Agenda item

To consider and comment on current performance issues and priorities for the borough’s Community Safety Partnership including performance in respect of the MOPAC priority areas, emerging issues and statistics for levels of crime within parks.    

Sandeep Broca, Intelligence Analyst from Community Safety and Enforcement, reported that the Mayor’s Police and Crime Plan (2017-2021) outlined the key priorities for London.  These were:

·         Sexual violence;

·         Domestic abuse;

·         Child sexual exploitation;

·         Weapon-based crime;

·         Hate crime; and

·         Anti-Social Behaviour.

In addition, two local priorities had been set for Haringey.  These were robbery and Non-Domestic Violence with Injury (VWI).  Although total crime had increased, the increase in Haringey had been smaller than the average and this was a significant achievement.  The hot spots were Wood Green, Bruce Grove and Seven Sisters. 

There had been an increase in hate crime and this had included large increases in homophobic and anti semitic offences.  It was felt that the driver behind this was a greater level of reporting which had been generated by a specific media campaign.  Domestic abuse with injury had increased at a higher rate than the London average but it was also thought that this might be driven by increased reporting.   In particular, there had been an effort to promote earlier reporting.    Hotspot locations appeared to be related to where housing density was greatest.  There had been a much smaller increase in sex offences.  These were spread relatively evenly across the borough.

There had been an increase of 41% in personal robbery, which was very high.  Approximately two mobile phones per day were stolen as part of this.  Many of the perpetrators carried knives and it was possible that this also had a knock-on effect on levels of knife crime.  In order to be recorded as robbery, such crimes needed to include the threat of violence.   There had been a significant decrease in the number of young knife injury victims, which was good news.  However, it still remained a serious problem for the borough.  Key locations were Wood Green High Street, Turnpike Lane and Bruce Grove/Lansdowne Road but they tended to shift in response to targeted work in high volume locations.  Mr. Benmore commented that Operation Spectre had taken place in response to knife crime.  Action had included a weapons sweep and an education campaign.  There had also been a Police presence at the North Middlesex Hospital.  Young victims often did not want to report crime and work needed to be done with them to encourage them to do so.   Trends were analysed regularly by partners and there was a partnership problem solving group.  Amongst other things, consideration was given as to how resources could be deployed most effectively. 

Mr. Broca reported that 1 in 8 firearm discharges in London took place in Haringey and there had been a 160% increase in the past year.  The use of firearms appeared to be targeted and specific rather than random.  In order for firearm discharges to be recorded as such, they needed to have the capacity to be lethal.  There also had to be proof of their discharge.  The Police Operation Viper team were deployed where the need was greatest.  The Panel noted that the team often had to come from the middle of London, which could cause delay.  Newham had similar issues with firearms to Haringey and the two boroughs had to compete for resources.  There had not been a significant escalation in the number of guns in London though and there was evidence that the same ones were being used in multiple incidents. 

The Panel noted that non domestic abuse violence with injury had increased faster than the London average and was likely to be the focus for action in the next 12 months.  The locations for incidents where generally busy locations around shopping centres and transport hubs.  There had been a small increase in incidents in parks but this appeared to have dropped off now.   Improving confidence and satisfaction levels was a big challenge but it appeared to be improving slightly, with the borough moving up from 32^nd to 23^rd. compared to other boroughs.  However, there was still a confidence gap between the white and BAME communities.   In terms of crime in parks, there had been a small decrease.  It only represented 2% of total crime, with 629 offences being recorded last year. 40% of these were related to events in parks and were theft or robbery, mostly of mobile phones.  There was a low level of violent crime in parks.

In answer to a question, Mr Broca stated that acid attacks were very rare in Haringey.  Legislation was planned regarding the sale of such liquids.  The Panel commented that, whilst the report was very helpful and contained some excellent data, a longer terms perspective would enable Members to obtain a more accurate impression of trends.  In addition, some changes in figures were likely not to be of statistical significance.  It would therefore be useful if standard deviations could be included with the figures.  It was felt that more could be done to address the issue of disabled parking badges. It was felt that more could be done to promote the Companion Badge, which helped prevent theft as it incorporated the vehicle registration document.  Mr Benmore stated that there had been an increase in motor vehicle offences.  Many of these were committed by more prolific offenders.