Agenda and minutes

Venue: Virtual meeting - Online. View directions

Contact: Patrick Adams  03450 450 500 Email: democratic.services@scambs.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes of the last meeting pdf icon PDF 164 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes were agreed and proposed by Cllr Anna Bradnam as a true record of the meeting.

2.

Election of Chair

Minutes:

Area Commander Stuart Smith from Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue was nominated as Chair of South Cambs CSP by Cllr Claire Daunton, following the relocation of Ryan Stacey to Lincolnshire FRS. This was seconded by Cllr Anna Bradnam. There were no other nominations therefore Stuart Smith was elected Chair.

3.

Development work update & transformation topic pdf icon PDF 5 MB

·         Data report & Strategic Assessment

·         PSG

·         Toolkits

o   OPCC micro grants

o   Community Engagement

o   Unauthorised Encampment

Additional documents:

Minutes:

This Review is very different from past years due complications of Covid. Trend data is difficult to analyse due to Covid changing crime patterns.  Drug offences are up but inquisitive theft is down, probably as a result of people being at home during lockdown.

 

Existing priorities:

Priority 1 – Community resilience

Areas where communities are galvanising energy into action and the development of Community Engagement toolkits.

 

There has been a huge Community response to Covid across the County. There is a large volume of volunteers assisting in communities and there is an opportunities to build on this now. Support Cambridgeshire (umbrella organisation supporting the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS)) are highlighting the value of existing groups and their energy.

 

Priority 2 – Priority Areas

Areas for focus are chosen based on data and professional judgement. A highlight of the last year was the creation of the Data Group. This was set up to assess the quality and effectiveness of the data being shared and to broaden the types of data used to inform the activities of the CSP.

 

Areas have been placed into one of 3 categories based on the Data Group’s recommendations:

Emerging – areas where multiple issues are presenting and / or where escalating issues have been identified.

Preventing - growth areas and/or existing communities where vulnerabilities are predicted to be an issue for the future

Sustaining - areas where work has been / is being done to tackle known issues and where support is required to improve future resilience.

 

Strategic Assessment key findings:

Domestic Abuse (DA) - This is a big issue owing to Covid restrictions increasing vulnerabilities.  DA calls are up by 12% in South Cambs in 2020 compared to 2019, although IDVA referrals have not increased notably.  Nationally, the charity sector is showing spikes in calls with a 65% rise in calls and a 700% increase to website visits - see strategic assessment for DA graphs.  Victim data for 2019 showed victims of DA offences were more likely to be aged 25-49.

 

Violence - There has been an upward trend in violent crime in South Cambs over recent years, driven by an increase in stalking and harassment offences. This is likely to be linked to changes in recording practices, however, it may also be partly due to real increases in stalking particularly virtual offences.   This area needs more detailed analysis, which will be brought back to the TCG as part of the quarterly monitoring of data.

 

Stalking & harassment – This area is responsible for the majority of growth in crime stats for South Cambs. This could be due to better reporting or is possibly as a result of more online / virtual stalking.  This area needs more detailed analysis, which will be brought back to the TCG as part of the quarterly monitoring of data.

 

Substance Misuse - Overall increase in drug offences in 2020 due to an increase during the first national lockdown, in line with a national spike. It is believed that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Operational Action Plan 2020-21 - update PREVENT - Police to Local Authority

Minutes:

Below are the 8 agreed key areas for CSP activity and a brief update on progress:

 

Coordinate agency responses to local issues (Problem Solving Group)

Reviewed and refreshed the PSG group based on feedback from partners. Gathered best practice from Hunts & East Cambs - see PSG update at point 4.

 

Coordinate, manage and participate in the Community Trigger process:

No Community Triggers registered. See Community Trigger update at point 7.

 

Domestic Homicide Reviews:

Currently 4 Domestics Homicide Reviews underway in South Cambs. See update at point 7.

 

Hoarding Project to tackle the causes of hoarding behaviours:

Working with SCDC Housing to pursue the employment of a Mental Health Specialist who we hope to utilise to assist with Hoarding projects to tackle the root cause of the issue as opposed to house clearance. £4130 still available with OPCC permission to roll forward.

 

Communicate with local communities so they can recognise and report incidents or concerns about: Domestic Abuse (DA); Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG); Cyber harassment, particularly young people focussed; Scams, rogue trading & financial fraud; hoarding; hate crime; modern slavery and exploitation:

Distribution of Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG) monthly newsletter amongst partners, social media campaigns throughout Covid relating to Domestic Abuse and SCAMS.  Launch of OPCC grant funding to assist communities to create Community Safety Groups to tackle local issues. SCAMS half page article in South Cambs Magazine.

 

Host at least one ‘Community Safety Event’ annually to engage with local people:

10 x patch workshops promoting Gypsy, Roma & Traveller Inclusion with Parish Councillors & District Councillors.

