Agenda item

Meeting in its capacity as West Berkshire Council’s Crime and Disorder Committee, to receive a presentation from the West Berkshire Community Safety Partnership.

Joseph Holmes (Chief Executive) and Superintendent Colin Hudson (Thames Valley Police (TVP)) presented the Community Safety Partnership Update (Agenda Item 6). The presentation could be accessed here: https://youtu.be/aDHDdoW76ik?list=PL6cepKKElwne9h0GajvDRG65M2AG0Wn_U&t=557.

The following points were raised in the debate:

·       It was confirmed that a ‘positive outcome’ was where a suspect was charged.

·       The relationship between the Police and the Crown Prosecution System was good at a senior level, but it varied on a case-by-case basis at the local level, and the Police felt that they were sometimes asked to hit a high threshold for a criminal charge and capacity was not always sufficient to meet the demand for evidence.

·       It was thought that ethnicity categories for stop and search were self-defined, but Supt Hudson undertook to confirm and report back.

Action: TVP to confirm whether ethnicity categories were self-defined for stop and search.

·       It was confirmed that the majority of violence against women and girls was perpetrated by males.

·       Members asked about how the Police dealt with rural crime. It was explained that a task in coordination group had been formed where partners came together to talk about local issues in the community. Rural crime was reflected as a priority in these meetings. Several rural crime spots in West Berkshire had been prioritised over the last summer with patrols, general engagement events and specific rural crime events. It was thought that rural crime was under-reported. It was recognised that the financial cost of acquisitive crime in rural areas was more significant than in towns. Rural crime would continue to be prioritised.

·       It was suggested that it may be useful to show crime rates per 10,000 population to facilitate comparison with other local authorities. TVP confirmed that West Berkshire was within the top quartile for low crime rates. They did not currently have the analytical tools/capacity to be able to routinely report on that basis, but offered to see if there were other data sets already in the public domain that would provide this information.

Action: TVP to investigate whether crime rates per 10,000 population could be provided for next year’s presentation.

·       Members asked if the Safer Streets initiative would be continued in The Nightingales and if it would be rolled out to other areas. Officers indicated that this was initially funded by central government. It was confirmed that work would continue in the Nightingales once current funding ceased. Similar partnership approaches could be rolled out in other areas, but some measures would be subject to successful bidding in future funding rounds.

·       There was discussion about what would happen following the abolition of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) in 2028. Powers and funding would transfer to the mayor of the relevant strategic authority. Areas without a mayor would revert to Police Authority arrangements that pre-dated the OPCC, which would have representation from constituent local authorities.

·       Concerns were expressed about problems with drugs in Lambourn. TVP confirmed that stop and search powers were often used to look for drugs, and drugs were often found (not solely in Lambourn). Discussions specific to Lambourn had taken place at the most recent meeting of the Community Safety Partnership, and the Ward Member would be involved with further developments.

·       Members queried the action that could be taken in instances of anti-social behaviour (asb). Asb concerns could persist over a long period of time. Supt Hudson felt this was an area on which partners could work more closely together, as it was not straightforward for TVP to take action independently. Supt Hudson offered Members his own contact details should they want to escalate an ongoing and long term asb issue.

Councillor Carolyne Culver asked the presenters to comment on ways partnership working could be improved:

·       There was consensus on the importance of sharing data at the earliest possible stage. This would help to identify actions that could be taken in specific localities. It was felt that a greater impact could be achieved by focusing on particular areas.

·       It was also important to have a greater awareness of the data held amongst partner agencies.

·       Some partners needed to be encouraged to participate more fully.

Councillor Culver raised a concern that the loss of the OPCC could result in existing funding/grants not being accessed. She felt this was an area on which Members could lobby Government. Mr Holmes agreed this was a potential risk and lobbying could be useful once the Government’s position beyond having an OPCC was clear.

Councillor Culver commented that this was a very useful annual item. She gave thanks on behalf of Members for the ongoing work of the Community Safety Partnership.

RESOLVED to note the report.