Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Reg Adams, James Cleverley (Metropolitan Police Authority), Nigel Davies (LBB Director, Environmental Services), Howard Oldstein (The Glades), Tracy Pidgeon (London Ambulance Service), Simon Schutte (UK Border Agency) and Sarah Walker (Metropolitan Police Authority).

The Chairman proposed that Angela Williams-Brown be invited to join the Safer Bromley Partnership as a representative of the Federation of Bromley Housing Associations.  This was seconded by the Borough Commander and agreed by members of the Partnership.

Councillor Tim Stevens J.P. was confirmed as the Chairman of the Safer Bromley Partnership.

The notes of the last meeting held on 24^th March 2011 were received.

It was noted:

Minute 2 – Minutes of Last Meeting/Matters Arising– The Borough Commander confirmed that work to approach all registered social landlords in the Borough seeking funds for the Safer Bromley Van Initiative would be undertaken shortly.

Minute 7 – Home Office Consultation – More Effective Responses to Anti Social Behaviour – The Borough Commander thanked partners for contributing towards the Partnership response to the consultation and noted that the approach to tackling anti-social behaviour was unlikely to change before 2012/13.

Minute 8 – Prevent Grant – The Borough Commander confirmed that the Council’s Executive had agreed funding for a project to deliver mentoring services for young people most at risk of developing criminal and anti-social behaviour.

Minute 12 – Reports from Sub Groups – The Borough Commander confirmed that an update on the work of the Drug Action Team had been provided to the Public Protection and Safety PDS Committee.

It was AGREED that the minutes be approved.

Consideration was given to the performance monitoring report for 2010/11 (full year).

The majority of the targets had a Green rating, reflecting positive progress during the year against a number of challenging targets.  This included a Green rating against the indicator for reducing offences of assault with injury, and continued reductions in offences of violence and of criminal damage.  However a small number of targets had been rated Red or Amber.

There was an amber indicator around numbers attending domestic violence one stop shop.  This target showed delivery of 86% in relation to anticipated numbers attending the one stop shop.  Detailed analysis of the attendee lists was currently underway and targeted advertising campaigns were planned for 2011/12.

There was an amber indicator around NI 28 Reduce Knife Crime Rate target, which had been missed by 17 (6% of the target).  The Head of Community Safety highlighted that the category included incidents where no weapon was used or seen, but was intimated in the commission of an offence.

There was an amber indicator around NI 43 Reduce the number of Young People within the YJS receiving a conviction in Court who are sentenced to custody.  This target had been missed by a relatively small margin, and following a review, the Youth Offending Service had determined that custodial sentences were appropriate in light of the nature and seriousness of the offences committed.

There was one target assessed as ‘red’, NI 45 90% of young offenders in suitable education, employment or training.  Further work was planned in 2011/12 to address this issue within the Youth Offending Service, which would be supported by a new project funded from the European Social Fund.  This project was scheduled to commence in July 2011 and would run until 2014.

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

• Enough is Enough

• Mentoring Project

• Communications/Noticeboards

Consideration was given to a report providing an overview of progress in relation to the three priorities for action set by the Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Safety, who also acted as Chairman of the Safer Bromley Partnership in 2010/11.

The priority to reduce the harm caused by problematic drug use within the Borough had led to the establishment of the ‘Enough is Enough’ campaign, bringing together a range of partner agencies to reduce the supply of drugs within the Borough.  Operations by the Police and partners agencies had been undertaken throughout 2010/11 which had led to a significant number of arrests and seizure of both drugs and money related to the sale of drugs.  Preventative work had also been undertaken including a programme of talks and an advertising campaign.

To support the priority focusing on the provision of mentoring for young people at risk of crime and anti-social behaviour, the Portfolio Holder had secured funding for a three year period to develop the service of the Bromley Mentoring Project, which now had a target of 125 mentors and 100 young people, with particular emphasis given to work with the Youth Offending Service and the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit.

The need to improve communication and engagement with local residents had also been identified as a priority, and several new notice boards had been installed across the Borough which would display a new information poster.

It was AGREED that:

1)  The progress made in relation to the three priority areas adopted by the Portfolio Holder in 2010/11 be noted.

2)  The further development and action to be taken in 2011/12 be supported.