 

Agency Successes – captured monthly at TCG meetings:

Scambs - Campaign to involve Elected Members to encourage more Parish Councils to sign up to CAPASP to receive comms direct from the SCAMS team to share with the rest of their community.

 

Joint SCAMS & Police – An arrest was made after an investigation between SCAMS & Police, relating to a SCAM that had taken place over a 10 year period involving a loss of £1.7 million by a South Cambs Resident.

 

Police: Warrant executed on Meldreth site recovering firearms/drugs/money and RCAT recovered 6 stolen caravans, stolen property and 2 cannabis factories.

 

South Cambs & Police - Fen Rd Covid Outbreak - great collaboration between Police & SCDC.

AB - advised that Councillors were heavily involved in the Fen Road outbreak and worked with their community to encourage them to get tested, reassuring them that they wouldn’t catch Covid by attending the testing centre.

 

Improving links between the CSP and relevant countywide delivery groups

-Ongoing monthly CSP T&CG groups including partners from South Cambs, County, Housing, Police, Fire, Scams and Probation. Refresh the South Cambs PSG group and a communication plan to engage partner agencies.

 

-2 new Graduate student Police Officers employed with a sole aim around SCDC problem solving work. 2-year course involving a series of 100-day projects including partnership work and they will be trained in OSARA problem solving / action planning model.

 

-Appointment of 2 Community Connectors employed by County, dedicated to South Cambs to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Budget 2020-21 incl pdf icon PDF 87 KB

Budget 2020-21 incl:

·         County wide DHR funding arrangements

·         PCC funding

Minutes:

See budget information In Board documents.

 

OPCC happy to extend the deadline to all Transformation Topic work to end Sept 2021 as well as reallocate funds within the bounds of the broader OPCC project - acknowledging delays to delivery due to Covid.  Also funding £4130 rolled forward for Hoarding work (some of this was underspend and some resulted from income from schools who contributed to the County Lines theatre productions).

 

CD - confirmed after attending an OPCC meeting that no funding is available for next year. What happen with unspent funding?  Why 6 months extension?

KH - All CSP's had the same 6-month extension to allow for Covid impact. No information regarding funding for next financial year yet. If no funding is forthcoming, then we will continue with low cost activity such as is in the current operational plan – activities which add value to the work of the individual partners.

 

Domestic Homicide Reviews expenditure – the funding required for 4 Domestic Homicide Reviews leaves a deficit of c. £5700. The CSP has requested c. £956 per partner to cover this shortfall.

 

The County Council is managing a pooled fund for DHRs from 1 April 2021.  Partners are contributing but this has also been declined by probation (a national decision) and the CCG (a local decision).

Future DHRs will be funded from this pooled fund and commissioned centrally using a pool of recommended chairs, each with specialisms.   There is a need for ongoing lobbying of the Home

Office for future funding.

 

AB – asked who do Councillors need to lobby at County Council to get movement from CCG?

VC- County is already lobbying the CCG>

CD-This is the third discussion about funding for DHR at the Board. We agreed to lobby Home Office and advise the issues we are facing. Can we lobby home office with other CSPs & Districts?

VC This was discussed but it is felt that the Home Office are more than aware of the issue.  VC sat on a Quality Assurance Panel at the HO and it was repeatedly raised an issue that was resulting in sub-standard reports coming from cheaper authors.  Through the DHR network, the Home Office are repeatedly getting the consistent message that this statutory function must be funded. They are being asked to fund DHR's in the same way as child death reviews are funded. It is unclear why they are not responding.

 

SS - Stuart soon to be meeting with Rob Hill and offer support in lobbying HO. SS raised concerns that partners will not have funding to contribute going forward as the pressures on partners’ budgets are increasing.

 

Action – CD & AB to follow up with Local Government Association (LGA) regarding DHR funding from Home Office

 

Action – LG to send Clare Cook theatre production info re County Lines.

6.

DHR & Community Trigger update

·         4 x DHR

·         Community Trigger

Minutes:

DHR 1 –Submitted to the Home Office last year. The action plan is now complete - it was agreed not to wait for Home Office response before progressing the plan.

DHR 2 – Presented at last Board by Liz Hanlon and we now have an action plan from Author, which needs to be agreed by Panel partners.

DHR 3- Inaugural panel meeting has taken place and divided up actions with panel members - next meeting is 25 March.

DHR 4- Next week is the inaugural meeting.

 

Community Trigger – Lesley Beevers

LB attended the Local Government Association webinar and is now linking in with ASB Help regarding their template Policy & Procedures so we can update our own protocols and website information.  This will also include a summary of what someone must have gone through to use the Community Trigger process and what happen when they ‘pull’ the Trigger.  Timescales are dependent on ASB Help - LB has requested their documentation and it is currently sitting with their CEO to be finalised. LB also looking at a reciprocal agreement where we can support another Authority and vice versa as an independent body to review their Triggers. We will follow their advice as to whether we can work with other Cambridgeshire Authorities on this or if we must go further afield.

