Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Sue Cooper (Affinity Sutton), Judith Cross (Bromley Community Engagement Forum), Karen Fletcher-Wright (LBB Assistant Director, Access and Inclusion), Charles Griggs (Borough Police Commander), Howard Oldstein (The Glades), Ulanta Messeter (Magistrates Court) and Sarah Walker (Metropolitan Police Authority).

The notes of the last meeting held on 16^th December 2010 were received.

It was noted:

Minute 2 – Minutes of Last Meeting/Matters Arising –The Head of Community Safety confirmed that Cora Green, a representative of Victim Support Bromley, had agreed to approach all registered social landlords in the Borough seeking funding for the Safer Bromley Van initiative.

It was AGREED that the minutes be approved.

Consideration was given to the performance monitoring report for Qtr 3, 2010/11.

The majority of the targets had a Green rating, reflecting positive progress since the start of the year.  However a small number of targets had been rated Red or Amber.

There was a red indicator around the target to support 90% of young offenders into suitable education, employment or training.  The Head of Community Safety confirmed that young offenders often faced multiple barriers in engaging with education, employment or training, such as drug use and noted that this target did not recognise the efforts of some young people who were unable to complete the full number of hours prescribed by the target.  The Head of Inclusion and Respite highlighted that targeted mental health support was now being made available to young offenders in the Borough.

There was an amber indicator around Levels of Assault with Injury (and per 1,000 population rate).  The Head of Community Safety underlined that the Partnership had set a target that was more stretching than that set by the Police.  There was also an amber indicator around Domestic Abuse Training attendance following a review of the training programme.

It was AGREED that the Performance Management Report for Qtr 3, 2010/11 be noted.

Simon Schutte, Local Immigration Team (LIT) Leader for Bromley and Lewisham gave a presentation on the work of the UK Border Agency.  Bromley and Lewisham LIT, one of 15 LITs across London, had been in operation since 14^th September 2009 and was made up of around 50 staff; asylum case owners, warranted enforcement staff and caseworkers who considered representations from those facing removal. 

The Bromley and Lewisham LIT had so far achieved 333 Removals in 2010/11, with an average of 6.66 per week, which met the prescribed target.  The LIT regularly concluded around 50% of new asylum applications within 6 months, and in 2010/11 had conducted 31 visits to residential addresses and identified 28 illegal working operations.  A further 56 people had been identified through cross-working with Bromley Police, and the LIT had developed close working relationships with a range of agencies including Trading Standards and the Licensing Team. 

In response to a question, Simon Schutte confirmed it was difficult to remove young people under the age of 18, and this allowed their families to remain in the UK.  There were robust processes to confirm the age of unaccompanied young people placed in the care of the Local Authority, including an age assessment.  Mark Jordan highlighted that some Head teachers in the Borough were concerned that young people might be placed inappropriately in their schools. 

With regard to people wanting to study or work in the UK, sponsor hearings would be introduced from 1^st April 2011.  There were currently 82 licensed sponsors within the Borough, including Bromley College of Further and Higher Education.

Simon Schutte confirmed that recently announced cuts in the Immigration Service would not have a direct impact on Bromley and Lewisham LIT in 2011/12, however it was possible that the way UK Border Agency services were delivered might alter from 2012/13, particularly with the move towards localism

It was AGREED that the presentation be noted.

Consideration was given to a report introducing the most recent draft of the Safer Bromley Partnership Strategic Assessment for 2011/12.  The proposed Control Strategy priorities for 2011/12 were Anti-Social Behaviour, Crimes against Property, Violence against Person and Public Confidence.

The Chairman highlighted the need to develop appropriate performance targets against the new priorities. 

It was AGREED that:

1)  The current draft of the Strategic Assessment be noted.

2)  The proposed Control Strategy Priorities for 2011/12 be agreed.

3)  A further draft of the Strategic Assessment be considered at the next meeting of the Safer Bromley Partnership, including a proposed schedule of performance targets for 2011/12.

