Agenda item

The Intelligence Analyst introduced the report which included a summary of figures on youth crime, knife crime, robbery and theft, Anti-Social Behaviour and the Young People at Risk strategy.

The Non-Voting Co-optee commented that although ‘Clear, Hold, Build’ as a police tactic for removing crime from key areas - had seen some positive results in Finsbury Park; after a year, there had been a significant increase in youth violence and knife crime in the area too. He enquired as to the factors that contributed to this. He also further enquired as to the ability of the council’s Anti-Social Behaviour department to respond to issues, as there had been a lack of resources following a restructure. He wanted assurance that resourcing was correct for Anti-Social Behaviour issues. The Cabinet Member for Communities admitted that there had been staffing changes however the quality of work would not be affected. The Assistant Director for Resident Services then stated that staff had been added to the team and senior officers would now have specialisms of noise and Anti-Social Behaviour as well as an overall Head of Service. With regards to the figures of youth and knife crime, the Detective Superintendent, stated that this may be due to an increase in detection rates rather than an increase in crime rates.

Cllr Dunstall then enquired whether ‘Clear Hold Build’ was pushing crime into other areas. The Borough Commander responded that in the case of Northumberland Park, the ‘Clear, Hold, Build’ area had been extended to areas of high harm crime in Enfield to deal with a pattern of displacement. Since then, there had been no other trends to suggest otherwise. She suggested that in some categories such as sex work - a displacement maybe seen in that other locations may be used, however without reporting it was impossible to tell whether this was happening or not. However, she stated that in the case of organised criminality, Clear Hold Build was seeing significant reductions in violent crime in the borough and in Enfield. As specific ‘crime generators’ were being dealt with longer term, there was reduced incidents of violent crime in all areas.  The Cabinet Member for Communities added Clear Hold Build looked at crime holistically and was not pinpointed to certain areas. 

Cllr Dunstall, enquired further as to the work the Police did with street-based sex work as other factors were also involved such as exploitation, trafficking, and substance misuse. He stated that evidence from third sector sources had shown that there was a shift in how sex workers viewed the Police– and this had pushed sex work indoors and has been detrimental to some of the relationships the third sector had built. The Borough Commander stated that there was a sliding scale with help that could be offered women to exit sex work and the Police enforcement of what was essentially illegal activity. In previous operations, residents were not noticing any change in levels of street prostitution in the areas in which they lived and now through enforcement - they were.

Cllr Cawley Harrison then raised that in his experience, residents do not have clarity as to who was ultimately responsible for Anti-Social Behaviour. He stated that with 9,000 incidents reported in the Borough, eight members of staff did not seem proportional. Clarity was needed on where responsibility lay; and more information needed on how responsive and proactive work was prioritised and differentiated. He stated that further information on work between the Anti-Social Behaviour team and the Housing team would also be useful.

The Cabinet Member for Communities responded that the Anti-Social Behaviour Policy was currently under review by the Housing team. She stated that this would be addressed in the Policy. The Assistant Director stressed also that there is lack of clarity as regards to the definitions of Anti-Social Behaviour and this  would also be addressed within the policy. He stated that with regards to dealing with proactive issues, there was a Partner Problem Solving Group that met to deal with repeated issues. However, he stated that from a resident point of view complaining about Anti Social Behaviour should be seamless. The Detective Superintendent also pointed out that some victims of ASB were extremely vulnerable and although the nature of the Anti Social Behaviour may seem low level -  the persistence of repeated ASB incidents had a devastating effect – he cited the Fiona Pilkington case as an example.  He stated that a dedicated Haringey ASB Police team had been set up to work more closely with the council, to support and understand the data and profile of the borough.

The Chair requested that the Anti-Social Behaviour Policy be returned to the Panel at a later date.  ACTION. (Scrutiny Officer)

Cllr Cawley Harrison stated that from the council website it was not easy to find out the procedures of Anti-Social Behaviour and also how to report it online. He asked if the home page and channels through to reporting could be re-considered. ACTION (AD - Eubert Malcolm).

Cllr Carroll asked about the material change to drug supply lines in the borough and if shut down of supply had incorporated new synthetic opioids. The Borough Commander replied that strategic intelligence on quality and type of drugs was given to the Police but on a confidential basis. The Borough Commander responded that there had been 12 drugs lines closed in Northumberland Park. She also stated that with drugs came an increase in violent crime. She stated that there were techniques to gather information and there had been some successes. In all cases the subjects have had significant custodial sentences. Cllr Carroll pointed out that although there were positives with the first-time youth reoffending figures, he expressed concern on the rise in escalating criminal activities in the Youth Justice figures. The Head of Youth Justice emphasised that his team was monitoring this on a regular basis and looking for opportunities to work collaboratively on prevention and diversion strategies. He stated that once there was Youth Justice involvement, those who had been committing more serious crimes felt more supported in terms of not reoffending. He emphasised that there was a very small cohort who continually reoffend or commit serious violence.  The team this year was working with the Police and Probation Services in Haringey’s new Youth Integrated Offender Management Groups to put in place more targeted work with habitual knife carriers, and young people at risk to provide more support for them.