Agenda item

·       Chair’s report

·       Partnership Plan and questions for attendees

The committee considered the report which provided an overview of the performance of the Safer North Hampshire Strategic Community Safety Partnership.

 

The Chairman asked for Community Safety Partners who attended the meeting to introduce themselves to other members present to increase understanding.

 

Members were reminded of the Community Safety Partnership Plan 2020-23 and asked to relate their discussions and comments to the achievement of the aims set out in the plan.

 

The aims of the plan were:

 

Serious Violence (including knife/blade offences and robbery): Work with partners and the Violence Reduction Unit to understand root causes driving knife and blade incidents locally and establish a coordinated response.

 

Youth related antisocial behaviour: Identify opportunities for early intervention with young people committing antisocial behaviour to reduce number going on to commit further high harm offences.

 

Crimes with historically low levels of reporting: Offences with historically low levels of reporting should be looked at as a priority including hate crime, domestic abuse, sexual offences, child abuse and fraud. Consideration should be given to any barriers to reporting, why these exist and how to remove them.

 

Members were asked to discuss work in relation to the plan by area.

 

HAMPSHIRE CONSTABULARY - BASINGSTOKE AND DEANE

 

The District Commander for Basingstoke discussed the priorities of the Hampshire Constabulary in the Basingstoke and Deane Council area. Constabulary priorities were closely linked to the CSP plan with particular focus on youth violence, domestic abuse and drug misuse/county lines. Other priorities included hate crime, rural crime, a focus on public confidence in policing and knife/blade offences as set out in the 3-year plan.

 

The work of the Constabulary with the CSP on a gang injunction was highlighted as a success of partnership working that had resulted in greater control over the behaviour and activities of those involved. Joint working in this area had also led to wider prevention work with other agencies such as the Willow Team and St. Giles’ Trust.

 

BASINGSTOKE AND DEANE BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

The officer from Basingstoke BC reflected on the learning gained from working with CSP partners, and how the relationships had matured. Changes to the       administration of the CSP in the last year had meant that Community Safety was now managed by individual teams at each Council but continued joint working had worked well. The Covid pandemic had an impact upon processes, but they had been successfully overcome.

 

Basingstoke BC worked with partners on antisocial behaviour with data analysts helping to set priorities with partners, worked on an antisocial behaviour panel and a referral pathway for cases to be reviewed. Local panel improvements had resulted in better interventions such as acceptable behaviour contracts, community protection notices and injunctions in partnership with CSP partners.

 

Domestic abuse partnership work had increased through the reinvigorated local   forum and a domestic homicide review was ongoing.

 

HAMPSHIRE CONSTABULARY - HART AND RUSHMOOR

 

The District Commander for Hart and Rushmoor discussed the priorities of the Hampshire Constabulary in the Hart District Council and Rushmoor Borough areas, as his command covered both.

Constabulary priorities were closely linked to the CSP plan with particular focus on drug related harm and associated violence, organised rural crime, domestic abuse and improving services to victims and ‘hidden vulnerabilities’ such as hate      crimes and child exploitation. A focus on the public relationship with the police force had also been a priority.

 

‘Fortress’ meetings with key CSP partners had been conducted focusing on high harm areas with excellent information sharing that had positively impacted outcomes, and monthly tactical meetings with partners had advanced this further.

 

HART DISTRICT COUNCIL

 

The officer from Hart DC stated that strong partnership relations after splitting the community safety team into their respective Councils had seen continued cooperation working well. The monthly tactical meetings had brought in more local partners such as Neighbourhood Watch and has improved outcomes further.

 

The Vulnerabilities Operational Group (VOG) meeting chaired in collaboration with Rushmoor BC had been very positive and helped to break cycles of vulnerability in various cohorts. The schools programme was planned to restart next year with focus being on current needs, previous programmes had focused on topics such as cybercrime, rail safety, exploitation and health topics. Childrens Services led Op MET (Missing Exploited Trafficked) meetings were also being attended to pick up some linked partnership and early intervention work where identified.

 

Work on awareness raising around Safeguarding had been undertaken and work on engagement on low reported crimes in partnership with the police is ongoing.

Commissioned youth diversion work across the District has also been supported.

 

RUSHMOOR BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

The officer from Rushmoor BC discussed how consistent work across the North      Hampshire area meant that many activities in Rushmoor were consistent with those mentioned in the other areas. Although the Community Safety Team had been separated into the 3 council areas joint working continued to be successful due to the strong skills and experience carried over from the shared team and continued close working.

 

The challenges of working from home during the Covid pandemic had been successfully overcome. Challenges in Rushmoor changed during the pandemic with more ‘neighbour issues’ and cannabis related problems. A cannabis warning system was developed in partnership with the police and environmental health colleagues. Antisocial behaviour incidents were increasing as lockdown restrictions end, in parks and ‘car meet’ events, and legal options are being explored.

 

The Vulnerabilities Operational Group (VOG) had been successful and brought in new partners such as mental health and children’s services along with usual CSP partners. The importance of the monthly tactical meetings with the police were highlighted.

 

Youth provision would be an ongoing focus in Rushmoor, with a focus on improving youth work and advice in the area and a proper youth organisation being established. Work had been initiated with Aldershot Football Club to help support identified young people at risk.

 

ALDERSHOT GARRISON

 

An update would be given at the next meeting as the representative at the meeting was new in post.

 

HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE

 

The service has been supporting CSP partners in their aims, with a specific focus on early intervention. The service runs school education programmes in the areas of fire safety and road safety and is a delivery partner for The Prince’s Trust.

 

A fire cadet scheme has been set up at Rushmoor helping young people contribute more to their communities and ‘safe and well’ visits to homes continue with a focus on fire safety, health and wellbeing and home security.

 

The arson investigation team continued to work well with the police and is one of the top performing teams in the country. Targeted community safety campaigns continue to be run.

 

NORTH HAMPSHIRE CCG AND NORTH EAST HAMPSHIRE AND FARNHAM CCG

 

No representatives were present at the meeting.

 

NATIONAL PROBATION SERVICE

 

No representatives were present at the meeting.

 

Councillors asked about response rates in respect to ‘low level’ crime. Reporting of these crimes was encouraged as the data gained was vital in developing strategies to combat such offences. It was noted that officer numbers are increasing, and more time would be spent on following up in these areas in future.

 

Joint communication strategies were improving all the time and Community Safety Teams assist in areas of need and can work collaboratively with Councillors.

 

Councillors also noted the need to revisit how partnerships work after the ending of the Covid lockdown, and the importance of residents seeing the impact on the ground. Councillors were recognised as the link between the CSP and the      public.