WEST LANCASHIRE COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP
HELD: 3rd May 2017 Commenced: 6.00 pm
Finished: 7.20 pm
PRESENT:
David Tilleray - WLBC (CSP Chairman)
Andrew Hill - WLBC
Cliff Owens - WLBC
Councillor Wright - WLBC
Steve Mahon - WLBC
C.I. Jill Halliwell - Lancashire Constabulary
Inspector Adrian Jolly - Lancashire Constabulary
Fay Sherrington - Edge Hill University
Bill Hancox - Edge Hill University
Matt Hamer - Lancashire Fire and Rescue
P.S. Andy Bramhall - Lancashire Constabulary
Robert Ruston - OPCC
Michele Dacre - Cumbria and Lancashire CRC
Sarah Thomas - Discover
1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
The Chairman welcomed colleagues to the meeting and introductions were made.
2. APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were received from:
Conrad Jones, Liz Hopkins, Gareth Dykes, Councillor Furey, County Councillor Fillis Eleanor Maddocks, Alan Carr, Greg Mitten
3. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING/MATTERS ARISING
The minutes of the last meeting were agreed as a true and accurate record.
4. PERFORMANCE MONITORING
The Chairman, David Tilleray, invited partner agencies to provide a verbal overview of current performance.
Sergeant Andy Bramhall provided the Partnership with an overview of police performance figures highlighting the current issues with travelling criminals and the targeting of high value properties and vehicles.
Sergeant Bramhall advised that we have recorded an increase in all crime and this trend is reflected nationally. There have also been changes to recording to crime figures which has contributed to the increase. Sergeant Bramhall stated that further changes to recording procedures have been implemented with non domestic burglaries now included in the domestic burglary category.
In response to the Chairman's question regarding the spike in recorded sexual offences, Sergeant Bramhall advised that over half are historic offences with victims having more confidence to come forward and report.
C.I. Halliwell emphasised that the current key threat is cross border crime and travelling criminals targeting properties and high value cars. C.I. Halliwell provided an overview of current tactics that are being employed to target cross border criminals including work with bordering forces.
It was agreed that the Local Priorities Group would consider any support that partner agencies could provide to the police to help deal with the current spike in cross border crime.
Sarah Thomas provided an overview of the performance information submitted by Discover. Sarah highlighted that alcohol remains the primary reason for referrals and highlighted that the service has recorded an increase in successful planned discharges.
Steve Mahon provided the Partnership with an overview of performance on behalf of the ASB Team. Steve provided a summary of the performance information contained in members meeting packs and highlighted the excellent media coverage obtained for a successful outcome for a racially aggravated nuisance offence.
Matt Hamer provided the Partnership with a brief overview of performance for LF&RS. Matt advised that incidents are considerably down, highlighting key examples including significant reductions against accidental dwelling fires. Matt stated that both changes to reporting and the format of the report will look different with an emphasis on exception reporting. Matt added that ASB fires continue to be an issue within certain wards with materials being dumped in streets. Unit managers will continue to link in with the Council and Police and provide support through the Community Action Days, organised by the community safety team.
The Chairman thanked colleagues for providing an update against their performance indicators.
5. LANCASHIRE VICTIM SERVICES
Robert Ruston provided the Partnership with an overview of the new Lancashire Victim Service. Robert advised that the service commenced on the 1st April 2017 following a commissioning process led by the OPCC. Robert continued by providing an overiew of the integrated service, advising that Lancashire Victim Services is the prime provider working with other local partners as part of the Contract process. Robert continued by providing details of the service providers.
Robert advised the Lancashire Victim Services has established a delivery model comprising of 4 multi-crime teams with West Lancashire's team based at Preston. The team incoroporates staff from all services either directly or indirectly commissioned under the Contract arrangements.
The service will aim to work with local Women's Centres and the intention is that domestic abuse and sexual advice workers will conduct either home visits or engage with victims in community based centres, if safe and applicable. Robert advised that the service will provide local delivery with no expectation that victims will have to travel outside of their local area.
Robert advised that the new service will provide a more consistant offer for victims who are graded as standard risk. The service should also offer an increased support for victims of domestic abuse. Robert added that the OPCC will be looking at how the new service can work in partnership with local partners and with local specialist providers and build on their existing strengths. Robert concluded by stating that there is no intention that the Victim Services Contract will replace current local providers.
6. GENGA PARTNERSHIP MEETING
Chief Inspector Jill Halliwell advised the Partnership that she has recently met with Cliff Owens to discuss the reestablishment of Nemesis as endorsed at the previous CSP meeting. Nemesis will be rebranded as Genga for consistency across Lancashire and the Police have begun the process of mapping local OCG's that will form a focus of the multi-agency meetings. Genga will be supported by the PAM information sharing platform.
Jill confirmed that she is working with Cliff and Catherine Hoyle to set up a multi-agency training day, prior to the launch of the new group.