Consideration was given to a report setting out the details of the Safer Bromley Partnership budget for 2011/12.  Planned areas of expenditure included part-funding for Bromley’s Anti-Social Behaviour Unit, a Domestic Abuse Strategy Coordinator, the provision of personal protective equipment for restorative justice projects and Safer Neighbourhood Officers.  It was also proposed to fund a Junior Citizens Coordinator and a Young Victim’s Project to make victim support services more accessible to young people.

Councillor Benington highlighted plans to allocate funding to a project addressing issues related to teen pregnancy.  The Head of Community Safety confirmed that this project tackled a range of risk behaviours linked to teen pregnancy, including substance misuse.

Councillor Morgan noted that the available budget for 2012/13 was expected to represent a cash reduction of 60% on the 2010/11 baseline, and highlighted the need to consider future funding priorities.  There was potential for the voluntary sector to play a greater role in supporting community safety priorities.  Additional funding would also be provided to the Greater London Authority in future to support work at a Borough-level.

It was AGREED that:

1)  The budget position be noted.

2)  The allocations included within the grant claim for 2011/12 be endorsed.

3)  Comments on the anticipated funding position for 2012/13 be noted.

Consideration was given to a report outlining the Government consultation process around how anti-social behaviour should be tackled and the powers that would be made available to local Partnerships, Councils and communities in reducing the harm caused by people and place-related anti-social behaviour. 

The consultation would close on 3^rd May 2011.  Partners were requested to provide any comments towards the Partnership response to the Head of Community Safety by mid-April 2011.

Paula Morrison underlined the need to include reference to mental health issues relating to anti-social behaviour in the consultation, and suggested Iain Dimond, the Borough Lead for Mental Health services be approached to contribute to the Partnership response.

It was AGREED that partners provide any comments on the consultation to the Head of Community Safety by Friday 15^th April 2011.

Consideration was given to a report setting out a proposal for the utilisation of £138,000 for Preventing Violent Extremism that had been made available to the Local Authority in 2010/2011.  It was proposed that representations be made to the Council’s Executive in April 2011 to fund a project delivering mentoring services for young people most at risk of developing criminal and anti-social behaviour for a three year period.  It was hoped that the project would then become a self-sustaining independent trust.

It was AGREED that the proposal being made to the Council’s Executive in order to secure funding for a mentoring project in the period 2011 to 2014 be supported.

Consideration was given to a report setting out proposals that were currently under consideration for the continuation of the Domestic Abuse Advocacy Project from 1^st April 2011.  Initially established in 2007 as part of a plan to address the Borough’s low level conviction rate for Domestic Violence, targets around increasing the reporting of domestic violence incidents and the proportion of domestic violence incidents leading to sanctioned detections and conviction had been achieved on completion of the project in March 2010, generating a reward payment of £315,000.  It was proposed that the Council’s Executive allocate £240,000 of this reward money between 2011 and 2014 for the continuation of this project, with the remaining £75,000 used to fund the Safer Bromley Van for two years.

Councillor Benington noted the importance of mentoring for those affected by domestic violence.  Paula Morrison highlighted the high number of children affected by domestic violence who were referred to health services.

It was AGREED that the proposal being made to the Council’s Executive in order to secure funding for Domestic Abuse Advocacy in the period 2011 to 2014 be supported.

Jill Lockett, Service Director of Behavioural & Developmental Psychiatry CAG at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust outlined the progress made over the last 12 months with regard to public safety programmes, police liaison and improving safe and therapeutic leave for forensic clients at the Bethlem Royal Hospital.  Significant progress had been made over the past year including the introduction of 100 Buddi trackers to support individual risk assessment and the use of therapeutic leave, and improved liaison and joint working between the teams at the Bethlem Royal Hospital and the Bromley Police, including two significant initiatives to address the way assaults (and other offences) committed by inpatients on psychiatric wards were dealt with. 

The level of risk (of abscond or fail to return) was 0.5% in March 2010.  This had now fallen to a risk rate of 0.07%, representing a reduction of 90%.  Jill Lockett highlighted that only those clients identified as having a clinical condition of low risk were granted therapeutic leave, however when clients failed to return, the history of a client was often emphasised by the media rather than their current clinical condition.  Clients who had absconded were considered ‘high risk’ by the Police, however this usually referred to the risk the client posed to themselves, which could be misleading to the community. 

