Agenda item

Joint scrutiny committee is asked (a) to note the progress that the South and Vale Community Safety Partnership (CSP) made in 2022-23 in delivering its priorities and statutory functions; and

(b) to support the CSP’s view that the 2022-25 plan will deliver core priorities and statutory functions and focus on these four key priorities:

Cabinet member for Community Health and Wellbeing (Vale) introduced the paper. Also attending virtually was the South Leader, who had responsibility for Community Safety.

Also present to answer any questions was Chief Inspector Rachel Patterson from Thames Valley Police, the Licensing and Community Safety Manager, and the Community Safety Team Leader.

The purpose of this report was to update the Scrutiny Committee on the progress that the South and Vale Community Safety Partnership (CSP) was making to reduce crime and the fear of crime, focusing on the benefits it generated for residents, businesses, and partner agencies in the two districts.

CSP was formed in April 2011, bringing together the two existing district CSPs that were created in accordance with the requirements of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. This was done so that the partnership corresponded with the local police area and mirrored the shared working across the district councils. Under the umbrella of the CSP, a wide variety of local agencies work together to maintain low levels of crime and protect vulnerable people in both districts to ensure residents feel safe and stay safe.

Committee were asked to consider the performance of the CSP for 2022-23 and to comment on the four key areas of focus proposed for the CSP.

Committee were informed by officers that they had secured £201k funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner towards a rural crime project with West Oxfordshire, running until March 2025. There will be further promotion and communication about this in due course.

Comments were as follows:

• Members discussed early interventions and were informed of work going on in schools and youth groups.
• Environmental visual audits were commented on as a good way of assessing issues and could we have more of them.
• Further promotion of safe places was raised.
• Diversionary projects to deter criminality – how do we measure the effects? Officer responded that after establishing need, we will look at the impact, but it was hard to measure.
• Modern Slavery rising figures and funding – how are we responding to this and also in light of new legislative changes. Officer responded that there was a resource through County Council – there was an Anti-Slavery Co-ordinator, and we work closely on cases reported to us. This was outside the CSP expenditure. Officer also noted higher figures as people are more trusting and aware of support services, and able to come forward as a result. It was noted by Council Leader that an increase can be a good thing as a sign of crimes being reported where they weren’t before.
• Chief Crime Commissioner presentation was well received. Increased investment in Community Officers. How will the CSP monitor the delivery and effectiveness of this? Chief Inspector responded that there were Neighbourhood Officers in place to support existing neighbourhood teams. We were having an uplift of officers rather than Police and Community Support Officer (PCSO’s).
• Discussed percentages being misleading if the numbers were low.
• Under 18’s alcohol admissions to hospital. A member felt this was being diminished so questioned why the same numbers were showing on page 103 of the pack. It was explained by Chief Inspector that regular meetings were held (weekly for night-time economy) and also officer presence in Market Towns at night and working closely with Licensing officers and license holders. It was not necessarily a problem within licensed premises as it could be related to other ways of obtaining alcohol.
• Can we have heat maps of where crimes were happening and share them. Look for patterns in behaviour.

Chair asked for recommendations from members followed by a vote on the recommendation.

Committee were asked “(a) To note the progress that the South and Vale Community Safety Partnership (CSP) made in 2022-23 in delivering its priorities and statutory functions, and

(b) To support the CSP’s view that the 2022-25 plan will deliver core priorities and statutory functions and focus on these four key priorities:

• domestic abuse
• modern slavery/exploitation
• serious violence
• rural crime

Resolved:

Committee agreed to note recommendation (a) and to support recommendation (b). Committee’s main comment was that that they supported the direction of the CSP of “looking for patterns” to enable crime prevention. Committee added thanks for a very good report and for the hard work and professionalism of those involved.