Agenda item

To receive a report (copy enclosed) from the Community Safety Manager which details the progress made in delivering the Community Safety Partnership’s Action Plan 2011/12, and invites the Committee to comment on the Partnership’s capacity to deliver the remainder of the three year statutory plan.

 

10:15am

 

For the discussion of this item the Committee sat as the Council's designated Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the Police and Justice Act 2006 ss.19 and 20.

 

The Community Safety Partnership Manager (CSPM) presented a report which gave details of the progress made in delivering the Three Year Community Safety Action Plan during 2011/12 for the Community Safety Partnership between Denbighshire County Council and Conwy County Borough Council. The CSPM then introduced Matthew Stewart of North Wales Police who took the Committee through a detailed performance summary of the Partnership over the last year, measuring performance against the five Priority Areas which aimed to:

 

Ø                  Reduce crime and the impact on the community 

Ø                  Reduce re-offending

Ø                  Effectively tackle Anti-Social Behaviour and behaviour adversely          affecting the environment

Ø                  Reduce harm caused by alcohol and substance misuse

Ø                  Effectively tackle domestic abuse

 

Members of the Committee raised a number of questions relating to Community Safety issues which are summarised below:

 

Ø            The success of a recent pilot project which used a hard-to-let flat in      Princes Street, Rhyl as a local resource centre for Police Community             Support Officers (PCSOs) was recognised, and the Committee was   advised that similar initiatives would be introduced across North Wales           to follow on from this success.

Ø            Councillor Dewi Owens noted that since St Asaph’s PCSO had not     been able to provide the same regular presence as previously that      petty crime had increased in the town and stated that PCSOs needed     sufficient time to undertake their role. Mr Stewart confirmed that one    hundred PCSOs were currently in training and would shortly be able to         assist in supporting communities and in addressing petty crime through         a pre-emptive, problem solving approach which helps to anticipate      crime before it can take place.

Ø                  Concerns were raised that the CCTV cameras in place were not being used effectively and that persistent problems with parking infringements and alcohol related anti-social behaviour in Rhyl town centre were not being addressed. This was attributed to recent staffing reductions and unavoidable sickness absence within the CCTV team, but it was noted that the team was now close to being back to capacity. The Head of Planning and Public Protection told the Committee that the Council’s provision of CCTV was presently being reviewed in the context of a reduction in the budget for CCTV, and advised that further details would be given following the discussion of this matter by the Corporate Executive Team. The Committee agreed that the problem of alcohol related anti-social behaviour in Rhyl remained a serious issue and would require proper attention before it could be resolved. It was agreed that this issue would be referred to the Scrutiny Chairs and Vice-Chairs Group so that this could be allocated for further scrutiny.

Ø                  The increase in drug and alcohol related admissions to Glan Clwyd Hospital was observed and members were notified that measures were in place to provide a community detox programme, but that the present arrangements did not necessarily flow in to each other.

 

A number of issues were also raised which related more specifically to policing matters, and the CSPM advised that these would be passed on to the Police Implementation Group so that full responses could be provided to the Committee. The issues raised are summarised below.

 

·                    Concern that the Owl Watch initiative was not as effective as the Farm Watch scheme that had previously been in place, and that the well regarded text message service alerting residents of suspicious vehicles in their area was no longer operational.

 

·                    Councillor Bill Cowie, DCC's representative on the Police Authority/Police and Crime Panel and a former police officer, suggested the reintroduction of a previously used method whereby vehicles would be left with a card notifying the owner of any infringements, and requiring the owner to contact the police. This was said to have been a very effective way of identifying other, less conspicuous crimes/legal infringements.

 

·                    Problems of anti-social behaviour related to alcohol consumption in the area around Rhyl Town Hall exacerbated by reduced police presence and now a significant issue. The Committee asked for measures to be taken to address this problem, possibly through the implementation of an alcohol-free zone in the area or from more regular patrols.

 

·                    Concern about people drinking outside pubs on Bodfor Street from as early as 9am creating an unpleasant environment for residents and visitors.

 

·                    Continuing problem of lead thefts from church and school roofs. Greater efforts need to be made to identify where the market driving these thefts is coming from in order to get to the root of the problem.

 

Resolved that:

 

i) The Committee receives the report and notes the progress made against the Community Safety Partnership Action Plan for 2011-12;

 

ii) The areas of concern highlighted by members of the Committee are recognised by the Community Safety Partnership as areas requiring further attention to be considered for targeted action;

 

iii) An update on the Council’s capacity for CCTV provision will be communicated to the Committee following clarification at the meeting of CET on 1st October; and

 

iv) The issue of anti-social behaviour in town centres is to be raised with the Scrutiny Chairs and Vice-Chairs Group for appropriate allocation.