Agenda item

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee acts once a year as the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Panel as set out in legislation to ensure that the Community Safety Partnership is working effectively, and responsible authorities are discharging their statutory functions in respect of community safety.

Councillor Hollingsbee advised that each year the Overview and Scrutiny Committee acted as the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Panel, to ensure that the Community Safety Partnership was working effectively, and that the responsible authorities were discharging their statutory functions in respect of community safety.

Mr Butler introduced the report (OS/22/05) and explained that Members would receive a presentation from each of the Subgroup leads of the Community Safety Partnership.

Mr Bulter provided a presentation that gave an overview of the Community Safety Sub-Group, it looked back at what had taken place over the last six months, and looked forward to its plans for the next six months.  The presentation has been attached to the minutes for reference.

After the presentation the following points were noted:

• The Police investigation into cases of antisocial behaviour involving the use of mopeds in parks were ongoing.  Members of the public were encouraged to continue to report criminal incidents online, or to call 999 if there was an emergency.
• Residents could sign up to My Community Voice using this link: https://www.mycommunityvoicekent.co.uk/.  It was a two way system of communication for residents with the Police.
• The Police were aware that criminals were targeting rural areas.  When their intelligence demonstrated a need, the Police could call for additional tactical support.  It was important that residents continued to report instances of crime, to help provide a clear picture of where this support was needed most.
• Bi-monthly operations took place that targeted areas known for speeding. 
• Facebook could be a source used to gather intelligence on people offering a waste collection service who were operating without the appropriate licence.
• There was a trial underway using noise recorders at fixed speed camera locations in Dartford.  The Council would be looking at best practice to see how the equipment could be used in future.  There were challenges in proving exactly where a recorded noise had emanated from.
• The Police were tracking graffiti instances across the district and had recently identified some individuals in the Folkestone town centre area.  The Council removed graffiti from private property and prioritised the removal based on its location and level of offense caused. 

Ms Button, Chair of the Safeguarding and Domestic Abuse Sub-Group provided a presentation about the sub-group. She explained that the sub-group worked closely alongside the Community Safety Sub-Group.  The presentation slides have been attached to the minutes for reference.

After the presentation the following points were noted:

• There was a correlation between cases of domestic abuse and the abuse of alcohol and drugs.  In the past there has been an increase in the number of domestic abuse incidents during events such as football tournaments and Christmas.
• Domestic abuse involving adults had increased during lockdown.  Following lockdown there had been an increase in the number of referrals involving children as stories emerged when they returned to school.
• Poverty and inequality issues were often aggravating factors, the Community Safety Unit would be hosting a ‘Winter Well’ event on 12 November, between 10am and 2 pm in the Folca building, Folkestone, to show what support was available to residents.

Detective Chief Inspector Taylor provided Members with a presentation that covered the Kent Control Strategy 2022/23, the Kent Vision, the work that had been undertaken and the challengers for the future.  The slides have been attached to the minutes for reference.

After the presentation, the following points were noted:

• Some residents may not wish to use, or be unable to use, the Community Voice system.
• There were dedicated Police Officers who coordinate with Metropolitan Police colleagues to tackle drug trafficking into the area from organised criminal groups.
• Safeguarding of young people was a priority for all three sub-groups.  The CSU had a road show that visited schools, and the Local Children’s Partnership had arranged for year five and six safeguarding sessions to be held in schools.
• Councillor Gane asked if he could see the crime statistics broken down by ward boundary.  DCI Taylor offered to send him the information, and would include a breakdown at future briefings.

All Members agreed to receive and note report OS/22/05, and to receive the presentations from the three sub-group leads of the Community Safety Partnership.