Agenda and minutes

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Contact: James Goodwin 01708 432432  Email: James.goodwin@onesource.co.uk

Items
No. Item

24.

Update from London Community Rehabilitation Company

Minutes:

It was agreed to defer this item until the next meeting of the Sub-Committee.

25.

Anti-social behaviour - parking across residential driveways pdf icon PDF 222 KB

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee received a briefing from the Traffic and Parking Control Group Manager on Anti-Social Parking Behaviour and Public Space Protection Orders to deal with anti-social parking around schools.

 

Officers explained the Traffic Management Act 2004 (TMA) had covered the parking contravention of dropped kerb parking, however this had been amended and the TMA stated that it was legal, provided the owner of the property allows it.  Therefore it was the responsibility of the resident to instruct enforcement if this was an issue.

 

The Sub-Committee was informed of the cost involved with the removal of a vehicle.  Officers explained that bailiffs were involved when there were three or more outstanding warrants.  Officers were looking at pilots where a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) is issued and then the vehicle is removed to a “legal” space as this would reduce the cost of storage.  The evader would still have to pay the fine, and would be able to challenge if necessary.  The owner of the vehicle would have to contact the Police who use the TRACE system which can identify where a vehicle is located.

 

Officers explained that PCN were a civil matter whereas Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) were a criminal matter.  The PSPOs could be used were there were reasonable grounds that activity had occurred in a public place which was having a detrimental effect on those in the vicinity, and this was a persistent or continuous activity.

 

It was noted that many illegal parking acts are traits of anti-social behaviour and it was suggested that the current traditional civil parking enforcement legislation could be augmented with powers from the Anti-social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 via PSPOs.  It was hoped that this would minimise the anti-social behaviours and reduce obstructive parking often encountered by local residents, which also impacts upon the safety of pedestrians the majority of whom were school children, during the school run outside of many of the boroughs schools.

 

Officers were now working with schools to gather evidence and to observe the behaviour of motorists.  It was noted that not only the would an order to prohibit an action be necessary, but in some areas there may be physical changes that would need to be implemented (e.g. new lines, no entry and one-way streets).

 

The Sub-Committee raised concerns for the residents who lived in the pilot areas and how the proposals would affect them.  Officers explained that residents would be able to register vehicles of friends and family so these were exempt from the scheme, this would also be true for Health and Homecare users and GP’s as well as any other service vehicles.  Whilst this may cause displacement to other areas, these would be a larger area and would ensure that the environment around schools was made better.

 

It was hoped that the public consultation with residents would start in early April 2016.  The Sub-Committee requested that an update on the outcomes from the public consultation be given at a future meeting.

 

 

 

 

26.

Review of Youth Offending Service

To receive an oral report.

 

Minutes:

The Service Manager Early Help, Youth Offenders Service and Troubled Families provided the Sub-Committee with a presentation outlining the inspection feedback on the Havering Youth Offending Service.  He stated that the Youth Offending Team had been move back in-house in December 2014, and in that time an inspection and feedback on how the service was performing and any challenges were raised.

 

It was explained that 20 statutory cases were randomly selected which would include both community and custodial sentences.  The case files would be assessed to see what the plan contained, if the outcomes were SMART and if the parent/ carer had been involved in the process.  These were looked at over the course of a week, and interviews were held with case managers.  Prior to this preparation with staff was carried out so that when interviews took place they were able to provide positive feedback as well as provide honest opinions on the challenges that they faced.

 

From the inspection there were a number of key strengths identified, including effective assessments of offending behaviour and risk of harm to other, as there were established links and joint working with the police and community safety.  Parents/ carers were fully involved in assessment and planning, and were seen as being a central support to the child or young person; case managers’ detailed knowledge of barriers to working with the YOS and individual preferences of children and young people had led to effective   compliance and engagement; children and young people having access to a range of specialist service including substance misuse, emotional and mental health and mentoring.

