTV to survey antisocial behaviour was not sufficient.

o   Councillor Taylor commented that in some instances, there were operational issues for the police.  There were certain aspects of CCTV that could not be measured e.g. CCTV preventing crime taking place.  With regard to anti social behaviour, this should be addressed via the Police as it was an operational issue. 

·         Crime always moved and criminal activity would always move to areas where there was no CCTV.  The Police had to use resources, including CCTV, in a more intelligent way.

o   The Communities Manager advised that she would speak to the Neighbourhood Policing Team regarding this.  Members were also advised that due to antisocial behaviour in Crowland, the cameras there would be monitored more closely.  Crowd safety was also an area that needed addressing.

·         Members questioned whether CCTV in Spalding provided value for money.  How many screens were being monitored in the South Holland area?

o   The Executive Director Place responded that proactive, intelligent monitoring of CCTV cameras was required.  Officers would liaise with the monitoring centre in Boston to ascertain how they were monitored.

·         Public perception of crime was not positive.  Many victims did not report crimes as they felt it was not worth it.  The Police did not provide arrest information to Parish Councils, and this was disappointing. 

o   Members were advised that there was a shared obligation with the Police in respect of community safety.  Members’ comments could be fed back to the Police. 

·         Councillor Carter asked whether the South Holland area was getting its fair share of funding/support, particularly in relation to drug and alcohol prevention?

o   Members were advised that the Authority was getting its fair share, and that an update would be provided to the Councillor.

·         The Police were currently going into secondary schools to educate children about anti social behaviour – it was felt that this needed to be done at primary school level as problems often started there.

o   It was recognised that the Police needed to get into schools at an earlier stage, and tailor information to younger children.

·         Councillor Taylor stated that all crime should be reported as this was what crime figures were based on.  If the statistics were not correct and reflective of actual issues, resources would not be adequate.

o   Officers stated that some victims did not report crime due to fear of reprisals. Victims did not need to report directly, and support could be offered.

The Portfolio Holder Strategy, Governance and Transformation was the Authority’s representative on the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel, and advised members of the following points:

·         Scams and cyber crime – a cyber crime unit had now been set up for Lincolnshire;

·         PCSOs had been introduced to be the eyes and ears of the Police – they had a number of statutory and discretionary powers, but no enforcement powers;

·         The funding formula for the Police was an issue, and this was why it was important to report all crimes to the Police;

·         Priorities sometimes dictated which incidents the Police attended – lower level crime could not be dealt with as quickly where more serious incidents were occurring;

·         Child Sex Exploitation and Modern Slavery were now big issues in the area;

·         The CCTV  monitoring room in Boston had around 40 monitors with 2 operators.  It was an improvement on the previous arrangement as there was now more control over what could be done.  It would be useful for the Panel to visit the monitoring room.  

·         The Portfolio Holder advised that a PCC meeting would be taking place shortly which he and Councillor Newton would attend.   The meeting was a strategic meeting to challenge the Chief Constable, through the Crime Commissioner on a variety of issues.  Member were asked to contact him with any issues which could then be raised at this meeting.

The Panel requested that a further update report be provided to the Panel in six months time, taking account of the issues raised at the meeting.

AGREED:

a)    That the update provided by officers and members be noted; and

b)    That a further update report be provided to the Panel in six months time, taking account of the issues raised at the meeting.

(The Portfolio Holder Strategy, Governance and Transformation and the Community Safety and Enforcement Manager left the meeting following discussion of this item.)