To receive and consider the report of the Community Safety Partnership Co-ordinator.
Minutes:
The Chair welcomed Fay Smith (Community Safety Partnership Co-ordinator), Clive Jones (Professional Lead - Trading Standards, Community Safety and Emergency Planning), County Councillor Aled Davies (Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Community Safety) and Mr Dafydd Llywelyn (Police and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed Powys Police) to the meeting.
Safer Communities Programme.
Welsh Government’s Safer Communities Programme had been established in 2017, which included a new shared vision of community safety in Wales. The vision was underpinned by 6 key principles and a set of 11 commitments, and the programme would be taken forward by means of a multi agency programme board.
Serious Organised Crime
Powys was not exempt from the effects of County Lines. Police enforcement action last year had eradicated the largest drugs suppliers from Powys but had not eradicated the use of drugs in the county. Regional and Local Serious Organised Crime Board has been established. It was noted that County Lines was only one form of Serious Organised Crime, others included Child Sexual Exploitation, Modern Slavery, Illicit Tobacco. The Police are currently monitoring drugs issues in the county and a serious violence strategy is to be launched in July 2019.
Question / Comment: Domestic Homicide Reviews – why is this described separately from other forms of homicide? |
Response: The statutory duty to undertake Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs) sits with the Community Safety Partnership (CSP). The Police will notify the CSP that a DHR has occurred. The CSP has to agree that the incident meets the required criteria for a DHR. The CSP will then advise the Home Office. The review will be undertaken by a Panel with an independent Chair, which will include relevant individuals who have been involved with the family. Once completed the report comes to the CSP for approval, and then to the Home Office Quality Assessment Panel. Once agreed by the Home Office the report is published by the CSP. |
Question / Comment: Vehicle Offences – how much impact does the theft of quad bikes have on vehicle statistics? |
Response: The statistics produced by the Police are for the last 12 months. Rural Crime Teams were established and have been in place since September 2018. In relation to quad bike thefts there have been 33 thefts between September 2018 and April 2019. Two other areas of concern are sheep theft and animal worrying. It was noted that other agencies including the Police, Fire and Rescue Service, Natural Resources Wales and the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority all have rural crime staff. Part of the strategy is also prevention including disseminating information to farmers regarding when gangs are operating in the area and what is being targeted. Police detection is also good in respect of rural crime. |
Question / Comment: Welsh Government policies are going to open up the countryside to the public, which will lead to more crime. How are the strategies going to address this? |
Response: Whilst there is nothing specifically in the strategies, this could be dealt with by means of awareness raising. Rural crime teams are making a difference, e.g. previously there was no data on sheep thefts, which does now exist. There is also a network of people undertaking this work. This risk can also be built into the intelligence requirement by agencies. |
Question / Comment: With a greater use of footpaths and bridleways by the public, can better signage be provided to make people more aware of livestock and the need to keep dogs on leads? |
Response: Signage is available but there is a balance required to ensure that there are not too many signs in the countryside. However if there are issues landowners should speak to area Rights of Way Officers. |
Question / Comment: There are a number of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras in Powys. Does this reduce crime? Will the number of cameras be increased? There is a problem with Google and Street Maps which can focus in detail on properties and if the information is up to date, provide information on vehicles which could be targeted by thieves. |
Response: There is nothing that the Council can do about Google Maps. The issue is prevention and awareness raising about keeping properties safe. The Commissioner commented that Powys has a very effective ANPR system of cameras which are reviewed on an annual basis. Attempts are also made to be sensitive about the location of these cameras. In addition a tactical desk has been established to monitor travelling criminals, by looking for particular vehicle registration numbers. These numbers are shared with rural crime teams. The analysis of ANPR information had also been useful in dealing with the issue of illegal tobacco in Powys. The Commissioner agreed to provide information regarding the number of ANPR cameras in Powys. |
Question / Comment: Public Order Offences – how many are dealt with as cautions? Are young people being cautioned disproportionally? Being cautioned can mean that young people find difficulty in getting a job due to a caution. How does Powys compare to other areas? |
