Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Reg Adams, Councillor Kate Lymer,  Paul Cook (London Ambulance Service), Stephen Lewis (LBB Emergency Planning Manager), Colin MacLean (Community Links Bromley), Jo Oakley (Deputy Borough Commander), Stephanie Roberts (Borough Police Commander) and Kay Weiss (LBB Assistant Director, Safeguarding and Social Care)

The notes of the last meeting held on 27^th September 2012 were received.

It was noted:

Minute 6 – Recommendations from Tackling Gangs Work – The Head of Community Safety reported that Paula Morrison had organised a meeting between Public Health and Community Safety Officers with representatives of the South London Healthcare NHS Trust following concerns raised that young people at risk of becoming involved in gang-related activity be identified when they presented at Accident and Emergency Departments with potential gang-related injuries.  The Lead Consultant and Matron of the Accident and Emergency Department at the Princes Royal University Hospital had advised representatives of the Partnership that this was not an issue at present but that the potential changes in Accident and Emergency provision in neighbouring boroughs might increase the number of young people presenting to the Accident and Emergency Department with gang-related injuries.  The Lead Consultant had undertaken work to identify premises in the Borough where people had sustained alcohol related injuries and the Chairman requested that the initial findings from this work be provided to the Partnership.

It was AGREED that the minutes be approved.

The Chairman advised the Partnership that a meeting had been held with representatives of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust with regard to the security of units at Bethlem Royal Hospital and proposals to move additional patients to these units.  Representatives of the hospital had provided assurances regarding the number of patients to be housed in each unit and would continue to work with the Local Authority and Metropolitan Police to ensure that the security of the units was managed appropriately.  Representatives of the hospital were also asked to give consideration to inviting the Chairman of the Safer Bromley Partnership to join the Board of Directors at the Bethlem Royal Hospital.

Following a meeting with the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, the Chairman was pleased to announce that the Deputy Mayor had stated that it was likely that the Safer Bromley Partnership would become the Safer Bromley Neighbourhood Board from April 2013, which would expand the remit of the Partnership to include a range of new responsibilities including complaints monitoring, developing local policing and crime priorities and taking a significant role in community payback.

It was AGREED that the update be noted.

Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Clark reported that burglary and robbery continued to be targeted as a priority across the Borough, and that work was being undertaken with the Safer Neighbourhood and Safer Transport Teams in the Crystal Palace area to tackle a recent increase in robberies.  Seventeen individuals had recently been arrested for burglary in the Borough, and a London Crime Squad had been formed in response to a series of aggravated burglaries at Halloween which were suspected to be linked with other offences committed in Brixton. 

A range of operations continued to be delivered across the Borough, including the targeting of licensed premises, unlicensed taxis and drugs offences.  550 unlicensed vehicles had been seized across London since March 2012, and work was also being undertaken with local banks and building societies to reduce fraud against elderly people.

Work was currently underway to develop a more efficient, cost-effective policing model across London and Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Clark noted that the number of Police Constables would be increased, with a reduction in higher ranking officers.  Public access points would be established across the Borough for members of the public to contact the police.

Andy Holcombe noted that the Fire Service was working with the Police to support Fire Service officers in identifying whether people were vulnerable to burglary when conducting fire safety visits in the home and that approximately 30 referrals had already been made to the Safer Bromley van.

It was AGREED that the updates be noted.

Consideration was given to the performance monitoring report for Quarter 2, 2012/13 which reported progress against 4 key indicators. 

Performance Indicator 1: Reduction in Number of Violent Crimes showed that offences related to Violent Crimes represented 21% of the Total Notifiable Offences in Q1, with a reduction of 84 offences compared to the same period in 2011/12.  This included a reduction of 44 Wounding/GBH offences and 104 Assault with Injury offences.  There had been an increase in Common Assault by 18% compared to the same period in 2011/12, which included Domestic Violence offences.  This potentially reflected better reporting of Domestic Violence offences, but would be looked at in more detail and reported to the next meeting of the Partnership.

Performance Indicator 2: Reduction in Numbers of Property Crimes within Bromley showed that offences related to property crimes represented 67% of the Total Notifiable Offences in Q4, with a decrease of 122 offences compared to the same period last year.  This included a decrease in burglaries by 2%, theft and handling by 2% and criminal damage by 10%.  There had been a 2% increase in robbery which represented 4 offences, and this continued to be targeted. 

Progress against Performance Indicator 3: Reduction in Levels of Recorded Anti-Social Behaviour showed a reduction of 856 incidents of Anti-Social Behaviour reported compared to the same period in 2011/12.  This included a reduction of 158 incidents of Graffiti reported, 224 incidents of Anti-social Behaviour reported to police and 15 incidents of Anti-social Behaviour reported the Council compared to the same period in 2011-12.

