An opportunity to question the Cabinet Member for Communities, Councillor Bernice Vanier, on developments within her portfolio.
Minutes:
Councillor Vanier, the Cabinet Member for Communities, reported on the key areas and developments within her portfolio as follows:
· Haringey was one of three boroughs that had been selected by the MOPAC to take part in a specific programme aimed at addressing the issue of gang violence. This was referred to as Operation Shield;
· The borough’s Safer Neigbourhood Board was working well and had wide representation from across the borough;
· In response to anti semitic chanting on tube trains by West Ham supporters before a recent football match at Tottenham Hotspur, she had written to the British Transport Police asking what action they were planning to take;
· There had been effective partnership work with the Police to address anti social behaviour and drug dealing on the Love Lane estate in Tottenham. The ASBAT team had put up cameras and obtained evidence that had enabled action to be taken against several people. There had also been issues with prostitution. There had been no reports so far of people who action had been taken against returning to the area;
· A response was being prepared by the Community Safety Partnership to the issues raised by the recent report into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham;
· Statistics for levels of non domestic violence with injury within the borough were still high compared with similar local authority areas. Operation Equinox had been launched to address the issue. In particular, this had included an SOS bus that was aimed to assist victims.
The Panel were of the view that the partnership approach that had proven successful on the Love Lane Estate needed to be replicated elsewhere. It was noted that the joint action on the estate had taken three years to achieve its objectives. Individual organisations now had fewer resources and therefore needed to pool them in order to address issues effectively. A similar process was being developed in Northumberland Park and the Department for Communities and Local Government had recently provided grant funding for capacity building work in the area. The model developed as part of this was intended to be transferable to other areas.
The Borough Commander commented that partners wished to have a model that fitted everywhere. The intention was to promote support and engagement with communities, as well as enforcement. It was important that any model was not over reliant on Police intelligence and was informed by wider local information. Prioritising particular areas facilitated the identification of resources to address issues. Although the model was intended to be transferable, it might be necessary for it to be adapted to fit local circumstances.
The Panel noted there had previously been issues with drug dealing in the Ladder area of Harringay. Action had been taken to address this, including the use of Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs). However, the problem had re-surfaced in recent months and there was some frustration amongst local residents that it had not been possible to deal successfully with it. The perpetrators often disappeared before the Safer Neighbourhood Team attended the scene. Residents had asked for CCTV to be installed or for plain clothes officers to attend but had been told that there were not the resources available to do this.
The Panel noted that effective work with the local community had taken place in Hornsey. A dialogue had been developed between local businesses and partners in the area. Crime prevention work had been undertaken and a radio link established. There was now also a traders association in the area. Panel Members commented that action had been effective once it had been initiated. However, a more proactive approach by partners would be beneficial.
In response to a question regarding recent criticism of the Prevent scheme to address violent extremism, the Cabinet Member reported that positive work had been undertaken with the Muslim community in Haringey. This had included training for teachers. There had also been joint meetings of local mosques. Work had also been undertaken to encourage third party reporting. Although progress had been slow with this, it would nevertheless be pursued. The Panel noted that referrals were now being received from schools. Where there were concerns, multi agency case conferences were arranged.
The Panel were of the view that the new Counter Terrorism Act could have implications for civil liberties and community relations and felt that a briefing might be of benefit.
AGREED:
That a briefing be provided to a future meeting of the Panel on the implications of the Counter Terrorism Act 2015.