 

The Sub-Committee noted the headline score performance for 2014/15, it was noted that the overall scores in the last year were between 40-50% however there was a positive increase in these scores for 2014/15.  The figures for reducing the likelihood of reoffending was 85% in Havering (73% average), protecting the public was 85% (average 70%), protecting the child or Young Person was 70% (average 68%) and ensuring that the sentence is served was 90% (average was 82%).

 

The feedback from children and young people that had been received over the last year was generally very positive about the service they received.  Officers informed the Sub-Committee that the staffing levels had not changed since the last inspection, and the team was made of permanent stable posts, with a good mix of staff.  Succession planning was in place and recruitment into posts in previous years had not been an issue.  This was attributed to the good clear direction vision and outcomes from managers together with increased knowledge.

 

The challenges in the future would be down to budgets.  In the last year the service had to make 12% cost savings, and the budgets for the next financial year had not yet been announced.  Across London the case load was becoming more complex, with Havering having 28% of reoffenders, which was lower than our neighbours statistically.

 

The Sub-Committee stated that live data of the youth service would be beneficial  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

27.

STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT

Minutes:

The Community Safety Team Leader provided an overview of the Annual Strategic Assessment which would go to the Havering Community Safety Partnership for approval.  The overview looked at the performance and recent trends; Crime Harm Index; Community Safety Problems and suggested priorities and recommendations.

 

It was noted that there had always been a gap between the level of crime and the perception of crime.  Trends showed that there had been an increased reporting level of victim based crime, including Violence with Injury, Domestic Abuse, Hate Crime, Serious Youth Violence, Weapon Enable Crime, Robbery, Sexual Offences and Child Sex Exploitation (CSE).

 

Decreasing levels of serious acquisitive crimes had been noted.  These included burglary, motor vehicle crime and theft person.  Levels of anti-social behaviour had also decreased.

 

The Sub-Committee noted the Cambridge Crime Harm Index, which showed the links between crimes and harm.  The Sub-Committee noted that 15% of crimes committed (including Serious Violence, Robbery, Domestic Abuse, Sexual Offences/ CSE and Burglary) attributed to 73% of harm to the health and wellbeing of the victims.  Whilst the larger percentage of crimes at 85% (thefts, motor vehicle crime, criminal damage and business crime) was attributed to only 27% of harm to the health and wellbeing of the victims.

 

The top categories which impacted across Havering were:

 

Domestic Abuse – this affected 1 in 20 adults in Havering and 27% of cases received by the local authority MASH involved domestic abuse, with 13% being where domestic violence was the main category.  More than 1 in 10 crimes recorded in Havering during the assessment period were categorised as domestic abuse.  The CCG and Hospitals reported that 35% of women patients treated for injuries, consistent with violence, had been assaulted in their own homes, with only 17% reporting the incident to the Police.

 

Violent Crime – Overall this was the largest volume contributor to crime in Havering, accounting for 29% of all recorded crimes.  Specific problems with this included an increase of gangs and serious youth violence, to 81.5% in the current assessment period.  Havering was ranked the 13th highest rate of violent crime in London compared to 19th last year.  Gun and knife enabled crimes in Havering increased by 55.9% in the current assessment period whilst street robbery had also risen 53%.  It was noted that a significant proportion of physical violence that was not domestic abuse, continued to take place within times and location linked to the night time economy, an area where considerable improvement had been made over the longer time.

 

Sexual Offences – It was noted that whilst this was significantly underreported and low in volume, the impact and harm caused by sexual offences was significant.  This was an area that crossed over with domestic abuse and violent crime linked with gangs for example.  There had been a rise of 28% in reporting sexual offences during the current assessment period, and an exponential rise in the volume of cases of child sexual exploitation in Havering.  It was noted that Havering  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

28.

Crime Statistics and Metropolitan Police update

Minutes:

The Police were unable to attend therefore it was agreed that this item be deferred until the next meeting of the Sub-Committee.

 

 

29.

Topic Group update - How the Criminal Justice System deals with Offenders with mental Health issues.

Minutes:

The Chairman agreed to defer this item until the next meeting of the Sub-Committee.