Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Kate Calvert, David Jenkins and Leigh Roberts.

The Chairman welcomed those present to the meeting and introductions were made. He explained that the purpose of this meeting was to ensure that the members of the Board worked in partnership to reduce crime in the District.  He added that he believed the CDRP was an excellent example of partnership working.

None.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 23 February 2016.

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 February 2016 were agreed as a correct record, subject to the inclusion of Elaine Matthews’ full name in the attendance list.

Mike Hill explained that he had liaised with Nicky Philipson regarding the setting up a programme to prevent the sexual exploitation of young people.

Philip Aldis reported that he had established contact with the Clinical Commissioning Group, and had met with Kate Calvert the Chief Executive.  Kate plans to attend the CDRP Board Meeting in February 2017.

Mike Hill reported on the work of the T&CG that meets each month:

·         South Cambridgeshire remained a great place to live with a low crime rate.

·         Residents’ perceptions sometimes differed from the actual low level of crime and Anti-Social Behaviour.

·         The monthly meetings of the Task and Co-ordination Group were well attended and address both strategic and tactical matters, linking well with the 3 locality groups.

Philip Aldis presented this 6 monthly report on the Board’s annual Action Plan. He summarised that good progress was being made on the Plan’s priorities. The financial report had been submitted to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and was on target.

Increase Resilience to Scams and Rogue Traders

Elaine Matthews updated the Group on the work of the Council Council’s Community Protection Team in protecting our residents from the financial harm caused by scams and Rogue Traders. She explained that the focus was on training those who come into regular contact with vulnerable residents including:

·         Library staff

·         Dementia Support Groups at Shelford and Cambourne

·         Carers

·         Community Navigators

·         Local post offices (on how to spot mail scams or rogue traders and to have leaflets on this available to customers.)

Work has also been carried out in partnership with the Police and the Fire and Rescue Service. Working with the Police we now have a shared Community Protection notice board in Histon Library.  We have been involved in the Police Cadets scheme, training young Police Cadets on how to spot and stop Scams, and what to look out for with regards Rogue Traders, so that they can in turn advise their peers and members of the community.   The Fire and Rescue Service ‘Safe and Well’ work now includes questions on scams, in particular mail scams which are often linked with hoarding.

There are 61 Library at Home service users (i.e. housebound residents) and approx. 145 mobile library stops  in South Cambs. Working with the volunteer coordinators and the volunteers who visit the housebound residents and the mobile library van drivers, we have increased their awareness of scams and rogue traders to enable them to share information and advice and look out for vulnerable residents.

We have a number of existing No Cold Calling Zones in South Cambs.  We have been working with Neighbourhood Watch and local residents in those areas who have agreed to be ‘Community Coordinators’, who with our support are now updating the door stickers, speaking to the residents who live in the zones to remind them of the signs of Rogue Traders and how to avoid them and now acting as a local point of contact. To date (November) 19 NCCZ were being successfully managed by Community Coordinators.

Our officers work on behalf of the National Trading Standards Scams Team, returning cash and cheques which have been seized by that team or their Police partners as part of their investigations.   We are supported by Police colleagues when returning cash and cheques, as it is often the first time someone can acknowledge they have indeed been caught up in a scam.   Our officers provide further support to the victim and their families.  One particular case in South Cambs has had our attention recently and involved work by Police community safety officer as County Council Community Protection officers.  The local post office identified a resident who they thought might be caught up in a mail scam.  When visited  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

James Sutherland gave an update on crime levels and Police activity in the District:

Crime levels and reporting

There had been an improvement in the accuracy of recording crime in South Cambs.  Accurate reporting takes time and resources, therefore less time had been allocated for community safety initiatives  Solved crime (detection rates) are improving. 

Some crime types are increasing:  Theft From Motor Vehicle (TFMV) is currently relatively high for the District.  James commented that TFMV is less harmful to a victim than a crime such as hate crime, of which there is increased reporting and increased incidents. 

James added that the more accurate reported figures show a better picture of the real crime levels in the District, but he believes that crime is not getting worse or the District is unsafe. 

Digital democracy

Neighbourhood Panels are now being streamed on the internet via Periscope.  There had been approximately 20 people in attendance t one recent meeting but 300 people viewed it online. It was hoped that the online streaming of meetings could be extended.

Crime prevention

The Bad Wolf Test crime prevention survey is being promoted. 

ECops daily crime update emails remain popular: a recent survey asking subscribers if they like receiving the emails received 260 positive replies.

Awards

The work around Rural Crime had recently been recognised, and the Human Trafficking evening had won a National Award.

Evidence based policing in place

Micro beats data:

·         There are 2656 streets in South Cambs

·         3% of these account for 30% of the crime

·         50% of streets are crime free!

James Sutherland explained that as part of his studies at Cambridge University he had analysed crime data to produce micro beat data on over 2,000 streets in the District, and had identified that 3% of streets in South Cambridgeshire were responsible for 30% of crime in the District.

In response there is now a PCSO-owned plan for each of the 3% streets.

Cyber crime reports are low, but it is believed that incidents are high but are unreported.

Police cadets

There are now 15 cadets in the South Cambs unit; they have helped with knife crime test purchasing in South Cambs, and will be doing some crime prevention advice outside Morrisons Cambourne in November.

Road Safety Partnership funding had been secured to train officers to use speed equipment.

