Agenda item

The Committee to receive a performance report from the Chair of the Community Safety Partnership (CSP).

6:50pm to 7.10pm

The Executive Director for Adults, Communities and Wellbeing introduced the report to the Committee.

The Community Safety and Engagement Manager presented the report and gave an overview of current performance and trends relating to crime and disorder within the remit of West Northamptonshire Council and highlighted the following points:

·       Performance – the report separates Daventry, Towcester and Northampton reflecting how they were historically recorded

·       The statistics recorded would not reflect a normal year due to the differing trends during the national pandemic

·       Crime down across all areas albeit indicating some pressure points

·       Violence against women warranted an ‘action point’ so the activity reflects the priority given to addressing this

·       In April 2021 a statutory duty was introduced for provision of support to victims of domestic abuse

·       Local domestic abuse board – Tailoring services

·       Strategy – cross country, worked with colleagues and then development of strategy

·       Current Priorities

1.   Focused on strengthening governance

2.   Early intervention and prevention

3.   Provision of Services

4.   Minimising Harm

5.   Justice and Recovery

·       Northampton town council data collection for future to be at ward level so priorities would reflect the needs of the ward

·       Data indicated crime levels similar to other areas

·       Provision of two-way comparison would be useful. Peer reviews in future reports compare how West Northamptonshire Council compares across towns

·       WNC and Police priorities refreshed in line with community groups, community representative forums.  The information received would inform the priorities and drive activity at a local level

·       Stalking and harassment category would also include neighbourhood disputes and showed an increase correlating with the pandemic

o  Jan 2022 indicated both trends showed decline as nationally people spent less time together as they mobilise

·     Police and parish councils have a rapport through the police liaison representative

·     Public perception of work being carried out to address crime is low.  Members were invited to provide the team with ideas for improvement

The Committee considered the presentation and members raised the following points:

·       What’s WNC doing to take remedial measures regarding gun crime?

·       Has there been a lot of enforcement by police tackling issues on county lines?

·       Is there a list of community representative forums?

·       How can roads being used as rat runs be addressed?

·       Drink spiking in Brackley

·       Could reports be provided at ward or possibly parish level?

·       Community group, over lockdown reported shed crime and car crime. Police targeted the area and named and shamed culprits. 

·       Members noted that the police liaison representative in parishes wasn’t consistent throughout West Northamptonshire Council

The Executive Director for Adults, Communities and Wellbeing and the Community Safety and Engagement Manager made the following points in response

·       WNC working with:

o  neighbourhood engagement groups,

o  Action Plans in place.

o  Building relationships.

o  Active around Spring family centre,

o  work closely with children’s trust,

o  safeguarding.

o  Neighbourhood working group,

o  in schools working with children

o  series of activities working with communities

·       It’s recognised that organised crime could be taking advantage of County lines

o  Looking at interventions to be put in place for youth on the fringe of crime

o  Pre-Christmas gun related level of response from the police was significant. It had been noted that this had not been communicated well to the public.  Recognised that communication needed to improve

o  The level of knife crime remained similar or below

·       A list of community representative forums would be shared with the Committee members

·       Members were advised that a reporting tool was available

·       If reported, drink spiking would be investigated and addressed

·       It would be investigated whether that level of information was recorded and could be extracted to a report

·       Committee discussed other partners involved in the CSP such as the Police, Probation Service and the Police and Crime Commissioner and whether they should be invited to a further meeting when the Committee undertook crime and disorder scrutiny.

RESOLVED that: Crime and Disorder Scrutiny had been undertaken for 2021/2022.