In response to a question, Jill Lockett confirmed that the clients at River House were mentally disordered offenders.  Some had indeterminate services, others had been placed there on a hospital treatment order and would either be discharged to the community or transferred back to prison following treatment.

It was AGREED that the update be noted.

To Follow

An update on progress across the Young Offending Team would be provided to the next meeting of the Partnership.  The Chairman highlighted a recent communication from the Magistrate’s Court which had praised the work of the Youth Offending Team.

It was AGREED that an update be considered at the next meeting of the Safer Bromley Partnership.

(Tactical Group Report, DAT Report, Arson Sub Group Report and Bromley Community Engagement Forum) – (Verbal reports)

Tactical Group Report – DCI Chris Smart reported that the Police were continuing to achieve a reduction in crime across the Borough, including an 11% reduction in burglary.  Initiatives to tackle drug use and supply were ongoing with Operation Salsa targeting suppliers of Class A and B drugs across the Penge and Cator and Crystal Palace wards.  A joint operation with Lewisham in the North West of the Borough to tackle street robbery and a pilot scheme around restorative justice would begin in April 2011.  A scheme to support child sex offending disclosures, known as ‘Sarah’s Law’ would be in place in April 2011, and Officers were currently undergoing training.  In response to a query, DCI Chris Smart confirmed that exclusion from specific geographic areas was used as a condition of bail, however Borough-wide exclusions were not generally used.

DAT Report – Dave Prebble reported that all targets were being met in relation to treatment.  New treatment providers were currently being commissioned by the Drug Action Team, and processes to monitor those who had successfully completed drug treatment programmes would be reported to the next meeting of the Partnership.  Levels of ‘trigger offences’ for drug use across the Borough would be addressed in the strategy being developed by the Drug Action Team. 

Arson Sub Group Report – Andy Holcombe reported that the Arson Sub Group had been awarded a special achievement award following the development of a multi-agency strategy which had delivered a significant reduction in the number of deliberate fires across the Borough.  The work of the Arson Sub Group had been recognised as an example of good practice and would shortly be rolled out across London.

Bromley Community Engagement Forum Report – Lulu Pearce confirmed that the Bromley Youth Conference had been held on 23^rd March 2011, and had brought together students from 13 secondary schools across the Borough to consider issues around mutual respect, cyber bullying and drugs awareness.  The next public meeting of the Bromley Community Engagement Forum would be at 7.00pm on 9^th May 2011 at Bromley Town Football Club.  A community outreach day would be held on 16^th April 2011 in The Glades shopping centre and partners were invited to get involved. 

(a)  The minutes from the meeting of Bromley Community Engagement Forum held on 27^th January 2011 had been circulated for information.

(b)  The Head of Community Safety advised partners that the Metropolitan Police Authority was currently undertaking a consultation around how stops and accounts should be undertaken by police in London at http://surveys.mpa.gov.uk/v.asp?i=31461pebbf.  The consultation would close on 31^st March 2011 and partners were requested to respond.

(a)  Paula Morrison gave an update on the reorganisation of the Bromley Primary Care Trust into the Business Support Unit for the NHS.  Dr Angela Bhan had been appointed the interim Management Director of the Unit, which would be relocating to the Bromley Civic Centre site in June 2011.

(b)  Eithne Rynne informed partners about the Mottingham Movers and Groovers.  The pilot scheme had recently been established to support and encourage local people to get involved with the community and was proving very successful.  There was potential to introduce a similar scheme in the Penge and Anerley area.

(c)  DCI Chris Smart highlighted the successful conclusion of Operation Minstead, following the recent conviction of Delroy Grant.

Proposed meeting dates for 2011/12:

10.00am, Thursday 2^nd June 2011

10.00am, Thursday 22^nd September 2011

10.00am, Thursday 15^th December 2011

10.00am, Thursday 22^nd March 2012

All meetings start at 10.00am unless otherwise notified.

Thursday 2^nd June 2011

Thursday 22^nd September 2011

Thursday 15^th December 2011

Thursday 22^nd March 2012