CD - Difficult for elected members to understand what the 'Community Trigger' is and how it works.

Can it be given a more self-explanatory name as well as information about when it’s used, what for, how important it is and when it comes into effect?

LB - The official name is 'Anti-Social Behaviour case review' and our website will be more explanatory and clearer.

AB - Needs to be clear what the words mean and 'Anti-Social Behaviour case review' tells you what is happening.

Action – LB to update at next Board meeting in Oct 2021.

7.

RCAT update (Rural Community Action Team)

Minutes:

The data within this update will not be comparable to the October RCAT update as there are 2 seasons: coursing season and non-coursing season.  There is a lot more proactive work in non-coursing season.

 

In 2020 there were 1221 confirmed coursing incidents, this is significantly lower than 2019 and so far in 2021 we are over 20% down on the same period last year.

 

Force-wide statistics for the coursing season (1st September 2020 to 1st March 2021)

·         158 dispersals issued

·         74 vehicles seized

·         132 community protection warnings issued

·         16 community protection notices issued

·         24 prosecutions

·         4 Criminal Behaviour Orders obtained at court pertaining to Hare coursing offenders

 

We have seen a decrease in South Cambs in hare coursing, but it will always be challenging to get area-specific data due the cross-border nature of the work.

 

CD – My question is to clarify that the statistics cover the whole of Cambridgeshire as the nature of coursing is such that it crosses borders and the RCAT team is a force-wide resource?

EH – Yes, the above statistics relate to the whole of Cambridgeshire. However other crime types managed by the RCAT team will already feature in the previous data sets so have not been included to avoid duplication e.g. tractor theft- this is included in Harriet’s statistics.

                                                                                         

Figures are based on calls recorded.  Hare coursing happens in a clear season, but it can still vary all year round due to new farming techniques and crop rotation.

 

HW - lots of proactive work has been done in The Mordens ward by blocking entrances but more work required rather than digging up verges.

 

Action – Sgt Emma Hilson to signpost Cllr Heather Williams to the RCAT team.

8.

Domestic Abuse & Sexual Violence Update

Minutes:

This work now comes under the broader heading of VAWG (Violence Against Women and Girls).  Girls are disproportionally harmed but men/boys can also be victims of abuse. There has been a 19% increase over last year and there is a sense that victims are waiting longer before reporting to Police.

During the first lockdown there was a drop-in demand for services.  After lockdown there was a huge increase in demand, so we are expecting same as we come out of this lockdown.

 

The aims of the Domestic Abuse Strategy:

- To work to prevent people becoming offenders of DA and reducing victimisation by challenging the attitudes and behaviours which foster it.

- To reduce the risk to victims and interventions to prevent abuse from continuing, recurring or escalating

-To ensure that perpetrators are appropriately pursued and challenged.

-Through a joint commissioning approach, we will ensure all victims have access to appropriate and proportionate outcome-focused support.

 

County (Tier 1) have been given funding of £1.6 million. SCDC (Tier 2) was awarded approximately £35k.  The duty of the District Authority is to cooperate with Tier 1 and a Needs Assessment and Strategy is due by August (although this may alter as the documentation has not yet been issued).

The focus of the requirement at District Authority level is to improve services in terms of safe accommodation.  This money should be spent in the realm of Domestic Abuse – such as improving the Council’s response to DA. It is SCDC money and not CSO.

South Cambs are currently going through the DAHA accreditation led by Housing therefore funding maybe spent on funding a project that comes from this accreditation.

CD - How will a homeless/DA victim be recorded crossing border. How would that be reported?

VC – Via housing needs assessment report and cross border agency working.

AB – Can we be sure the money goes on front line work and not lots of meetings.

VC – We are committed to ensuring the money will be going to ensure as much front line delivery as possible.

FE – In Probation, , we have single points of contact and manage risk presented by Domestic Abuse perpetrators, and we work with partners. We have link workers who also work with victims to monitor and manage risks in relation to restraining orders.

The Perpetrator Panel is vital to enrich information about our risky perpetrators and very beneficial. It includes a plan for people leaving prison and is very positive.

FE- Agrees and their part in this process is important. They are trained for 3 years in recognising manipulation by perpetrators. Panels help partners to input into their assessment.

 

KH- Completed “Co-ordinated Community Response” training produced and delivered by a charity called Standing Together.  Does IRIS training program (identifying DA specifically in primary health sector) exist in Cambridgeshire to help GPs identify DA in patients?

VC- We have a Health IDVA in Addenbrookes maternity services and A&E with principles of IRIS in that role. We are  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

AOB

Next meeting – Oct

Close

Minutes:

Next Board Meeting

Action – LG to poll members for October Board Meeting date.