Issue - meetings

The Community Safety Officer highlighted the Anti-Social Behaviour and Crime comparison data sets.  The reason the data was exempt was due to the request for information at District and individual Ward level and the specific crimes being reported; access to this information could be used to identify individuals.

Shoplifting, Motor Vehicle Theft and Arson had increased exponentially, and the Community Safety Officer noted there had also been increases in Stalking and Harassment, Rape, and Other Sexual Offences.

In answer to a question on the lack of online/digital fraud in the figures, Sergeant Whyte explained that some crimes could be classified under something else.  The Community Safety Officer added there were other departments for reporting online/digital crime like Action Fraud.

A number of Members were concerned by the Possession of Weapons Offences statistics, and the Community Safety Officer spoke about Operation Sceptre, an early intervention, education, and enforcement initiative to combat knife crime.  Sergeant Whyte added that “zombie knives” (a bladed weapon often with one serrated edge, which nationally had been increasingly linked to violent crimes and gang use) was now banned in private properties and so individuals could be charged if the offending article was found when these were searched.

Regarding the increase of reporting in Domestic Abuse offences, the Community and Safety Officer highlighted that victims were coming forward more quickly than in previous years and there was a need to ensure victims had the confidence that they would be supported throughout the entire process.

The document detailed the increases in high-risk referrals of Domestic Violence and in which areas they were being reported from.  Case studies from each area were also provided.

The work of the Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) was detailed to the Committee and the levels of support available to victims of Domestic Abuse, including the long lasting effects on child development, with the statistic that 90% of children were in the same or adjacent room where an incident of Domestic Abuse was occurring.  The Committee went on to discuss the work of the Domestic Violence Officer.

The Chair noted that Gender Violence and Abuse (GVA) was increasing nationally and asked what else the Council could do.  The Assistant Director of Housing Management and Enforcement talked about the statutory duties to provide secure accommodation for those fleeing Domestic Abuse.  The Community Safety Officer added that local knowledge was vital to protect those entering the District from other local authority areas and why the funding of doorbell cameras had been vital in identifying further offences.

Councillor Anne Clarke left the meeting.

The Community Safety and Enforcement Manager provided Committee with information on the role of the Ranger and Anti-Social Behaviour Team.

The Rangers were part of the Enforcement Team, formerly known as the Community Action Network, and had new vehicles provided to dissuade and prevent crime. Patrols were undertaken with different roles each shift.  During the day, the Rangers would focus on housing and tenancy management issues and Anti-Social Behaviour, while in the evening they  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21