Agenda item

To consider the 2011/12 quarter three performance tables for the Redditch Community Safety Partnership Framework and to propose recommendations for further action based on the report if deemed necessary.

(Reports attached)

The Panel received an overview of the 2011/12 quarter three performance tables for the Redditch Community Safety Partnership Framework and was led through the crime figures for each of the four priority areas:

Protecting Communities

The number of recorded offences under this priority area generally had remained stable compared to the previous quarter or against the same point in 2010/11.

It was explained to Members that a decrease in the level of hate crime reports to the Council had coincided with an increase in case complexity. It was therefore taking longer for each case to be properly managed and investigated. However, Officers felt that it was encouraging that the more complex cases could be investigated and that more residents were willing to report these incidents of crime.

An analysis and evaluation of Operation STAYSAFE had been commissioned in March 2012. This was a scheme where parents and young people identified would be able to receive advice regarding the harm caused by misuse of alcohol. Additional funding had been provided from the Safer Communities Board to fund this.

Officers had recently delivered hate-crime prevention workshops in local schools. It was reported that this had already worked very well at Trinity High School. Plans were in place to deliver these across other schools in the area.

The Council had also received very positive feedback from the local lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community having facilitated two gay nights at a town centre nightclub. Officers were liaising with premises and Bromsgrove Pub Watch to establish “Safe Zones” for the LGBT community.

Reducing Re-offending and Restorative Justice

The crime figures under this priority were mixed, with the level of incidents up in some areas and lower in others compared to the same point the year before.

Members were advised that two conferences were being arranged for the West Mercia and Worcestershire areas to provide more information to local agencies on the Integrated Offender Management (IOM) Programme. A number of pathways had been developed by the private, public and voluntary sectors in collaboration to help reduce the level of re-offending. It was explained that the Community Safety partners including County Council and Police were already working together to support this programme across Worcestershire. However, it was not thought that the effectiveness of IOM could be measured until approximately eighteen months time. 

Safer Streets and Places

The Panel was again informed that the levels of crime were generally mixed compared to previous quarters. However, Members were advised that there had been a decrease in the level of most serious violent incidents compared to the same quarter in 2010/11. Also, the level of night-time economy related violence and public order offences had been decreasing each quarter since June 2010.

Regarding the association projects under this priority area, Members heard that the RoadWay Arts programme was ongoing. The latest decorated bus shelter had been unveiled in March 2012. Elsewhere, there had been no indication that the County Council would be allocating its funding for street light improvements to the CSP for 2012/13.

Secure Homes

Reported incidents of crime for domestic burglary, criminal damage, and serious acquisitive crime had all increased compared to the same point in 2010/11. The Partnership was considering a number of options to tackle this problem, including the introduction of a metal-theft prevention project.

Elsewhere, the Panel was informed that the introduction of CCTV at the Winyates Centre had led to the conviction to a lead thief in the area.

RESOLVED that

the report be noted