The Community Safety Partnership annual report
was introduced by Cabinet member Councillor David Rouane.
Also present were officers Liz Hayden, Head of
Service for Housing and Environment, Diane Foster, Community Safety
and Licensing Service Manager, Karen Brown, Team Leader for
Community Safety, and Chief Inspector Matthew Bullivant was present
to answer any police-related questions.
The committee were asked to;
(a) To note the
progress that the South and Vale Community Safety Partnership (CSP)
made in 2019/20 in delivering its priorities and statutory
functions
(b) To support the CSP’s view that the
2020/21 plan will continue to deliver core priorities and statutory
functions and focus on these three key priorities:
- tackling domestic violence and
abuse, including early intervention to reduce harm and improving
services for victims;
- working with vulnerable people and
children to reduce the likelihood of being exploited;
- reducing knife crime and harm and
vulnerability caused by drugs and alcohol.
A typo was noted on paragraph 10 –
paragraph 33 in the table should read 38.
Councillors noted that the work of the CSP is
an unsung area of council work and this report notes the progress
in 2019-20.
It was confirmed that there are 3 separate
ways for the public to report crime:
- Crimestoppers, which is anonymous
- The Police
- Community Safety Partnership –
anonymous – officers noted this is not a 24/7 service and
therefore if a member of public feels they are facing danger they
should call the police.
- The committee were informed that the
three priorities were signed off before lockdown and data analysis
supports that they are still appropriate.
- Regarding the potential increase of
sanctuary scheme referrals, we have to wait to see any pattern of
referrals as a result of lockdown.
- Councillors asked about having
modern slavery awareness training for Councillors.
- Safe places - raising awareness
– is newsletters best? Potentially through social media.
There will be a map of ‘safe places’
- It was confirmed that Guard Cams are
in place longer now due to lockdown.
- SCR paragraph 24 – target
hardening is security for a home, situational harm reduction
– lighting, fire-proof letter box etc.
- Safe spaces data on usage is held by
the organisations running the space. Want to spread spaces out into
rural areas to reach more communities. Training is given to
organisations on how to support. Officers confirmed they are always
looking for new spaces.
- We are first responders in modern
slavery cases. Three were identified last year.
- Discussion was had regarding public
space protection orders (PSPO’s) – Thame has been
successful in using these to deter drinking alcohol in public
spaces that can lead to anti-social behaviour.
- Councillors asked if awareness
raising was an effective measure to reduce domestic abuse. Officers
explained behaviour change is hard to measure, however raising
awareness improves reporting and understanding of
issues. The desired outcome is a drop
in crime rates due to priorities being in place.
- How do we reach more people –
example, plays being held, small workshops at Abingdon college
– how do we reach a wider audience? More is happening and
there is work going on with other organisations- e.g. Didcot Girls
School.
- There is an action plan for each of
the 3 priorities progress will be reviewed at the quarterly CSP
meetings.
Cabinet member, officers and Chief Inspector
Bullivant were thanked for their work, and the committee supported
the two recommendations.