Agenda item

To consider a report by the Community Safety Manager (copy attached) to inform members of the activity of the Joint Community Safety Partnership (CSP) in 2017-2018 and the Local/Regional action plan for 2018/2019.

(11.10 A.M. – 11.55 A.M.)

The Chair welcomed Sian Taylor (Community Safety Partnership Manager) to the meeting.

The Lead Member for Corporate Standards introduced the Community Safety Manager’s report and appendices (previously circulated) which presented the Committee with the Community Safety Partnership’s (CSP) Annual Update for 2017-2018.  During his introduction the Lead Member informed the Committee that the North Wales Safer Communities Board (NWSCB) was responsible for agreeing the priorities for the region and drawing up an action plan for each CSP to deliver.  The delivery of these plans was regularly monitored by the NWSCB, with the local CSP analysing its performance in delivering the plan for its area and devising local solution to local problems.

The CSP Manager advised that 2017-18 had been a challenging year financially for the CSP locally, and its performance in delivering its action plan in the Denbighshire area had been good overall.

Responding to members’ questions the Lead Member, Corporate Director:  Economy and Public Realm and the CSP Manager:

·         agreed that whilst the wording for Priority 1 for 2017-18 ‘Reduce Crime and Disorder in the Area’ seemed to outline the whole purpose of the CSP, it was important to focus on the prioritised actions identified in a bid to realise this ambition for that particular year.  Reducing crime and disorder would always be the CSP’s ambition and its ultimate aspiration;

·         advised that reducing the number of domestic violence incidents was a CSP priority, as well as a priority for the WG and the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales.  It also featured in the Council’s Corporate Plan as part of the Resilient Communities corporate priority.  It was important to bear in mind that for crimes to be investigated it was essential for them to be reported.  The success of efforts made to encourage people to report incidents of crime did have a negative impact on the statistics with the number of incidents reported being higher in a number of areas.  However, whilst this did seem perverse it did assist officers to identify patterns or trends and try to devise potential solutions to address the root of the problems and mitigate against any further increases in future;

·         advised that Barnardo’s had undertaken a lot of work in relation to educating people, particularly young people on what was and was not acceptable in a relationship, with a view to reducing domestic violence;

·         advised that the Regional Domestic Abuse Strategy was available for members to read on the Council’s website.  All Council staff had undertaken an on-line training module on domestic violence and it was hoped to roll-out this module to elected members in the new year.  Over 200 people had attended an event at Rhyl Town Hall aimed at raising awareness of domestic abuse in its various guises and how those affected could seek support and help.  All domestic abuse services were in attendance as well as the Citizen Advice Bureau (CAB).  The CSP was keen to arrange similar events in future but at present did not have the capacity to hold them on a regular basis.  One potential method for future awareness raising events may be by having a presence at conferences/events organised by partner organisations i.e. North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, North Wales Police etc.;

·         agreed to provide members with details of the statistical information which accompanied the 2017-18 annual performance report;

·         confirmed that advice had been shared with residents on how to deal with telephone scams etc. at multi-agency community engagement events held and via social media.  The Police were well aware of the problems and anxiety caused by such scams, particularly to vulnerable individuals.  Such scams also tied-up valuable Police resources;

·         acknowledged that the non-emergency Police telephone number, 101, was experiencing problems and that the Police were aware of the matter;

·         advised that a multi-agency approach was being used in a bid to reduce various types of crimes i.e. young people using bicycles irresponsibly and endangering themselves and others, reoffending, substance misuse etc.;

·         advised that the ‘county lines’ drug operations and modern day slavery were extremely complex areas which required specialist Police personnel to investigate and address.  These complex investigations were extremely time consuming.  The CSP and its partner organisations focussed their resources more on prevention work with children, young people and vulnerable groups in a bid to raise their awareness of the dangers of getting involved with illegal substances.  CSP and Safeguarding officers worked closely in a bid to protect the vulnerable from the perpetrators of these crimes, as drug-users themselves were victims of the drug dealers crimes;

·         confirmed that statements made in recent months by the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Chief Constable in relation to drug use in the area had not in any way hindered the CSP’s work;

·         advised that the CSP was actively working with local authority trading standards departments in relation to raising the public’s awareness and their responsibility to purchase quality goods with a view to reducing opportunities for individuals to exploit vulnerable people through modern day slavery practices to produce sub-standard goods at very low prices.  The poor quality of some of these goods could potentially pose a health and safety risk to the purchaser or whoever received them;

·         gave an overview of how safeguarding procedures would be instigated if concerns were drawn to a CSP partner’s attention about the safety of a vulnerable person.  Similarly if it became apparent that a looked after child (LAC) was at risk of any harm all CSP Safeguarding Leads would be alerted  and a multi-agency response would be initiated.  This would involve all relevant agencies i.e. Police, Social Services, Education, Health, Foster parents etc.;

·         acknowledged that safeguarding and protecting a child from harm was far easier during school hours than outside school hours.  Nevertheless the Council could not afford to be complacent in this area and had acknowledged the need to continually improve its safeguarding work despite budgetary pressures.  The Corporate Parenting Forum had an important role to play in safeguarding matters.  Members referred to an excellent presentation on Safeguarding given to the Corporate Parenting Forum and asked that it be shown to all members in the near future;    

·         advised that the CSP did work closely with schools in a bid to identify pupils who were at risk of getting involved in anti-social behaviour etc., with a view to providing proactive intervention work to steer them away from entering the criminal justice system;

·         confirmed that the restorative justice approach applied by the Police, courts and Youth Justice Service (YJS) had the potential to pay dividends for the individual as well as society in general; and

·         confirmed that the Police had requested a meeting with the CSP with a view to addressing the nuisance caused by individuals begging in public places.  It was anticipated that CSP agencies could focus their efforts to raise public awareness of how to respond to people begging and to support those individuals who were currently begging to access services that would help them become financially independent, whilst releasing the Police to focus on those individuals who displayed aggressive begging tendencies or were acting in a fraudulent capacity;

Members acknowledged the complexities involved with the ‘county lines’ illegal substance misuse work and the resources the Police etc. had to devote to it.  Nevertheless, they felt that it was very difficult for them to explain to residents that the drug-users who were causing a problem in the communities were themselves victims.  

At the conclusion of the discussion the Committee:

Resolved: - subject to the above observations and the provision of the requested information to receive and acknowledge the contents of the Community Safety Partnership’s performance report for 2017-18 and its Project/Partnership Activity Plan for 2018-19