Agenda item

Meeting as the Crime and Disorder Committee, to receive presentations on, and to consider: the performance of the Community Safety Partnership in 2017-18; and the priorities in the Community Safety Plan for 2018-19.

Timothy Wheadon, Chairman of Community Safety Partnership and Alison O’Meara, Head of Community Safety’s presentation attached.

Superintendent Shaun Virtue, Local Police Commander Bracknell & Wokingham will cover in particular:

•         Setting out the Policing Picture

•         Local Crime Overview

•         Safeguarding & Vulnerable People

•         Demand on services

•         Commitment to productive partnership working

•         Police Resourcing overview

The Chairman welcomed representatives of the Community Safety Partnership, Thames Valley Police (TVP) and officers from the Community Safety team to the meeting of the Commission, in its capacity as the Crime and Disorder Committee.

Timothy Wheadon, Chairman of the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) attended with Alison O’Meara, Head of Community Safety who gave a presentation to the Committee on the Bracknell Forest Community Safety Partnership’s (CSP) performance during 2017/18, and plans for 2018/19. Superintendent Shaun Virtue, the Local Police Area Commander of Thames Valley Police was present at the meeting for this item.

The Head of Community Safety advised that the CSP has been performing well in a national climate of rising crime. The key headlines arising from the presentation were:

·         Bracknell Forest was the only CSP area to show a reduction in victim-based crime e.g. 1% with increases across the Thames Valley of 8%.

·         When compared to similar demographic groupings Bracknell Forest had the lowest crime figure for 2017/18. 

·         There had been a national rise in violent crime which was a key priority and this was the case for the Thames Valley, Berkshire and Bracknell Forest.  These increases in violence also reflected the changes in how crimes were now being recorded.

·         The work undertaken within the Lexicon e.g. effective policing, patrols by Lexicon security teams as well as the impact of people no longer congregating in Jubilee Gardens had had a positive effect in the CSP’s performance against alcohol-related anti-social behaviour in Public Space Protection Order (PSPO).

·         Although shoplifting figures showed a 16% reduction, the CSP was aware that not all incidents were being reported.

·         Criminal damage within the Town Centre had seen a 25% reduction despite the significant increase in footfall within the town.

·         In relation to Public Order crimes reported in the Town Centre, these had increased from 21 to 39 in 2017/18. However, although this was an 86% increase, this needed to be considered within the context of the number of visitors and that the majority of incidents related to breaches to an order for one individual.

·         The multi-agency approach to problem-solving had led to closure orders for both drug and exploitation-related crimes.

·         The increased reporting rate of domestic abuse was still interpreted as a positive outcome and the CSP was focusing on reducing repeat offences.

·         The graph illustrating ‘All Crime’ since March 2003 showed that Bracknell Forest CSP’s low figures had held steady since 2013 while all other CSPs in England and Wales has increased considerably.

·         The CSP was very proud to deliver some of the lowest crime reported nationally despite widespread pressures.

·         Two case studies were provided which explained the CSPs problem solving intervention and the positive impacts on specific anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse.

·         New priorities for the CSP included modern slavery to reflect recent legislation as well as Local Government Association recommendations that all areas need to respond to this crime type as a growing, hidden issue, and drug lines (County Lines) which would respond to national concerns around exploitation of young and vulnerable people in dealing drugs.

·         The areas of focus for 2018/19 would be:

o   County lines exploitation

o   Homeless offenders who exploit

o   Offender management

o   Modern Slavery Task and Finish Strategic Group

o   Shoplifting reporting: promoting and facilitating reporting incidents

·         Domestic Abuse repeat rate: looking to understand issues and respond

·         Although management across partners had changed over the years, the strong culture of partnership-working continued to remain particularly strong within Bracknell Forest and there was also a high level of expertise, skills and experience within the team.

Arsing from the Members’ comments and questions, the following points were made:

·         15 – 20 people attend the CSP but the other people were invited dependent upon the agenda content.

·         Victim-based-crime identified a victim and would exclude fraud where there was no identified victim.

·         All CSPs have experienced an increase in crime and therefore it is anticipated that at some point Bracknell Forest’s will increase.

·         The significant change was in 2006/7 when the problem-solving approach to target hotspots and specific issues was introduced.

·         Shoplifting within the Lexicon was being identified through stock takes rather than detection of incidents and therefore not reported but the shops would need to manage the detection element themselves.

·         The licensed establishments were reported as having taken responsibility for managing issues.

·         It was reiterated that in relation to ‘Public Order ‘crimes reported in the Town Centre, the increase from 21 to 39 was within the context of over ten million visitors from opening to April 2018.

·         Legislation in 2015 on modern slavery included a duty on local authorities to help identify potential victims which were followed up by Local Government Association guidance on the responsibilities.

·         It was re-iterated that Bracknell Forest CSP benefitted from a really good embedded culture of partnership working, as well as the established problem-solving model and a dedicated team which co-ordinated all the work described.

The Chairman, on behalf of the Commission, thanked all of the officers in the Community Safety team for their hard work as members appreciated the impact they were having and asked that their thanks be conveyed to those of the team who were not present..

Superintendent Shaun Virtue, the Local Police Area Commander of Thames Valley Police updated the Commission on 2017/18 from a policing perspective:

·         There was a real positive attitude within Bracknell Forest and that was driven by Alison O’Meara but was throughout the team.

·         The police were now the last resort for enforcement interventions.

·         Changes had been observed in the nature of crime as door knocking and taking advantage of vulnerable people was increasing.

·         There was an increased public expectation that the police would be more visible and therefore they were working on reassurance protocols.

·         There had been a reduction in 400 officers across the Thames Valley.

·         The 20% increase in 999 calls which had previously been identified as a spike was now business as usual.

·         Thames Valley was still committed to Neighbourhood Policing including the provision of PCSOs.

·         Traveller encampment issues were managed by local standards together with Thames Valley protocol with landowners having primary responsibility but police would help disrupt activity. He commended Bracknell Forest’s proactive approach.

·         Bracknell Forest had the highest take up with the Thames Valley Alert App.

·         Use of technology such as provision of laptops to officers was proving successful as it allowed them to input statements and update information quickly.

·         Bracknell Forest was affected by national organised crime waves such as the recent spate of construction vehicle thefts from hotels to steal the power tools being stored inside.

·         In addition there were crime issues associated with the movement of drugs across county lines.

As a result of the Members’ questions, the following points were made:

·         Loss of 400 officers equated to 10% of the force.

·         The initial increase in 999 calls related to terrorist attacks but recently callers were contacting all three emergency services for much lower level incidents than before.

·         Since the Overview and Scrutiny Child Sexual Exploitation Task and Finish Group, the force had become more astute at identifying risks and therefore intervention was quicker and the Sexual Exploitation and Missing Risk. Assessment Conference (SEMRAC) had been in operation to undertake risk assessments and identify actions. There is also a strategic Exploitation Group to steer the programme of work.

·         The main frustration identified was having sufficient resources to respond to the peaks and troughs of demand, not always being able to respond as quickly as officers would like and having more intelligence resource allocation.

The Chairman thanked all those who had contributed to the item for attending the meeting.