Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Newton, Caroline Birkett, Amanda Dellar, Mark Landy, Gareth Morgan and HAVCO.

The Borough Police Commander, Victor Olisa, was due to chair the meeting but was unable to attend at short notice due to an emergency. The Co-Chair, Cllr Vanier, chaired the meeting in his absence.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 19 March as a correct record.

RESOLVED

·         That the minutes of the Community Safety Partnership meeting on 19 March be agreed as an accurate record.

It was updated that Tony Hartley and John Dickson had been appointed respectively as Chair and Vice Chair of the Safer Neighbourhood Board.

In line with it being the first meeting of the new 2015/16 municipal year, the Board considered a report updating the terms of reference of the Community Safety Partnership. Minor amendments had been made to the membership and in reflecting a renewed focus on the violence against women and girls work stream.

It was noted that going forward Craig Carter would be the London Fire Brigade representative for the Board as the new Borough Commander and that Eubert Malcolm’s job title required updating to Head of Community Safety and Regulatory Services.

RESOLVED

·         That the Community Safety Partnership terms of reference for 2015/16 be approved.

The Board received a report on year end performance for 2014/15 against key indicators by exception and an update on partnership funding for 2015-16.

Performance highlights

·         Overall, an improvement in performance had been seen across 80% of key targets.

·         Performance against the four year MOPAC crime reduction target of 20% against the 2011/12 baseline was on track at year end.

·         Two areas of ongoing pressure remained violence with injury and personal robbery which were both exceeding London and Most Similar Group averages. Burglary had seen a slight reduction towards year end but had not matched the significant drop seen at a pan London level. Sexual offences, domestic violence and serious youth violence were also at high levels. 

Partnership finances

·         At year end, full spend had been achieved across all main partnership grants. The Chair extended praise for this, an accomplishment not achieved by all London boroughs.

·         The Board were asked to note that MOPAC funding would cease in 2017 and be replaced with an annually negotiated Home Office grant.

·         Haringey had been invited to bid against a Victim Fund established using underspent grant from other boroughs. 

An brief overview was provided of Youth Offending Service performance data from the last period. Performance against three national indicators remained good including significant reductions to the number of first time entrants and reoffending rates. The underpinning reasons for this performance improvement had yet to be established. The Board recognised that performance in this area had been of particular concern to the Partnership over recent years and that the considerable performance improvement observed was a good news story which needed to be promoted subject to the drafting of a clear narrative. A risk highlighted in this area going forward was the projected future increase in young people living in the east of the borough and therefore the associated importance of early intervention activity.

RESOLVED

·         That the report be noted. 

The Board considered a draft copy of the Community Safety Strategic Assessment for the 2014/15 period to allow the data analysis of trends and identification of priority areas for future focus.

·         It was advised that the Public Attitude Survey results for Haringey had identified a number of issues that were out of kilter with the rest of London including worsening perceptions around gang problems and gun crime etc. These issues would be reflected in next years work programme.

·         Crime in the borough was showing general increase. This was at variance with youth offending which continued to decrease.

·         The Board emphasised the importance of closer partnership working as part of the preventative agenda prior to offenders entering the youth offending system. The Chair requested that a report be submitted to a future CSP meeting for discussion looking at data around school exclusions including numbers, outcomes, ethnic breakdown, turnaround into education etc.

·         A note of caution was expressed in relation to gang crime reporting figures owing to the difficulties experienced by the Police in flagging offences in this area.

·         It was agreed that further exploration was required of the significant increase, particularly in the last year, in personal robbery rates in the borough compared to pan London levels. A summary of the Operation Omega Partnership Plan currently in development would be provided to a future CSP meeting.

·         The importance of ensuring accessible information was made available to signpost the public to community safety services and how to access them was emphasised, particularly in community venues such as libraries.

·         The strategic assessment for violence against women and girls was currently being reviewed, although the difficulties in gathering intelligence in this area were outlined.

RESOLVED

·         That the draft Strategic Assessment be noted. 

A report was provided to the Partnership on the draft 10 year Gangs Strategy. The Chair proposed that in reflection of the importance of establishing correct priorities under the Strategy and the imperative of a true partnership approach in this area, that the report be deferred to the next meeting as a discussion item.  

RESOLVED

·         That the item be deferred to the next CSP meeting.

For group discussion.

The Board considered the Community Safety Partnership delivery plans for 2015/16.

Outcome one

·         The Digital Alert system was now being rolled out.

·         Automatic fire suppression systems were now being installed in new builds.

·         New LIFE courses and Fire Cadets programme were starting in September, with the potential, subject to funding, of offering a more bespoke approach including extending the LIFE course to young adults.

·         The LFB were looking into reinvigorating the borough’s multi-agency high risk panel for adults most at risk from fire.

Outcome 2

To be discussed at the next meeting as part of the Gang Strategy.

Outcome 3

·         It was recognised that the delivery plan in this area was particularly challenging and the Chair raised concern over achievability and whether it would be more appropriate to rationalise to particular areas of focus. Officers advised that the plan covered a complex area and that all the identified actions were essential. Assurances were provided that any concerns around delivery would be flagged up at an early stage and escalated.

Outcome 4

·         Exceptional performance in the last year in relation to preventing reoffending under the IOM was identified as a significant Partnership achievement.

·         Recent changes to the probation service remained a challenge going forward including logistical issues in having to work with a number of different providers.

·         The established link between gangs and Child Sexual Exploitation remained an ongoing concern. 

Outcome 5

·         The work of the ASB action group would be extended going forward.

·         Enhancing partnership working would be a focus including for future events at Finsbury Park and introducing a joint tracking approach to resolve issues at an earlier stage, such increasing Police foot patrols in response to high personal robbery levels.

·         It was recognised that there were some cross borough boundary issues requiring future focus such as in Noel Park ward.

Prevent

·         The agenda in this area remained fast moving, including around Syria and Iraq and as such, the main focus was on raising awareness and providing support and advice.

·         Concerns had arisen regarding emerging far right activity in the east of the borough following an incident in Markfield Park.

·         An information leaflet had been produced on radicalisation for parents and schools.

·         The sensitive balance between discouraging radicalisation and providing positive messages around alternative action was recognised.

·         Establishing links to the Young People’s Strategy was identified as an area requiring action.

RESOLVED

·         That the delivery plans be noted.

Plus update and group discussion.

An update was provided to the Board on proposed partnership governance arrangements for Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) prevention work in the borough following on from the Rotherham child abuse report. The Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) was proposed as the main body accountable for and overseeing the CSE Strategy and Action Plan. Regular updates would be provided to the CSP on progress of the Strategy and Action Plan.

At a more operational level, the Board were updated that a CSE profile was currently being developed for the borough by the MASE (Multi-Agency Sexual Exploitation) meeting and which would be submitted to the LSCB in September. Key headlines included 31 cases of concern registered from April, a victim profile which was predominantly young women and with offenders related to gangs or peer on peer activity. No hotspots had yet to be identified in the borough although this would be kept under review. A ‘missing’ task and finish board had been established to set up clear protocols in this area including for Looked After Children. The Board emphasised the importance of the linkages between gangs and missing and vulnerable children being considered under the Strategy.

RESOLVED

·         That the update be noted and the proposed governance arrangements for CSE agreed.

To note the dates of future meetings set out below:

·         8 October

·         14 January 2016

·         17 March

8 October, 13.00.