The Chairman outlined his priorities for 2011/12, which built on the work of the existing priorities by continuing to support the ‘Enough is Enough’ campaign and the mentoring scheme for young people at risk of crime and anti-social behaviour.  The work to improve communication and engagement with local residents would also continue, and ‘saferbromley news’, a quarterly e-communication would shortly be launched for distribution to councillors, partners, residents’ associations and the media to promote initiatives and good news stories from across the Partnership.  Jean Levy highlighted the potential to link the new e-communication to the Community Links e-news bulletin.

Anti-social behaviour would continue to be prioritised by the Partnership, and a new priority targeting vulnerable older people was also planned and would be considered by the Public Protection and Safety PDS Committee in Autumn 2011.  Dave Prebble noted that the Police had recently commissioned Age Concern to produce a DVD for older people to reduce the fear of crime.  Paula Morrison suggested that GP surgeries and health workers were well-placed to help older people access this information. 

It was AGREED that the update be noted.

Consideration was given to a report outlining the Council’s Portfolio Plan for Public Protection and Safety for 2011/12, which had been considered by the Public Protection and Safety PDS Committee on 28^th June 2011 prior to being approved by the Portfolio Holder. 

It was AGREED that the Public Protection and Safety Portfolio Plan for 2011/12 be noted.

Consideration was given to a report outlining proposals for a streamlined performance monitoring regime from 2011/12 onwards.  This performance monitoring regime would focus on four key targets:

·  Reduction in number of violent crimes within Bromley

·  Reduction in number of property crimes within Bromley

·  Reduction in levels of recorded Anti-Social Behaviour

·  Increased confidence in the fact that Bromley is a safe place

The targets for reduction in number of violent and property crimes would reflect the target set by the Metropolitan Police for 2011/12.  However consideration was still being given to how the levels of recorded anti-social behaviour and increased confidence would be measured.  Angela Williams-Brown highlighted that Housing Associations conducted regular surveys with their tenants around the perception of anti-social behaviour in their communities.  The Police conducted similar surveys around how members of the public felt anti-social behaviour was being tackled in the Borough as well as overall perception of performance by police, and these surveys might contribute to the assessment of performance against the targets.

It was AGREED that:

1)  The proposals that the performance monitoring regime for 2011/12 focus on delivery of four key performance issues be noted.

2)  A further report be provided to the next meeting of the Safer Bromley Partnership around measurement of reductions in Anti-Social Behaviour.

3)  Consideration of partners around the measurement of public confidence and reassurance (feelings of safety) be noted.

The Borough Commander gave an update on the outcome of the Safer Neighbourhood Review.  Five Safer Neighbourhood Sergeant posts would be lost within the Borough and 10 wards would now share a Ward Sergeant.  These wards would be:

·  Plaistow and Sundridge/Bickley

·  Copers Cope/Shortlands

·  Chelsfield and Pratts Bottom/Farnborough and Crofton

·  Orpington/Petts Wood and Knoll

·  Biggin Hill/Downe

There were currently 19 Safer Neighbourhoods Sergeants employed across the Borough who would be asked to reapply for the 17 available posts.  This process would be completed by September 2011. 

It was not envisioned that the reduction of Safer Neighbourhood Sergeants would have a significant impact in Bromley as Safer Neighbourhood Teams already worked flexibly over ward boundaries, however there were concerns that as Police Community Support Officers applied to train as police officers, their positions would not be filled.

Judith Cross highlighted the importance of engaging with Safer Neighbourhood Panel Chairs to develop understanding about how upcoming changes would impact wards across the Borough.

It was AGREED that the update be noted.

The Deputy Borough Commander reported that the police were continuing to achieve a reduction in crime across the Borough, including a reduction of 3% in total notifiable offences up to 19^th June 2011 on the previous year, and a reduction in violent crime offences across Bromley. 

The Police were continuing to support the ‘Enough is Enough’ programme, working with partners to reduce the supply of drugs within the Borough.  G4S had delivered Cash in Transit awareness training to Safer Neighbourhood Teams across the Borough and the Police would also be supporting the launch of the Bromley Safeguarding Children Hub on 15^th July 2011.

Councillor Benington queried how many residential burglaries were linked to car theft.  The Deputy Borough Commander confirmed that Operation Demon had targeted prolific car thieves who were breaking into residences to take car keys in 2010, but that this type of theft had now reduced.

