Agenda item

The Panel received a covering report and accompanying set of slides which provided an overview of Haringey’s performance in relation to key crime performance statistics. The report and accompanying presentation were introduced by Sandeep Broca, Intelligence Analyst, as set out in the agenda pack at pages 9 to 21.  The Borough Commander, Treena Fleming was also present to discuss the Community Safety Partnerships’ priorities for the current year.  The following key points from the presentation were noted:

• Overall recorded crime in Haringey had increased by 2.7% in the 12 months to October 2019, which was better than the London wide average increase of 8.3%. The main hotspots were located around Wood Green High Road and around the A10 corridor, from Bruce Grove to Seven Sisters. Wandsworth was the only London Borough to see a small reduction in overall crime in the 12 month period to October 2019.

• Overall sexual offences in Haringey decreased by 10.6% in the 12 months to October 2019, compared to a London wide average reduction of 2.1%.

• Non-domestic violence with injury offences had decreased in Haringey by 9.8%, compared to a London-wide increase of 0.8%.

• Personal robbery increased in Haringey, by 26%. Almost 2,200 offences a year took place. London wide offending had also worsened, experiencing an increase of 14%. North London in particular had seen large increases in robbery.

• The volume of overall knife injuries had reduced by 4.9% in Haringey, compared to an 11.7% London-wide reduction.

• Lethal barrelled firearm discharges in Haringey had decreased year on year by 18.4%. London had decreased by 15% over this same period. This was a notable improvement from mid-2018, during which significantly higher volumes of firearms discharges occurred. However, Haringey still had the second highest number of incidents in London. Firearm related incidents mostly occurred in the east of the borough, and showed some correlation with known gang linked areas. Offences also demonstrated some geographical clustering.

The Mayor’s Police and Crime Plan (2017-2021) outlined key priorities: Sexual Violence; Domestic Abuse; Child Sexual Exploitation; Weapon-Based Crime; Hate Crime; Anti-Social Behaviour. In addition, Robbery and Non-Domestic Violence with Injury were agreed as local priorities.

The following was noted in discussion of this agenda item:

a.    The AD Stronger Communities provided an update to the Panel around the community conversation programme, which aimed to improve public confidence in the police and partners through adopting a proactive partnership approach to resident engagement. The Borough Commander emphasised the role of ward officers in getting out into the community and building up contacts and networks.

b.    In response to a question, the Panel was advised that knife crime was a subsidiary of a wider category of weapon based crimes, which was designated as a mandatory high harm crime for all London Boroughs. Knife crime, by contrast, was a local priority in Haringey.

c.    The Panel sought assurances around systems for anonymously reporting crime and requested an update on the safe haven scheme. In response, officers advised that Haringey Community Gold were undertaking work on the displacement of crime as well as a wider communications campaign for residents. The AD for Stronger Communities agreed to circulate a written briefing on the safe havens scheme to the Panel. (Action: Eubert Malcolm).

d.    The Borough Commander advised the Panel that in relation to youth engagement, the Police used teachable moments to involve youth engagement workers in the custody suite to talk to young people. The Borough Commander also advised that a new Inspector was due to join her staff who had significant experience and would be leading on ensuring that police officers adopted a trauma informed approach.

e.    The Committee set out that partners needed to adopt a targeted approach as well as a universal one and cautioned that young people should not be treated as a homogenous group. The Borough Commander acknowledged these concerns and advised that targeting the robbery issue would also tackle knife crime and serious youth violence due to the profile of those offenders.

f.     The Borough Commander emphasised the role of a whole systems approach which included targeted patrols in hotspot locations as well as sending schools officers out to local schools to engage young people and build up that community network. In addition, the police had established a robbery focus unit comprised of 1 Detective Sergeant and 12 police officers which was starting to yield significant results in terms of crime detection rates. In relation to robbery, the Panel noted that there was a keen focus on ensuring immediacy of response as well as ensuring visible policing patrols were in the correct locations as well as also ensuring a whole systems approach and safeguarding concerns were met, due to the profile of suspects being 14-18 years old. The Borough Commander advised that she was hopeful that significant improvements would be seen in this area in the coming months.

g.    The Panel queried the way the data was presented and questioned why the slides showed the trend over total number of offences. In response, officers advised that this was the standardised format used, but it could be adapted to prioritise total number of offences for future presentations to the Panel if that was requested. The Panel agreed to pick this up outside of the meeting. (Action Panel Members). The Panel also commented on the use of three shades of green and the lack of an explanation for yellow RAG status in the key. (Action: Sandeep Broca).

h.    The Committee enquired about statistics on race and crime. In response officers acknowledged that there was a known disproportionality in relation to specific ethnic groups in the recorded crime statistics. In relation to hate crime, the Panel was advised that there was a national awareness raising week on hate crime and that work was being undertaken to encourage third party reporting as there was a known issue around under-reporting of hate crimes. The Panel requested that officers circulate the figure on hate crime as well as outlining what was being done to tackle the issue outside of the meeting and this would be brought back to the next meeting for brief discussion. (Action: Sandeep Broca/Treena Fleming).

i.      The Panel sought clarification around whether misogyny could be included as a hate crime going forwards. In response the Borough Commander advised that this was not something the Metropolitan Police were currently doing corporately.

RESOLVED

That the Panel noted the update in relation to Community Safety Partnership Priorities and the Crime Performance Overview.