Agenda item

A presentation will be made.  

The Board received a presentation on perceptions around crime and safety and the criminal justice system, in the light of the Annual Residents’ Survey.

The issues that residents were consulted upon were:

• Crime
• Anti-social behaviour and the Criminal Justice System
• Community Cohesion

The survey was based on one thousand and eighteen interviews conducted from 12 November – 9 December 2007 and was representative of the whole Borough in terms of age, gender, ethnic origin, tenure and the working status of women.

The Board was given an overview of the results of the survey generally and a detailed overview of the results in relation to perceptions of crime.

It was noted that the general level of concern in relation to crime had fallen by 8% in comparison with the previous year. In contrast to the national trend, there was greater concern around crime amongst people aged eighteen to thirty-four, than older people.

The Board was advised that personal concern about crime was at its lowest level since 2000 and was lower than the London average. Residents were largely in agreement that the Courts should be made aware of the impact of anti-social behaviour. However, there was less agreement that fines acted as a deterrent to people committing crime. Although young people had been identified as the group most concerned about crime, there was a 9% drop in levels of concern in comparison with the previous year.

Following the presentation, the Chair invited the Board to ask questions in relation to the presentation.

In response to a query, as to whether this HSP would monitor changes identified in the Survey, the Board was advised that the information contained within the survey as a whole would be reported to the HSP.

It was noted that public perceptions around crime had generally improved and that this was positive. However, it was acknowledged that further work was required in order to sustain and build upon this improvement. 

There was agreement that work should be carried out to better publicise the work of the Criminal Justice system. At present public awareness of the work it carried out was low and could be improved upon. Improving perception in this area would impact upon overall perceptions.

In response to a query as to whether there was any information available comparing perceptions of people living in the east and the west of the Borough, the Chair reminded the Board that the survey was intended to represent a spread of residents across the Borough and that it focussed on a range of issues. Perceptions around crime formed just one aspect of the survey and each of the Thematic Boards would receive a presentation on the aspects of the survey relevant to them.

The Board discussed ways of engaging with residents and there was agreement that consideration should be given to using the Area Assemblies as a forum to discuss issues highlighted via the survey. There was also agreement that it may be useful if the information from the survey in relation to crime were circulated to the Police Safer Neighbourhoods Teams.

It was noted that the information obtained as part of the survey should not be considered in isolation and that a piece of work would undertaken to examine the issues surrounding this.

The Chair thanked the Head of Communication and Consultation for the presentation and noted that the suggestions and comments made by the Board would be taken forward be officers.

RESOLVED:

That the presentation be noted.