With regard to Performance Indicator 4: Increased Confidence in the Fact that Bromley is a Safe Place, it was noted that the performance indicator, ‘To what extent do you agree that the police and local council are dealing the ASB and crime issues that matter in this area’ (Question 74AB) had not been published in the Quarter 2 report by the Metropolitan Police.  However there had been a reduction of 4% in the proportion of Bromley residents responding to the survey who were worried about Anti-social Behaviour and crime in their area.

It was AGREED that the Performance Management Report for Qtr 2 2012/13 be endorsed.

Consideration was given to a report providing an analysis of burglary offences in the Borough between April and September 2012 following a 17% increase during Q1 of 2012/13, which was higher than the London average.  This analysis covered two types of burglary offence:

·  Burglary in a Dwelling

·  Burglary in other Dwellings

The analysis had indicated a number of key factors in the current pattern of residential burglary and it was proposed that these key factors be tabled in order to facilitate a reduction in offending.  The report also recognised the importance of analysis of victim data and recommended that further work was undertaken in this area to allow more specific crime prevention advice to be provided to Bromley residents.  In considering the analysis, Councillor Julian Benington requested that information be provided around the percentage of households impacted by Burglary in a Dwelling in each ward.  Ian Smith also requested that the reporting times for burglary be reported on ward basis.

In considering the report, the Head of Community Safety noted that there were currently three main ‘hotspot’ locations for Burglary in a Dwelling; Clockhouse, Penge and Cator and Plaistow and Sundridge wards which were all located on the Borough boundary. 

The Chairman highlighted the importance of targeting Burglary in a Dwelling across all wards in the Borough through a co-ordinated Safer Bromley Partnership strategy.  There was a need to encourage Bromley residents to secure their property which could be communicated through a wide range of methods including making information available at transport hubs, shopping centres and supermarkets, through the local press or via the Safer Bromley van.  Howard Oldstein suggested that an empty unit at the Glades be used to provide a visible security message.  There was also potential for a range of partners to provide advice, including registered social landlords, health visitors and insurance providers.  Information distributed via primary schools to allow children to ‘educate’ their parents and grandparents had proved to be successful in the past.  Other boroughs had also utilised meals on wheels staff, social media and ward checks by Safer Neighbourhood Teams to promote better security.

Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Clark advised the Partnership that the most recent police data showed that the increase in burglary had reduced from 17% to 7.8% which indicated that work to target the increase in burglary was having an impact.

It was AGREED that:

1)  The results of the analysis be noted;

2)  A further analysis be commissioned to identify the key profiles of victims of Burglary in a Dwelling across the Borough;

3)  That work to continue delivery of prevention advice to decrease Burglary offences (to include specific focus in terms of location and offence types) by Safer Neighbourhood Development Officers be intensified;

4)  That late night security at some venues, particularly those along the Borough boundaries be reviewed; and,

5)  That work to monitor trends in Burglary in a Dwelling offences continue and that resources be tasked as suggested by that analysis.

Consideration was given to a report setting out a proposed list of actions to ensure that the Safer Bromley Partnership continued to make progress in work to tackle Anti-social Behaviour and improve the services received by victims following notification of key changes proposed within the Government White Paper, ‘Putting Victims First – More Effective Responses to Anti-social Behaviour, which set out proposals to change legislation and improve the range of tools that police and other agencies had to tackle Anti-social Behaviour. 

It was AGREED that:

1)  Key changes proposed within the Government White Paper, ‘Putting Victims First – More Effective Responses to Anti-social Behaviour’ be noted;

2)  A range of proposed actions be delivered in the short, medium and long term:

Short Term Developments

·  Establish an Anti-Social Behaviour Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference;

·  Review and Identify links to other cross agency agenda e.g. Tackling Troubled Families, Reducing Harm Caused by Drugs and Alcohol;

·  Adopt Matrix Assessment for collation and allocation of work; and,

·  Identify and address key recording issues in relation to lead agencies e.g. Registered Social Landlord, Police, Local Authority.

Medium Term Developments

·  Undertake a review of work with victims of Anti Social Behaviour and identify key developments for services in moving forward;

·  Undertake review of current staffing levels across the Partnership agencies and identify recommendations for future working; and,

·  Assess value of delivering Restorative Justice interventions across the borough (identify best practice from other boroughs).

Long Term Developments

·  Implement detail of recommended changes to existing powers (e.g. changes to Anti Social Behaviour Order);

·  Further develop and implement proposals relating to the Community Trigger and Partnership response; and,

Ensure the changes to measures such as Crack House Closures, Dispersal Orders etc are implemented effectively.

Karen Bishop, London Community Payback gave a presentation outlining the new delivery model for community service across London, which would be delivered by the London Probation Service in partnership with Serco from 31^st March 2012.  The community service programme would be more intensive with the expectation that offenders would work more frequently, with community service beginning within seven days of an order being imposed, and that unemployed offenders would work up to 4 days per week where appropriate.  Placements would also be available to groups of young offenders aged 16-17 years which included mentoring and education and employability elements.  Women-only projects would also be established to meet the needs of some offenders. 

