Agenda item

Meeting as the Crime & Disorder Committee, to receive a presentation on, and to consider:

            The performance of the Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership in 2010-11.

            The Community Safety Plan for 2011-13.

            The changes to policing affecting Bracknell Forest.

RESOLVED that the Chairman of the Thames Valley Police Authority, Mr Khan Juna,

be co-opted onto membership for this meeting.

Tim Wheadon, Chief Executive and Chair of the Community Safety Partnership, formerly the Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP), introduced Ian Boswell, Community Safety Manager, who gave a presentation on the Community Safety Partnership’s performance in 2010/2011 and the Community Safety Plan for 2011/2014.

The Committee noted:

• the overall reduction in crime by 10% in Bracknell Forest over the last 12 months;
• the graphs plotting the reduction in crime during the life of the CDRP Plan, 2008/2011 and  the various crime categories;
• the groups involved in delivering crime reduction;
• the growth of the CADIS database since its inception in 2003 and its contribution to the reduction in anti-social behaviour (ASB).

The Community Safety Plan for 2011/2014 would be launched next week.  Its key objectives were:–

• to reduce crime -  six priorities on domestic abuse, violent offences, serious sexual offences, serious acquisitive crime, damage to property and youth crime;
• to reduce ASB - three priorities on nuisance ASB, personal ASB and environmental ASB; and
• to reduce the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour - three priorities on establishing the level of fear and setting a three year target for reduction, informing the community of the levels of crime and ASB, and supporting a process of communicating with neighbourhoods.

The following points arose in members’ questions:

• There were statistics on detection rates, but the trend in reported crime figures were more significant in terms of the number of victims of crime..
• The effect of incidents in Broadmoor Hospital on the recorded crime statistics.  CI Bowden referred to the difficulty of influencing what happened in Broadmoor.
• The behind-the-scenes investigation following a burglary.  Cases were not closed until all avenues of investigation had been exhausted.  ACC Campbell advised Councillor Finnie to contact CI Bowden outside of the meeting in relation to the incident he had referred to.
• One member referred to an incident of ASB in Bracknell Town centre, expressing disappointment with the Police response. CI Bowden explained the approach taken to such incidents and the possibility of considering the implementation of Designated Public Place Orders.  Police strategy included the intention to re-invigorate the Bracknell Businesses against Crime and to ensure that response to incidents was fast and proportionate.
• ACC Campbell observed that perceptions of crime can differ from reality. Victims of crime had nevertheless reported a high rate of satisfaction with Thames Valley Police action against crime.
• Despite current economic restraints, CI Bowden had greater personnel resources.
• CCTV was being evaluated to determine the value of fixed and mobile cameras, also the impact of Automatic Number Plate Recording cameras.
• The need to reassure residents that resources would not be reduced. 
  ACC Campbell said there were no plans to divert resources from Bracknell Forest as there was no wish to punish success.  Work was being undertaken on developing the role of the Special Constable.
• Following some violent and tragic cases of ASB elsewhere in the UK, the police had introduced a robust risk assessment process for calls around ASB crime.
• The police were tasked with measures to target the priorities set by Neighbourhood Action Groups (NAGs).
• A member drew attention to the way in which percentages had been used throughout the Community Safety Plan but not always being backed by numbers, reducing their efficacy.  Concern was expressed by the member that insufficient resources were available or being utilised towards the prevention of youth crime.
• The enhancement of the Youth Offending Service to focus on dealing with problems at a young age.
• The HMI Constabulary Inspection had revealed that 30% of Out of Court Disposals were inappropriate.  CI Bowden stated that in he was careful to ensure that they were used correctly in Bracknell Forest.

·         The popular use and huge benefit of using the portable speed indication devices.  Following being caught speeding, it was the practice to send a letter to the offender but they were considered not always to have much impact.  Now a personal visit would be made to the offender by a Special Constable.

ACC Campbell spoke to the Commission about the changes to policing in the Thames Valley in response to Government funding reductions.  The changes had reduced costs generally but had ensured minimum effect on front line policing.  A tier of management had been removed and there had been collaborative work with neighbouring forces.  He stressed that the structural changes made should not be noticeable at local level.

Councillor McCracken, Vice Chairman of the Police Authority, and Executive Member for Public Protection, thanked Police partners for their work in continuing the drive to reduce crime in Bracknell Forest.  He commented that within the borough there was an issue of perception that crime was higher than it actually was.  Police visibility was an issue that came high on the list of priorities of NAGs.

The Chairman complimented the Partnership’s success in reducing crime, and thanked the Police and Police Authority representatives for attending the meeting.