Agenda item

The Partnership received a cover report, along with a copy of the Haringey Community Safety Strategy 2019-2023 and a copy of the Community Safety Strategy Action Plan as set out at pages 19-76 of the agenda pack. The Partnership also received a short presentation which provided an overview of some of the key aims, measurements and next steps for the Strategy. The presentation and report were introduced by Eubert Malcom, AD for Stronger Communities. The following was noted in response to the discussion of the report and presentation:

a.    The Partnership sought further information around children and young people and what could be done to improve confidence in policing. In response, the Borough Commander acknowledged the importance of this issue and noted concerns that many children would not call the police if they had a problem. The role of the schools officer was emphasised in allowing the police to build confidence with young people. Police colleagues also acknowledged the need to hear the voice of the child and for this to inform its practices. The role of trauma informed practice was reiterated and the need to teach officers that every interaction with young people was important, as an opportunity to build confidence in policing.

b.    The AD for Stronger Neighbourhoods advised that the Godwin Lawson Foundation had undertaken work in the Borough and that there was a clear issue of distrust of the authorities and agencies across the Partnership. The Council had commissioned the Godwin Lawson Foundation to go back and speak to young people about the Youth at Risk Strategy and assess the extent to which these measures had increased confidence. In addition, officers were in the process of setting up a number of ‘community conversations’ over June and July in Tottenham, Wood Green and Muswell Hill. A previous session was attended by around 120 people and focused on concerns around Stop and Search. It was also noted that Mind in Haringey were working on a youth IAG and it was envisaged that partners would be able to tap into it going forwards. 

c.    In response to a question around how a public health approach was being implemented, officers advised that the Youth at Risk Strategy was co-produced and was informed by a public health approach to adopt learning from other authorities like Glasgow. The strategy used  a whole systems approach to work with young people, schools and parents and looked across multiple streams and areas of focus to tackle youth violence.

d.    The Partnership sought assurances around what could be done to strengthen processes for securing convictions for domestic violence. In response, the Borough Commander acknowledged that this could be a difficult process and that ultimately the police approach needed to be in line with the victims wishes. It was acknowledged that some work needed to be done to look at the police response and to train new officers on how to put the case papers together to build a robust case.

e.    The Cabinet Member for Communities advised that he agreed with previous comments about an over emphasis on enforcement in regards to dealing with youth violence and that he supported the agenda for increased police numbers on the streets of Haringey. The Cabinet Member also highlighted the erosion of services that provided a safety net for vulnerable children through the austerity agenda. The Partnership were advised that through the Young Londoners Fund, Haringey had established a detached youth worker service and that it was envisaged that this would play an important role in deterring young people away from criminality. The Council’s Borough Plan included as one of its objectives the reduction in the criminalisation of children. The Cabinet Member also highlighted that there was a seminar for partners being planned for the Autumn and that a date would be agreed shortly.

f.     The Partnership suggested that the prevention of repeat victimisation should be added to the Strategy as a key outcome. The Partnership also set out that the Strategy should also focus on restorative justice as a key outcome. In response, officers advised that one of the outcomes was based around the reduction of high harm crimes but acknowledged that points about repeat victimisation and restorative justice could be more prominent. (Action: Eubert Malcolm).

g.    The Chair requested that a there be a future agenda item around restorative justice at an upcoming CSP meeting. (Action: Eubert/Clerk).

RESOLVED

     I.        That the Partnership note the report

    II.        That the Partnership approved the strategy to be presented to Cabinet and the Community Safety Action Plan, as set out in Appendix 2 of the report.