Agenda item

To consider and comment upon the following:

·         Crime Performance Statistics in respect of Mayor’s Office for Police and Crime (MOPAC)  priority areas plus commentary on emerging issues; and

·         Hate crime statistics for the borough.

Mr Malcolm reported that the funding available from the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime to fund work to address priority crimes would be reduced from £781k in 2017/18 to £518k in 2018/19.  This currently financed a range of programmes within the borough.  In terms of performance in the past year, the increase in total notifiable offences had been slightly higher than the average for London and was higher in the east of the borough. 

There had been a significant increase in hate crime.  It was thought that this had been influenced by the Brexit vote as well as recent terrorist incidents.  Increases in the rate of reporting were nevertheless welcome as they could demonstrate a greater level of confidence in the response to crimes.  There was particular under reporting of homophobic crimes and it had been estimated that only 1 in 5 offences were reported nationally.   Whilst there had been no increase in anti-Semitic offences reported, it was possible that this was due to under reporting. 

The Cabinet Member for Communities commented that there were concerns regarding Islamophobic crimes against women, who were more visibly Muslim and therefore more likely to be victims.  However, engagement with them in order to provide support and reassurance was not always easy.

Christina Andrew, Strategic Lead for Communities, reported that those hate crimes that were reported were likely to be just a fraction of total offences.  Work was planned to improve levels through hate crime awareness.  In particular, an event was being planned that would be aimed specifically at women. 

Ms Haines commented that the Police viewed the increase in reporting of hate crime as positive.  It was bigger than the London average and could show that the level of under reporting in Haringey was not as great as elsewhere.  An Engagement Officer from Counter Terrorism was now working within the borough and was undertaking work to develop third party reporting. 

A Panel Member commented that statistics that showed trends over a period of time would enable Members to make a clearer judgement regarding progress. Statistical changes were not necessarily always significant as there was an in-built degree of variability.   Ms. Haines agreed to take this issue back for further consideration with partners. 

In answer to a question, Ms Haines stated that there had been successful prosecutions of people for hate crimes in the borough.   Perpetrators were being caught and charged but more work was needed to keep the local community informed.  She did not have access to data on detection rates but could bring such information to a future meeting.

Mr Malcolm reported that there had been a 32% increase in personal robbery, which was above the average of 29% for London.  Much of this had been due to theft of mobile phones.  Young knife injury victims had reduced by 12.4%, compared to a London wide increase of 14.7%.  There had been an increase of 220% in firearm discharges.  These had mainly occurred in the east of the borough. There also had been an above average increase in non-domestic violence with injury offences of 3.5%.  It was thought that this was related to the night time economy.   The level of confidence and satisfaction with the Police was the fourth lowest in London and the second lowest amongst the Black and Minority Ethnic community.  The statistics that were used came from the MOPAC. 

Mr Malcolm reported that comparisons were taken with the Council’s most similar group of boroughs and, in particular, what others were doing to address crime and anti social behaviour.  In respect of knife crime, he stated that just addressing it through enforcement would not be effective.  A knife crime action plan was being developed, which aimed to improve performance.  In addition, a knife crime summit for the borough was being arranged by the Bridge Community Trust. 

Ms Haines reported that there was a large amount of joint work between the Council and the Police.  Partners were currently facing severe challenges regarding resources though and there were emerging issues to address such as the proposed merger between Haringey and Enfield Police.  She felt that the performance data was an accurate picture of performance. 

In answer to a question regarding ease of contact, Ms Haines reported that greater publicity was taking place on how to contact the Police.  Although it was now possible to report crime on-line, it was acknowledged that this would not suit everyone and more could be done to assist people in contacting the Police.  Easier ways to report crime could help to free up officer time and therefore help the Police to respond more quickly to emergencies. The use of body worn cameras by officers had helped to build public confidence and save officer time.   In particular, there was now less chance of stop and searches being contested.

In respect of the theft of mobile phones, Ms Haines stated that additional resources would be needed to record them separately.  Such incidents could either be regarded as robbery if force was used or theft if not.  Tactics in respect of moped riders, the risk of pursuing them had to be assessed but tactics were currently being reviewed.