Agenda item

To consider a report by the Lead Member Public Realm (copy attached) to inform the Partnership Scrutiny Committee of the activity of the Joint Community Safety Partnership in 2014 – 2015.

11.00 a.m. – 11.30 a.m.

The Lead Member for Public Realm, Councillor David Smith, introduced the report (previously circulated) to inform Partnerships Scrutiny Committee of the performance and activity of the Joint Community Safety Partnership in 2014/15.

The Community Safety Partnership Manager (CSPM) detailed the report’s contents and drew Members’ attention to the main highlights, detailed in the report and its appendices, under each of the four priority areas that had been chosen for 2014/15.  The priorities being:

·       Reducing crime and the impact of crime

·       Reducing reoffending

·       Effectively tackling anti-social behaviour, and

·       Effectively tackling domestic abuse.

The CSPM advised that:

·       Whilst there had been an increase in violent crime, the numbers were quite low. 

·       The increase in sexual offences registered during this year were “new” offences rather than historical offences.  A number of the offences related to matters which had been posted on social media sites and rape allegations.  As a result, the North Wales Safer Communities Board had identified this as one of its priority areas.  The Cat’s Paw Theatre Project had also been extremely successful in highlighting inappropriate behaviour to children and young people.

·       Youth crime prevention had been an extremely positive area during 2014/15, particularly the Prevent and Deter (PAD) initiative.

·       Another area paying dividends was the rehabilitation of offenders through work, particularly where young offenders were deployed to do restorative work where they had committed their offence(s).  This type of rehabilitation required one supervisor to oversee two offenders at a time.  There were now strict procedures in place to ensure that the terms and conditions of any rehabilitation/community orders were complied with.

Discussion took place and the following responses to Members’ questions were given by the CSPM who advised that:

·       The North Wales Safer Communities Board had just started measuring incidents of telephone scams etc., and North Wales Police had established a team to deal with this type of crime.

·       Environmental crime, which was within the Council’s control through the issuing of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) had also been a successful area in the past year.

·       Incidents of alcohol related criminal damage had reduced.  It was thought that the fact that a number of licensed premises had now installed their own CCTV system had contributed to this reduction.  Also the Pubwatch scheme and the fact that there were fewer pubs and that more people now consumed alcohol at home had also contributed to the reduced number of incidents.  However, there was some concern with respect to the number of yellow cards and alcohol confiscations in the County.

·       A decision had been taken recently to appoint the Chair of the Council’s Licensing Committee on to the Conwy and Denbighshire CSP Strategic Steering Group as it was felt that the remit and work of the Licensing Committee related very closely to that of the CSP.

·       Nightclubs in Denbighshire would soon be adopting the approach which had been taken in Conwy for some time, of breathalysing people on their way into nightclubs and refusing entry to individuals which they were of the view were intoxicated.

·       They were aware of the increased problems caused by the illegal use of drugs in licensed premises and in rural areas.

·       The number of deliberate fires recorded by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service had decreased, although the number of arson incidents recorded by North Wales Police had increased.  This was probably the result of the convergence of recording supported by partnership working.

·       With respect to domestic abuse, whilst the number of incidents reported had reduced, the number of actual incidents were low, and

·       In recent years, the number of domestic violence cases which had been dealt with by the independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) had been affected due to staffing shortages or absences.  In 2014/15, Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) funding had been secured to ensure no breaks in service due to staffing problems as the Commissioner had concerns with respect to cases of domestic violence across the North Wales region.

Committee Members expressed their gratitude to the CSPM for her diligent work and commended her enthusiasm for the work of the Partnership.

RESOLVED that, subject to the above observations, to receive and endorse the Community Safety Partnership’s Annual Report for 2014/15 and its associated performance and activities.