Broxbourne Community Safety Partnership

BROXBOURNE COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP

(RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITIES GROUP)

19thApril 2012 at Borough Offices, BishopsCollege, Cheshunt

Present:

Councillor Sue Ball-Greenwood Brox. Council (Member Champion-Community Safety)

Dr Sarah CoffeyHerts Police Authority

Tony CoxBroxbourne Council (Community Safety Manager)

Gary HyltonHerts Probation Trust

Vanessa GanneyNorth East Herts Magistrates

Cty Cllr Robert GordonLeader of Herts County Council

Station Officer Paul MacDonaldHerts Fire & Rescue Service

Andy MansonHCC Services for Young People

Cllr Paul MasonLeader of Broxbourne Council

Kate MooreHCC Community Safety Unit

Chief Inspector Dave Newsome Herts Police (Broxbourne)

Mike WalkerChief Executive – Broxbourne Council (Chairman)

Action
WELCOME, Introductions and apologies for absence
Apologies were submitted on behalf of Sue Beck (NHS Hertfordshire), Jon Carney (Lee Valley Regional Park Authority) Steve Johnson - Proctor (Herts Probation Trust), Guy Pratt (HCC Community Protection), Gary Ray (County Community Safety Unit), District Commander Steve Holton (Herts Fire & Rescue Service) and Councillor Paul Seeby (Portfolioholder - Community - Borough of Broxbourne).
Notes OF meetingS of 19th JANUARY 2012 - noted
MATTERS ARISING
it was commented that due to other pressures on the Police during the summer months the proxy purchasing initiative (Minute 12 (iii)) would be delayed until the Autumn.
COMMUNITY SAFETY ACTION PLAN 2012/13
Whilst it was noted that, because of reduced resource levels, the Hertfordshire Policing Plan for 2012/13 set the Police a target of maintaining current levels of crime/ASB levels, it remained the local intention to set aspirational targets to achieve reductions of 2% in crime levels and 10% in ASB levels. It was also acknowledged that the communication mechanisms the Council was developing i.e. the Citizens Panel, would be used to track public perceptions about community safety issues. ACTION: the Community Safety Action Plan for 2012/13, as circulated, be approved. / All
REVIEW OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE BOROUGH
Dr. Coffey suggested that the overall increasing level of reports in the current year may be as a result of the police encouraging the reporting of incidents and increased promotion of the support mechanisms available. Furthermore, it was understood that the level of domestic violence in Hertfordshire was relatively low compared to national figures.
It was generally felt here needed to be closer tracking locally of ‘repeat’ victims to ensure they were receiving the necessary support.The local Joint Action Group was considered to be the appropriate vehicle for doing this. Separately it wad advised that Herts Probation Trust have a dedicated officer providing support at Isabella House for victims of domestic violence.
As there appeared to be a disproportionate level of ‘repeat’ victims living in social housing, it was suggested local social landlords needed to be reminded of the need to work with the CSP in addressing this problem. Furthermore, as the Wormley/Turnford area was highlighted as one of the ‘hotspot’ areas in the Borough, this should be ‘flagged’ for potentially seeking funding support under the Big Local Fund award made for this area. It was also considered timely to receive an update on the local impact of the County Council’s ‘Think Family’ initiative.
ACTION: that the RAG:
i)notes the analysis;
ii)refers the report to the Council’s Scrutiny Committee, the East Herts and Broxbourne Domestic Violence Forum and local social landlords for information;
iii)agrees to a communications campaign highlighting the existing support services for victims of domestic violence, at particular key hotspot periods over the coming year, including the beginning of the school summer holidays and Christmas;
iv)agrees identified repeat victims be added to the local Joint Action Group priorities list for monitoring and action;
v)this issue be highlighted for potential funding support under the Big Local Fund award in the Wormley/Turnford area; and
vi)a further report be submitted to the next meeting on the ‘Think Family’ initiative. / TC
TC/KM
TC/DN
TC
KM
ANNUAL REVIEW OF NEIGHBOURHOOD FORA
It was acknowledged these fora were the locally established means of engaging ‘face to face’ with the local community. It was also felt that with reducing resources it would be easier to sustain 5, rather than 6 forums. The Police indicated that reducing to 5 forums would also be their preference.On the proposed ‘split’, County Councillor Gordon commented that whilst on a map, the Goffs Oak/West Cheshunt area seemed logical, there was not necessarily a sense of ‘one community’ across the various wards. Furthermore, pending the result of the local elections, there could be an issue witha forum for the single ward of Waltham Cross not being politically representative of the Council. ACTION: these comments be brought to the attention of the Council when determining the way forward. / TC
POLICE REPORT
Chief Inspector Newsome advised that for 2011/12, crime was down 4.1% on last year, compared with a 6% reduction across the County. There were reductions in burglary dwelling (down 19%), motor vehicle crime (down 5.8%) and robbery (down 9%). Sanctioned detections were at 36%. Anti-social behaviour reduced by 15.4%,whilst criminal damage was down by 11%. He also reassured the CSP that he considered he would have access to adequate resources for policing both Euro 2012 and the Olympics.
On the evaluation of the impact of the part night lighting initiative on local crime/ASB levels, he highlighted that there is generally a low level of incidents between midnight and 6.00am and considered there had not been any adverse impact locally on crime/ASB levels since this initiative was introduced. However, a detailed piece of analytical work to determine whether there were any specific issues to be addressed was currently being compiled. However, he did acknowledge there had been an increase in the ‘fear of crime’ amongst local residents that the Police and CSP would need to address. Separately, Sarah Coffey indicated that the Police Authority has recently received a report which supported the Police’s comments.
AGREED that (a) the recommended priorities for the area for the next quarter be:

