Agenda item

Report of the Democratic Services Officer.

The Committee welcomed Councillor David Ellis to discuss matters relating to his Public Protection Portfolio. David Wakelin, Director of Health and Community Wellbeing and David Jayne, Community Safety and Safeguarding Manager also attended the meeting.

 

Councillor Ellis gave a presentation that updated members on crime and antisocial behaviour levels in Nottinghamshire and which answered many of the questions that he had received in advance.

 

He explained that data taken from the  draft Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioners Annual Report for 2017-18 (published in July) indicated  overall crime levels remained constant although there had been a real increase in digital, acquisitive (burglary, shop theft, vehicle crime) and violent crime.  Levels of antisocial behaviour (ASB) had decreased and there was an ever present threat of terrorism and domestic extremism. He explained that there is no one reliable measure for crime statistics, recorded crime and the Crime Survey of England and Wales are used to draw together the data.After a steady decline in crime between 2003/4 and 2014/15 the reduction has levelled off and recorded crimes are increasing. Some of this is due to more rigorous application of reporting standards.

Drivers for crime locally include drugs and alcohol, and organised crime groups carrying out drug trafficking and modern slavery.

Recorded crime for Quarter 2 2018 / 19 shows a decrease of 152 incidents compared to the previous quarter, but an overall increase of 6.6% compared to the period April to September 2017.   However, this increase is less than South Notts. Community Partnership as a whole, which has an overall increase of 9.1% compared to the same period last year.

 

Recorded anti-social behaviour for Quarter 2 2018 / 19 shows a decrease of 19 incidents compared to the previous quarter but reflects an increase of 7.5% (74 incidents) when compared to April - September 2017 the previous year. The Community Safety Partnership have put in place, with police and community colleagues, targeted plans to address arising issues and concerns in Arnold Town Centre. Additional youth work continues to help divert young people from committing anti-social behaviour. There are increasing concerns that the changes in the operating procedures of Jigsaw and Gedling Homes may result in fewer operational staff based locally to tackle ASB cases. Cases therefore may not be dealt with as effectively has previously.

 

Recorded Crime in Gedling 6 months to September 2018 compared to September 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recorded crime in the borough, over the last 12 months, does show an increase in crimes however the increase is the lowest of the local authority areas in Nottinghamshire at 4%. There are some crime / offence types that show more significant increases in percentage terms. Robbery shows a 27.1% increase for the 12 months to September 2018 compared to the 12 months to September 2017. This is an increase of 13 offences. Sexual offences show an increase of 20.8%, 47 more offences, however, much of this continues to be reports of historical incidents, the reporting of recent and historical offences is encouraged, the same applies to the increase in hate crime reports. Although there were increases in burglary and vehicle crime offences current figures are reflecting a general downward trend in these offences.

 

The South Nottinghamshire Community Safety Partnership action plans in place focus on local resources, for burglary, vehicle crime, shop theft and violence and are reviewed by the Operational Delivery Group. Issues that arise are escalated to the Local Operations Meeting between the borough, police and other key partners, held every 2 weeks. This assists in managing the overall performance and deployment options, for example wardens and CCTV monitoring. There are also plans for awareness campaigns to tackle priority crimes, much of it seasonal, for example the festive period and darker nights with regard to vehicle crime.

 

Ward level crime statistic provided by Nottinghamshire Police locally are recorded by Beat Area rather than ward level and monthly crime statistics are provided at a borough level. The Management Information Unit at Nottinghamshire Police provide a more detailed data set on a monthly basis providing offence / crime type by ward however despite the new wards having been sent to the Police these are not reflected in the data set provided. It is not anticipated that this will change any time soon. 

 

Knife Crime is a very visible risk and something the Safer Notts. Board is taking seriously.  David Wakelin chairs the Partnership Group that is developing a strategy and action plan.First quarter of 2018/19 (April-June) Gedling was low risk in terms of possession but high risk of violent knife crime offences.

 

ASB in open space has long been a concern. CCTV is in place in key identified locations including Arnot Hill Park, King George V Park and Newstead.  The authority works closely with the Police to respond to incidents reported to put in place joint patrols in identified locations of concern. Additionally, work within schools plays an important role raising awareness of the consequences of being involved in ASB / criminality. Drugs are seen as driver of violent crime as well as other crime.

 

'County lines' is the term used to describe the situation where a group supplies drugs from an urban hub to a county location (typically a market or coastal town) within a different police force boundary.  Young and vulnerable people are often exploited by the group to carry and sell the drugs, or for their homes to be used as a base for drug dealing activity, it crosses police boundaries and requires high level police response.