7. EARLY ACTION TEAM
Sergeant Andy Bramhall provided the Partnership with an update on the developments within the local Early Action Team. Andy advised that he is now the Early Action Sergeant and the team has been strengthened and now includes a total of 10 PC's and 1 PCSO. A key aim of the team will be to reduce demand by high intensity service users. The team will also aim to identify young people who are at an early stage of moving in the wrong direction and those whose siblings have entered the criminal justice system, to help turn them away from crime.
Sergeant Bramhall continued by adding that geographically the team will have a focus in Skelmersdale but will also cover a wider geographical footprint, including covering rural areas.
Councillor Wright stated that the introduction of the Early Action Team approach is a fantastic bold move and welcomed in West Lancashire.
8. CSP FUNDING UPDATE
Andrew Hill provided the Partnership with an update against the CSP’s funding allocation for 2016/17. Andrew advised that the total allocation received for 2016/17 was £23,000 and the Partnership only had a £200 underspend. Andrew stated that a copy of the funding plan was enclosed in members meeting packs and added that 8 fantastic projects have been delivered through the funding on behalf of the Partnership.
Andrew advised that there is slightly less funding this year. Andrew confirmed that the Partnership would again be receiving an allocation from the OPCC of £10,000 and a further £5,000 was available to the Partnership from the Council to support Bright Sparx and Fresher's planning. A further £2,000 is also available from the Council's Housing section to support the delivery of Community Action and Engagement events.
9. CSP SEASONAL PRIORITIES 2017 / 18
Andrew Hill provided an overview of the Fresher's multi-agency planning process for 2017 and plans for the delivery of Community Action and Engagement Events.
Andrew advised that Welcome Sunday will take place on the 17th September 2017. Andrew added that preliminary discussions have taken place with EHU and the planning meeting will be scheduled for June 2017 with a view to replicate the successful actions from the 2016 plan. Andrew added that funding is again available through the Council to enhance police patrols in key red route areas during the Fresher's period.
Fay Sherrington advised the Partnership that Welcome Sunday will clash with the Southport Air show which will impact on the local road network. Fay continued by providing a brief overview of EHU's plans to increase accommodation for senior students with the introduction of new accommodation which has been developed to a very high standard.
Andrew advised that planning has also commenced for the roll out of 6 Community Action and Engagement Days in August 2017 and a further 6 events will be organised to support the Bright Sparx plan. Andrew added that there will be an increased focus within this year's plan on performance measures to help assist with evaluation of the events.
Cliff provided the Partnership with a brief overview of plans for this year's Bright Sparx action plan. Cliff stated that Mischief Night and the Bonfire Period continue to be identified as a local strategic priority. In response to this threat, we will develop a comprehensive multi-agency action plan.
The plan will cover 4 key elements, including education and communication,
ASB - associated with mischief night (30th Oct), community action and engagement and the Go4It Event. To reduce the risk of ASB on Mischief Night; we will be moving away from a focus on diversionary activities and instead; focus on education and communication in the run up to the 30th October. Tactics to will include education talks delivered directly to school assemblies, the pro-active use of social media, direct community action and engagement and the targeting of known offenders.
10. DOMESTIC ABUSE – DCLG FUND FOR REFUGES, SPECIALIST ACCOMMODATION BASED SUPPORT AND SERVICE REFORM
Cliff Owens provided a brief update on the successful Pan Lancashire DCLG Bid Award of £1,353,000. In 2016, The DCLG launched a £20 million domestic abuse fund for Special Accommodation based support. In response; a draft local partnership bid was developed by the Community Safety Team, the Councils Housing Strategy Manager and the Liberty Centre. However, it was sensibly proposed that rather than having 14 Lancashire bids competing against each other; we should combine all Lancashire bids together.
Cliff advised that a very ambitious Partnership bid was developed which involved all 14 local authorities, LCC and the Office of the PCC. The successful bid was awarded its full amount of £1,353,000; including a £97,000 allocation for the West Lancashire element of the bid. This funding will enable the Liberty Centre to employ a Complex Needs Support worker, a Domestic Abuse Development worker and a Family Support worker.
The Complex Needs Worker, will support victims living in the community and enable them to remain safely in their own homes, without the need to access the refuge. The Domestic Abuse Development Worker will assist victims to access training and support them into employment. While the family support worker, will enable high-level therapeutic needs within the family to be addressed, as well as reducing the risk of children becoming future victims. The successful Pan Lancashire bid also includes:
• £50,000 to house women who have no recourse to public funds - in particular from isolated/marginalised communities
• 70,000 to support victims who want to stay in their own homes with the provision of Sanctuary measures.
• £5000 will be paid directly to each Authority to support the Sanctuary objective
11. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
None.
12. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the West Lancashire CSP will be held on Wednesday the 5th July 2017 at 6.00pm in the Council Chamber, at the Main Council Office, 52 Derby Street, Ormskirk, L39 2DF
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