• Residential Burglary
• Anti-social behaviour
• Motor vehicle crime

and (b) notes the comments about the levels of crime/ASB following introduction of the part night lighting scheme and a copy of the report submitted to the Police Authority be circulated for information. / DN
TC
UPDATE ON LOCAL INITIATIVES
(i)Review of Schools Parking Campaign
The joint work to date with this campaign outlined in the report was welcomed. It was acknowledged that a variety of ‘tools’ would need to be used to impact on this issue and it was felt further work needed to look at:

• To consider physical measures to deter obstructive parking
• To encourage schools to develop School Travel Plans
• To seek to discourage car usage where it was unnecessary
• Encouraging schools to take greater responsibility in addressing this issue

ACTION: that (a) the impact to date of this campaign be noted; and (b) consideration be given to further developing the suggestions made above.
(ii)Joint XFor/Police initiative to tackle late night littering - report noted
(iii)Planning for Euro 2012 Football Championships - report noted / TC/DN
FUNDING SUPPORT FOR PARTNERSHIP IN 2012/13 AND BIDS FOR FUNDING
ACTION that (a) the position with regard to future funding be noted; (b) it is agreed to fund the following projects in 2012/2013:

• Crucial Crew 2011 (£750)
• Safer Broxbourne Calendar 2012 (£2,500)
• Broxbourne Street Pastors (£750)
• Euro 2012 (£2,000)
• Schools Parking Campaign (£4,000)
• Broxbourne Crime Prevention Panel (£500)

and (c) the proposed use of Community Safety Fund in 2012/13, as detailed in Appendix ‘A’, be approved. / All
TC
REDUCING RE-OFFENDING
(i)Hertfordshire Probation Trust - Annual Community Payback Report 2011 - In addition, it was pointed out that the Community Payback scheme was being utilised in helping to tidy up the principal route for the Olympic Torch relay and the area around the Olympic White Water Centre.
(ii)Integrated Offender Management Scheme - Annual Report - this report was awaited and would be circulated to all members once it became available.
UPDATE ON TRANSITION TO POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONERS
It was noted that Broxbourne Council had successfully bid to ‘host’ the scrutiny panel for the new Commissioner.
UPDATE ON PROJECT SOTERIA - COUNTYWIDE INITIATIVE TO COMBAT SERIOUS ASB CASES
This is scheduled to be ‘rolled out’ in the Broxbourne CSP over the next few months.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
It was advised that Herts Trading Standards hade recently carried out an initiative in the Borough to combat loan sharking and this would be the subject of a full report to the next meeting. / GP
PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL MONITORING REPORTS
The following quarterly monitoring reports are circulated with the minutes:
(i)National Indicators for Community Safety
(ii)Safer Community Monitor
DATES OF MEETING FOR 2012
Thursday 19th July 2012 and Thursday 18th October 2012
Both meetings will be held in the Committee Room at the Borough Offices commencing at 12 noon.