 

Fly tipping prosecutions can take place if evidence can be found.  

 

There has been a significant amount of work to increase reporting of domestic abuse both in Gedling and across Nottinghamshire as a whole. The Domestic & Sexual Abuse Executive (sub group of the Safer Nottinghamshire Board, SNB) have a strategic plan that has a Gedling action plan resulting that is monitored locally by the community safety team. The picture across Nottinghamshire shows that over 40,000 adults are likely to have experienced some form of domestic violence or abuse in the last year while over 134,000 are likely to have experienced domestic abuse in their adult lifetime. The number of victims of domestic abuse (5,917) identified by the police increased by 3.4% in 2016/17, reflecting a further 5% increase in domestic abuse-related crimes and incidents recorded (16,650). This is reflected in Gedling and also reflects a rising trend nationally over the last year this has also been a result of improvements in crime recording standards, the introduction of new ‘coercive control’ offences and a likely increase in the proportion of victims coming forward to report these crimes. On average, around a third (33%) of victims presenting to the police are repeat victims.

 

Locally there are close working relations with Police agreeing priorities and sharing intelligence.  The Police response team based at Jubilee House enables the Gedling response team to be deployed more effectively.

Neighbourhood wardens have been given additional powers, including access to police radios.

 

The Pythian project has been commissioned to reduce knife crime and has held a knife crime amnesty, initiated police targeted stop and search and police officers in schools.

 

Since 2015 there has been increased CCTV, at Newstead, Calverton, King George V Park and Smithy Crescent. It is hard to demonstrate its cost effectiveness. CCTV can be used proactively for example around Arnold Carnival, when dispersal powers are in place. Research indicates CCTV is most effective in areas where it increases surveillance – for example car parks.

 

Neighbourhood Watch Groups are not directly supported by the authority or by Nottinghamshire Police, however officers regularly attend local meetings.  Neighbourhood teams are voluntary and there is a need to increase the number of watch schemes in the Carlton /Porchester area of the borough. 

 

Currently the Arnold shop watch radio system is being upgraded to increase communication between businesses and partnership organisations. This system is designed to prevent crime and enables shops to communicate with each other.  Members were concerned about other areas in the borough which were not participating in this scheme

 

Gedling is the lead for the Safer Nottinghamshire Board for Modern Slavery. One of the former Chief Executive John Robinson’s, last acts was to agree Modern Slavery Policy through Cabinet.  The authority has three roles, identification and referral of victims, support for victims, through safeguarding and housing provision, and community safety and enforcement.

 

The Borough’s and Police responsibilities overlap and there is a danger that the authority’s resources get stretched due to Police resource pressures and the higher profile of their issues. One example is that by deploying Neighbourhood Wardens to patrol Arnold to deal with knife crime issues Fixed Penalty Notices for littering have reduced.

 

Selective Licensing, out of approximately 635 properties 317 around 50% are registered with the scheme, currently work is taking place with another 50 landlords.

 

Taxi regulation there is now a cross authority protocol in place relating to plying for hire.

 

Staff is managing the programme of food premise inspections and the food hygiene rating scheme was explained.

 

The streamlined removal of fly tipping system has resulted in a reduction in number of fly tips, it is worth noting that even though City has free bulk waste collection they still have problem.

 

There have been three incidents of unlawful encampments by travellers this year. Common law powers can be used to move on but there is a need to balance the rights of community and the rights of travellers with a proportionate response

 

The Council contributes to the South Nottinghamshire Community Safety Partnership (SNCP), playing an active role at officer and political level.  Delivery is through partners at a local level. In past CSPs had access to money, however is now having to make considerably less money go further and it is important to keep agencies tied in to agenda.  It receives performance reports and is able to compare trends across South Notts.

 

Members were concerned that reductions in budget for the youth service, mental health provision, court services and the police would have a cumulative effect on levels of crime and antisocial behaviour, resulting longer term increases. 

 

Following concern from member additional information relating to domestic violence statistics was requested.  Members also agreed that they would like a 6 month update on the roll out of the shop radio scheme.

 

RESOLVED to:

 

      I.        Thank Councillor Ellis and the officers attending and providing such full answers to members

 

    II.        Request additional information relating to figures for domestic violence in Gedling

 

   III.        Request a six moth update on the roll out of the shop radios scheme

 

  IV.        Note the report; and

 

   V.        Note that Councillor Wheeler will be attending the next meeting to discuss the Health Housing and Wellbeing Portfolio.