Agenda item

The Committee considered the report of the Business Manager – Public Protection which sought to provide Members with an update on the work undertaken by the Bassetlaw and Newark & Sherwood Community Safety Partnership.  The report also set out the current performance and explained the choice of priorities for the current year. 

The report set out that the establishment of a Community Safety Partnership (CSP) was a statutory requirement and the responsible authorities that formed that partnership.  Further details specific to the BNSCSP were provided and how it operated in practice.  Paragraph 2.5 listed the priorities for 2023/2024 together with the rationale for each one. 

In considering the report Members asked a number of questions of the Business Manager and also Inspector Charlotte Ellam of the Nottinghamshire Police Authority, who was in attendance at the Committee. 

In noting the 9% variance in crime for 2022/2023, a Member queried as to the reason for that.  Inspector Ellam advised that there had been 727 additional crimes recorded compared to the previous year and to identify the specific reasons for that would require a lengthy and complex discussion. 

In relation to additional funding for CCTV cameras, a Member queried whether the recordings from those were being used as evidence to prosecute offenders.  Inspector Ellam confirmed that evidence was used as appropriate.  In response, the Member stated that a clear message needed to be sent out to the public that the cameras were monitored and action would taken against individuals who were found to be engaging in unlawful behaviour. 

In response to what action the Police were taking to combat the increase in Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) in Newark Town Centre, Inspector Ellam advised that the Police’s Town Centre Strategy had been updated with one aspect of that being a review of how known individuals could be targeted through a recently established Anti-Social Behaviour Panel.  Initially this may be availability of diversionary activities or referrals to social care but if that was not appropriate, then enforcement action for example, community behaviour orders, injunctions and appropriate action if the behaviour was straying into criminal activities.  In relation to available resources, the number of Beat Managers had been increased to four.  Two were deployed in the traditional role of patrol, engagement and problem solving and one was a dedicated Project Beat Manager whose role it was to engage with businesses, focus on retail crime and what measures can be taken to better secure their premises.  Newark Town Council had provided an office space in the Buttermarket and this would be where the Town Centre Beat Managers would be based.  She noted that with the coming of the summer months, there would be a focus on deploying Officers to specific locations and times within the town centre.  In advising that the Police held monthly performance meetings, Inspector Ellam noted that she was mindful that by targeting a specific location, it had the effect of displacing the ASB to another area and that was why the individual carrying out the ASB must also be targeted.

Inspector Ellam was asked about what resources were available in areas outside of Newark.  She advised that there were only finite resources and these had to be focussed on areas with identified issues but that work was ongoing to deploy resources to the Ollerton area.

A Member noted that there was a perception that the reporting of low-level crime and ASB was low and queried how the reporting of an incident could be better communicated.  Inspector Ellam advised that the Police’s Engagement Strategy had been reviewed, noting that effective communication was vital.  A review on how social media could be used had also been undertaken.  This could involve the reporting of operations the Police had carried out so that the public could see that action was being taken.  There was also a dedicated Officer in the Communications Team who publicised upcoming operations.  The Business Manager advised that comments and posts on social media, i.e. Newark Spotted were also monitored and checked against what had been officially reported to the Council and/or the Police.  She added that the Council were looking at ways in which to let the public know how to report an incident. 

In relation to the Gypsy Roma and Traveller Community priority, a Member noted the comments about the lack of services and whether any had been specifically identified.  The Business Manager advised that there was a working group which met monthly.  From that there were sub-groups, one of which was looking at that specific issue and engagement with the community.  She added that due to their close proximity, the Council naturally built relationships with the community.  However, other agencies used the Council as messengers rather than engaging directly themselves but that this was being reviewed with a view to improving and building on existing relationships.

A Member queried with Inspector Ellam what action could be taken to stop offenders returning to their previous criminal activities when released from prison, specifically referring to a known burglar in the area.  Inspector Ellam advised that it was difficult to make a structured plan around one individual.  It was vital that the Police received community intelligence either directly or through reports to other organisations e.g. Crime Stoppers as without that knowledge they could not formulate a plan.

In closing the debate, the Chair advised that he would welcome a further report in 6 months as to what plans there were to tackle the issues rather than a statistics led report, thanking the Business Manager and Inspector Ellam for their attendance at Committee.

AGREED      (unanimously) that the performance and priorities of the Community Safety Partnership be noted.