Identifying crime hotspots

The rural crime action team has been relaunched and it was focusing on hare coursing and illegal poaching.

Police responding to non-crime related issues

In response to questioning James Sutherland explained that whilst 75% of Police work was not directly related to crime, it included responding to road accidents, dealing with safety issues and responding to concerns about vulnerable people. It was noted that whilst other agencies could be responding to these queries, the Police were the easiest to contact.

Use of ICT

It was noted that meetings of Neighbourhood Panels were being streamed on the internet. There had been approximately 20 people in attendance, but an impressive 300 people were online. It was hoped that the online streaming of meetings could be extended.

It was understood that the “Bad Woolf” test on home security could be carried out online. A daily newsletter called “eCop” provided daily crimes update. 260 people had recently e-mailed to say that they valued this service. It was understood that reports of cyber crime were suspiciously low.

Identifying crime hotspots

James Sutherland explained that he had attended a course at Cambridge University regarding the studying of hotspots of crime. He had identified that 3% of streets in South Cambridgeshire were responsible for 30% of crime in the District.

The rural crime action team has been relaunched and it was focusing on hare coursing and illegal poaching.

Police responding to non-crime related issues

In response to questioning James Sutherland explained that whilst 75% of Police work was not directly related to crime, it included responding to road accidents, dealing with safety issues and responding to concerns about vulnerable people. It was noted that whilst other agencies could be responding to these queries, the Police were the easiest to contact.

In the absence of Charles Kitchin, this item was deferred to the next meeting.

Ben Shelton reported that Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) inspected the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough constabulary twice a year. The Fire & Rescue Service had been kept updated on possible future arrangements.

Mike Hill explained that the Council were undergoing a Peer Review later in the month.

Mike Hill gave a verbal report on the progress being made with the Strategic Assessment which will be presented to the CDRP in February 2017, and advised that the group had agreed that the assessment should include a focus on

• What are the current issues faced in South Cambs?
• What are the intel gaps on which we need more understanding?
• Vulnerability, threat, harm and risk
• Hate crime reporting
• The micro beat data produced by CI Sutherland
• Overlaying other agency data onto the micro beat data
• And also provide clarification about levels of violent crime incidents and reporting, particularly

-       is it a real rise or an improved reporting success?

-       is Domestic Violence driving an increase in violent crime?

The T&CG had agreed that ASB would be excluded from the Strategic Assessment, and a separate report brought to the T&CG in March 2017.

Public concerns

It was noted that the perception of crime was a problem, partly driven by inaccurate reports in social media. Residents saw parking and speeding as top priorities. Matt Staton explained that there had been a long term reduction in in the number of deaths and injuries in road accidents in the District.  Mike Hill asked Matt Stanton to share data on road traffic accidents.

ACTION:

Philip Aldis agreed to feedback the additional comments to Leigh Roberts.

Matt Staton to provide data to Leigh Roberts and a report to the CDRP

Philip Aldis presented this report, which requested feedback from the Board on issues raised at the Cambridgeshire Countywide Community Safety Strategic Board on 12 October 2016.

Joint Strategic Needs Assessment for Cambridgeshire & Peterborough – Threat, Risk, Harm and Vulnerability

The Board agreed:

·         To support the proposal of carrying out an assessment.

·         That Philip Aldis would liaise with Leigh Roberts on how best to contribute to the assessment.

·         It would be necessary to agree a timetable which considered the work pressures facing the local authorities and partnerships

·         Assessment and analysis to District level data would help partnerships and local authorities

Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Needs Assessment

Amanda Warburton agreed to liaise with Simon Kerss to request further information on the VAWG Needs Assessment. It was agreed that the Board should liaise with other Community Safety Partnerships on this issue as well as invite Simon to give an update to a subsequent T&CG.

Mental Health & Policing

The group agreed that there was much work to be done around Mental Health, and the impact on Police resources.

Mark Freeman added that he would be able to share some insight from the experiences of the Voluntary Sector.

In addition it was agreed to feedback to Dr Dorothy Gregson that noted that hoarding was a particular concern. It was also important to identify mental health issues in young people by working with housing departments of local authorities and with youth clubs.

Philip Aldis will feed this back as well as suggesting Dr Gregson makes contact with Mark Freeman to ensure the experience and knowledge of the Voluntary Sector is included too.

CDRP Representation on the Cambridgeshire Countywide Community Safety Strategic Board

The group discussed and recognised that it was important to have the correct representation for the topics being discussed.  It was agreed that when the CCCSSB agendas are circulated, the T&CG would discuss and identify the most suitable representation based on the agenda items to ensure the most effective involvement with the CCCSSB.

Philip Aldis presented this agenda item, which requested feedback from the Board on the paper: “Developing a Police and Crime Plan for Cambridgeshire”, which was attached to the agenda.

It was agreed that the reply from the CDRP should include:

• That as a CDRP we support the approach
• Front line officers and feeling safe are important issues to our residents.
• We welcome the inclusion of restorative justice and work with offenders.
• We believe effective partnerships have an optimum size, and in South Cambs we see great benefit of working within District boundaries and shared space.
• Partnership solutions, not just policing solutions, are the key, to resolving local issues.

It was also agreed that agencies will respond separately where they have comments specific to their business or agency.

Philip Aldis agreed to prepare a response for the T&CG to agree at its December meeting.

Members are asked to bring their diaries.

The Board agreed to hold its next meeting on Thursday 23 February at 10am.