Community Safety Partnership (CSP)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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What is a CSP?
It is a statutory, multi-agency partnership of the local authority, police, probation service, health service, fire service and others to put together a plan to reduce crime and disorder in their area. There are 13 CSPs within the Thames Valley.
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What does the CSP do?
Its primary function is to consult with the community and examine all available data and evidence to provide the basis for a strategic 3-year plan to make the community safer by reducing crime and disorder. The CSP is not responsible for other types of safety such as road safety or health and safety. The CSP meets at least four times a year to monitor the delivery of the plan but much work goes on in the background to ensure delivery.
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Is the CSP only strategic? What operational work does it do?
The CSP is pivotal in bringing together members of the following groups to ensure delivery of the CSP plan. Some attendees are permanent while others attend on a case-by-case basis:
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Does the CSP link in with other strategic partnerships?
This is important as some types of crime and disorder are relevant to other partnership’s priorities e.g. Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Exploitation and Serious Violence.
The CSP has joint working arrangements with the Bracknell Forest Safeguarding Board, the Children and Young People’s Partnership, the Health and Wellbeing Board and the Corporate Parenting Advocacy Panel.
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Which partners form the CSP?
Statutory Partners (as per the Crime and Disorder Act 1998) comprise:
· Police · Local Authority · Fire Service · HM Prison and Probation Service · Health (Public Health and Clinical Commissioning Groups)
Other partner stakeholders include but are not limited to the following:
· Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner (OPCC) · Voluntary Services (Involve) · Business and Retail Sector · Elected Members (Borough and Town and Parish)
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What are the CSP’s current priorities and where can I find them? When are they reviewed?
The current priorities for 2020-23 are as follows:
· Tackle exploitation of children, young people and vulnerable adults · Reduce incidents of serious violence, sexual offences, and knife crime · Work with communities to deal with crime and anti-social behaviour hotspots (including drug related crime) · Reduce harm caused by domestic abuse · Reduce incidents of residential burglary and theft from vehicles
These priorities are reviewed annually in line with statutory requirements.
The CSP Partnership Plan for 2020-2023 can be found on the BFC website at:
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How does the CSP decide on the priorities? How do I have a say on what the priorities should be?
Priorities are agreed by the CSP following extensive consultation and analysis looking at both quantitative and qualitative data. Consultation is conducted in the community and with partners and stakeholders. Public consultations are advertised widely locally. To find out when the next consultation is due to be held, please contact community.safety@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
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How is the CSP held to account?
Once a year, a committee of elected Councillors known as the Overview and Scrutiny Commission meets in a specific capacity as the “Crime and Disorder Committee.” In this meeting, the CSP partners are held to account on their performance against the plan. This is a meeting that is open for the public to attend and is subject to the Council’s scheme of public participation.
To find out when the next Crime and Disorder Committee is due to take place, please contact community.safety@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
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Is the CSP responsible for recording crimes?
No – that is the job of the police. All the members of the CSP will still work within their specialised areas of work but come together as the CSP to identify those areas where they can work more effectively in partnership with each other.
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Is the CSP the same as the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC)? What is the difference?
No - the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) is an elected post with responsibility to oversee the running of the police force for an area. The PCC will have their own plan for the Thames Valley area. They appoint the Thames Valley Chief Constable and allocate the budget for the running of the force. The PCC does also grant some funding to support the 13 CSPs within the Thames Valley. The 2021-25 PCC Plan can be found at: https://www.thamesvalley-pcc.gov.uk/police-and-crime-plan/priorities/
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Does the CSP control partner resources?
The partners of the CSP control their own resources but there is some pooling of funding where necessary to ensure delivery of the 3-year plan.
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Is the Bracknell Forest CSP the same as the Bracknell Forest Council Community Safety Team?
No – the Community Safety Team is a small team within Bracknell Forest Council responsible for organising and supporting the CSP and for leading on the delivery of some of the partnership work within the CSP Plan. Examples are:
· Partnership-problem solving of complex and challenging crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) issues · Working with partners to keep fear of crime low · Managing offenders and those leaving prison · Working with the town centre management on crime impacting businesses and retailers · Delivering the government’s Prevent agenda · Working in partnership to reduce ASB · Working with partners to reduce domestic abuse
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Does the Bracknell Forest Community Safety Team lead on ASB?
ASB covers a wide range of behaviours and types of disorder. The responsibility for tackling ASB depends on the specific nature and circumstances of the concern and may fall to other organisations or services to lead on due to having the legislative powers, specialist knowledge and dedicated teams to tackle it.
BFC Community Safety are responsible for responding to ASB that occurs in privately-owned properties. In line with government-recommended approaches, we have adopted a harm-centred approach and look at the behaviour type, the impact that the behaviour is having and identify risk factors. This helps us to prioritise the most serious cases and target resources most effectively.
We have also included some examples below where another lead agency would be responsible.
Not all incidents are classed as ASB and there is often a fine line between ASB and neighbour disputes as well as ASB and crime.
Further information on the different types of ASB and the most appropriate lead agency can be found at www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/crime-and-emergencies/crime-and-community-safety/antisocial-behaviour
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