Paula Morrison congratulated the Police on their performance over the last five years, which had seen an overall reduction in crime of 25% within the Borough (representing at least 1,766 fewer victims).

It was AGREED that the update be noted.

Andy Holcombe presented the Arson Reduction Plan for the Borough, which aimed to build on the significant reduction in the number of deliberate fires across the Borough in 2010/11.

A report outlining proposals to enhance partnership working and achieve reduction in dwelling, non-domestic building and rubbish fires, including creating the post of Fire Reduction Officer for a two year period, was presented to the Partnership.  These proposals had been considered by the Public Protection and Safety PDS Committee on 28^th June 2011, and the Chairman of the Safer Bromley Partnership would be meeting with Safer Neighbourhood Officers to consider ways of undertaking the necessary work.

It was AGREED that:

1)  The Bromley Arson Reduction Plan be endorsed.

2)  The proposal to create a Fire Reduction Officer post be noted.

Judith Cross outlined the 2011/12 work plan for the Bromley Community Engagement Forum.  The Bromley Community Engagement Forum was staffed entirely by volunteers and undertook a wide range of activities including delivering the BCEF Youth Conference and working with a number of partner agencies.  A Biggin Hill Youth Careers Day would be held at Biggin Hill airport on 9^th September 2011, with a Family Open Day planned for 10^th September 2011.

It was AGREED that the work plan be noted.

Judith Cross presented the findings of the Outreach Day held in the Glades Shopping Centre on 26^th April 2011.  The Safer Transport Team, Safer Neighbourhood Officers and Bromley’s Immigration Team had worked with Forum volunteers throughout the day to complete 125 surveys with members of the public.  The survey results had highlighted the good work undertaken by the Police to address anti-social behaviour, and indicated that the public perception was that crime on buses had reduced.  Cold callers had been identified as a new area of concern.  The Chairman congratulated the Bromley Community Engagement Forum on the success of the event, and Judith Cross invited partners to join future BCEF Outreach Days.

It was AGREED that the report be noted.

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

DAT Report – Dave Prebble reported that referrals to the Drug Intervention Programme had increased by 6%, which placed Bromley in the top quartile in London.  A six month pilot project had been established with the Integrated Offender Management Team to support people in the criminal justice system into drug treatment programmes.

YOT Report – Elayne Stewart reported that the Youth Offending Team was currently undergoing service realignment in response to the Green Paper on Criminal Justice, and that young people were being referred to the Youth Offending Team with increasingly complex needs, including substance misuse.  The Youth Offending Team was still seeking appropriate activities for restorative justice, and Elayne Stewart asked partners to identify any potential projects that could be undertaken by young offenders.

Arson Sub Group Report – Andy Holcombe reported that there had been a recent increase in incidences of arson across the Borough, particularly in Crystal Palace Park, Elmstead Woods and parts of St Mary Cray.  The Fire Brigade was working with the Police and Safer Neighbourhood Development Officers to target these areas.

Bromley Community Engagement Forum Report – Judith Cross confirmed that the annual general meeting of the Bromley Community Engagement Forum would be held at 7.00pm on 6^th July 2011 at Bromley Town Football Club and that Commander Bob Broadhurst would be the guest speaker.  The Street Pastors had recently joined the Bromley Community Engagement Forum.  Following the recent success of the BCEF Youth Conference, a further youth event would be held for young people with learning disabilities on 6^th October 2011.

(a)  The Safer Bromley Partnership would be producing the ‘saferbromley news’ e-communication on a quarterly-basis, and partners were encouraged to submit articles.

(b)  The minutes from the meeting of Bromley Community Engagement Forum held on 9^th May 2011 had been circulated for information.

(a)  Paula Morrison queried how the Prevent agenda was being delivered in Bromley.  The Head of Community Safety confirmed that there were some ongoing projects being delivered, and that Community Links was now taking a lead on the community engagement elements of the Prevent agenda in the Borough.

(b)  Andy Holcombe informed partners that a charity aircraft pull would be held at Biggin Hill airport on 10^th July 2011, and invited partners to attend.

10.00am, 22^nd September 2011

10.00am, 15^th December 2011

10.00am, 22^nd March 2012

10.00am, Thursday 22^nd September 2011

10.00am, Thursday 15^th December 2011

10.00am, Thursday 22^nd March 2012