Response: The Commissioner commented that he was concerned regarding the low level criminalisation of individuals. In future the process would be changing and simple cautions would no longer be possible. A Pathfinder project is to be established in November 2019 in Dyfed Powys which will mean that more people in the same way that young people up to 18 years old can be dealt with outside the court system by means of the Council’s youth services, which should not therefore deter an individual from being able to get a job in future. Those where a caution was necessary would receive one, with others diverted away from the justice system. Youth services will deal with those under 18. Anyone in school or college can be dealt with by the School Beat system i.e. restorative justice process, and dealt with as a ‘pocket book exercise’. |
Question / Comment: How long does a caution last as it could stop an individual becoming a school governor for example. |
Response: The duration of a caution is not known. However with regard to school governing bodies this should be considered from the point of safeguarding. In addition a potential employer will need to undertake a judgement regarding the suitability of a particular individual for a role based on a risk assessment, dependent on what the caution was in relation to. |
Question / Comment: Whilst it is right to trumpet the success of the County Lines operation last year, this has resulted in more people with chaotic drug use and also in unforeseen circumstances as a result of the Police Operation such as an increased demand on the services of Kaleidoscope. In addition there is concern that young people need something more interesting to do rather than take drugs which is a challenge when the Council is reducing its youth service provision. |
Response: The Police operation did move individuals out of the County that were having a detrimental effect on the county. However there have been increased demand for services such as Kaleidoscope. Multiple agencies had been prepared prior to the Police operation due to shared information. The Area Planning Board is also looking at the future funding of Kaleidoscope as well as the potential effect of any future Police operations. The Community Safety Partnership will be made aware of any future Police operations and the Area Planning Board is setting funding aside in case it is required to react to deal with the effects of a future operation. The consequences of the Police action will also be considered when support services are being recommissioned in 2020. However the increased numbers of clients will already have been known to Kaleidoscope rather than being brand new clients. The Commissioner commented that trying to reduce the market for drugs is important. Welsh Government had provided additional funding to the Area Planning Board in 2019. Last year’s Police operation was also not a one-off and it was a constant battle against drugs with some recent enforcement action. The funding of youth services was acknowledged to be an issue as was the funding of the Youth Justice Team which had received additional funding from the Commissioner’s office. |
Question / Comment: Residents had met in Newtown to discuss County Lines and there is enthusiasm amongst the public to eradicate County Lines. Are there ways to mobilise residents to assist with prevention? There are also no Business Crime Reduction Partnerships (BCRPs) in Powys – is there any work underway to initiate these? |
Response: The Commissioner commented that it was good that such meetings are taking place and it would be beneficial for a representative from his office as well as the Police to be at such meetings. Communities however, needed to understand how to share any information they have with the authorities in a structured way. Part of this could be assisted by the current restructuring of the Community Policing Teams. The Commissioner suggested that he would discuss the issue of BCRPs with the Police as an operational issue. CCTV cameras had been rolled out to the main towns in Powys which were being monitored from Police HQ. |
Question / Comment: County Lines – could posters or leaflets be distributed to schools, parents and communities to raise awareness. In relation to BCRPs Brecon and Newtown were in the process of establishing business districts and it would be beneficial to encourage crime reduction in the business plans for these new districts. |
Response: There is much engagement already about County Lines. However, there is a need to ensure that the message being given out to the public is consistent and that that wrong messages are not causing a fear of crime which may not exist as County Lines, although important, is not the most urgent concern in the county. The Commissioner commented that the Home Office has provided additional funding for a Youth Worker emplyed by Crime Stoppers who is going around the Dyfed Powys area. Crime Stoppers can pass information onto the Police on behalf of the public. There is a need to reduce the impact of substance misuse and deter gangs from coming into Powys. |
Question / Comment: What effect has the changes to overnight Police cover had on deterring crime gangs coming into Powys. The Commissioner has undertaken to, and introduced, CCTV cameras with the Police and the Town Council in Welshpool agreeing the location of the cameras. The Town Council was then able to move its cameras to other locations which the public have welcomed. |
Response: The Commissioner commented that the Police made changes to how resources were allocated overnight. There has been no reduction in the number of staff, the difference being that staff are out in cars rather than located at the Police Station in Welshpool. This matter is kept under review and if required can be changed. |
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