Projects for community service had yet to be confirmed, however these projects would be broken down into two stages.  Offenders would start working in unskilled manual labour projects and could then move to more skilled placements when a level of trust was demonstrated, giving offenders the opportunity to gain work skills.

Karen Bishop advised the Partnership that community payback schemes would be made available across the Borough.  The vehicle fleet available to transport offenders to community payback projects in the Borough had been reduced from five vehicles to one vehicle.  Where possible, offenders would be allocated schemes close to their residence, but offenders would now be responsible to transport themselves to their community payback schemes, paying their own transport costs. 

In considering the changes to transport, Members of the Partnership were generally concerned that this would decrease the level of engagement offenders had with the Community Payback Scheme, and the Chairman requested that representatives of London Community Payback meet with the Local Authority to discuss how the scheme would work.

It was AGREED that the presentation be noted.

The Chairman was pleased to announce that a Safer Bromley Crime Summit would be convened in Spring 2013.  Stephen Greenhalgh, the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime had been confirmed as the key speaker, and the event would give partners and members of the public an opportunity to debate key issues impacting the Borough and to showcase the excellent work that was taking place.

The Chairman also noted that the Summit would provide a good opportunity to promote crime prevention and safety to those who lived and worked in the Borough.

It was AGREED that the update be noted

Sarah Denton gave an update on the current work of the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime.  The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime had a new Chief Operating Officer, Helen Bailey, who would be overseeing the delivery of the 20/20/20 challenge which aimed to cut seven key ‘neighbourhood crimes’, boost public confidence and reduce the cost of the Metropolitan Police Service by 20% by 2016. 

Stephen Greenhalgh, the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime would be visiting each Borough as part of the consultation on the London Police and Crime Plan.  Bromley’s consultation event would take place at 8.00pm on 28^th January 2013 at Bromley Civic Centre and all partners were invited to attend.  This event would also give partners and members of the public an opportunity to provide their views on the proposed local policing model.

Partners were invited to contribute to London’s policing priorities through the ‘Have your say’ consultation which ran throughout the year and could be accessed at http://www.smart-survey.co.uk/v.asp?i=54757lbrpc.  A consultation would also be undertaken in March 2013 around how Safer Neighbourhood Boards would operate, and partners were encouraged to contribute. 

The Commissioning process for the Community Safety Fund 2013-14 was currently being developed and Local Authorities would be expected to set out businesses cases for funding bids.  The Chairman noted that the Head of Community Safety would coordinate all bids to develop a single submission on behalf of the Council and highlighted the need for the bid process to be confirmed as soon as possible to allow time for business cases to be developed.

RESOLVED that the update be noted.

(Substance Misuse Board, Youth Offending Service, Bromley Community Engagement Forum, Arson Sub-Group and Borough Resilience Forum) – (Verbal reports)

Substance Misuse Board – The Head of Community Safety reported that the remit of the National Treatment Agency was expanding to include treatment for alcohol dependency.

Youth Offending Service – Paul King reported that the Bromley Youth Council had launched its anti-bullying pledge in November 2012 and work was being undertaken to deliver a Diversionary Activities programme for children and young people for Easter 2013.  There was a continuing trend for a reduction in first time entrants to the Youth Justice System and an increase in the number of young offenders in education, employment or training.  The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 had been implemented on 3^rd December 2012 and the Youth Offending Service was currently working with partners to apply the provisions of the Act by April 2013, which would include community based alternatives to custody where appropriate.

Bromley Community Engagement Forum – Ian Smith reported that a survey on ‘Stop and Search’ had been undertaken on the Bromley and Orpington campuses of Bromley College of Further and Higher Education on 21^st and 22^nd November 2012 and that 220 surveys had been completed.  The Bromley Community Engagement Forum Youth Conference would take place on 27^th March 2013 at the Education Development Centre, and the date for the next public meeting of the Bromley Community Engagement Forum would be announced shortly.

Arson Sub Group – Andy Holcombe reported that all arson targets were currently being met, but that vehicle fires remained an ongoing area of concern.  Four different options had been developed for the future delivery of the Bromley Fire Service, however it was noted that existing attendance times of 6 minutes for the first vehicle and 8 minutes for the second would not be changed.

It was AGREED the update be noted.

Susie Clark reported that communications leads from across the Partnership were currently developing a joint communications plan which would include use of social media.  Work was ongoing to establish a Facebook page and Twitter feed for the Partnership which would link with more detailed information about the Partnership on the Bromley Knowledge website.

Photography would be undertaken shortly for the ‘Keep Safe’ advice booklet.  This would also include some video footage which would be available via the Internet.

The next edition of the Safer Bromley News would be published shortly and partners were encouraged to submit their stories for inclusion in future editions.

It was AGREED the update be noted.

(a)  The Safer Bromley Awards would be held on Thursday 14^th March 2013.  The deadline for nominations was 11^th January 2013 and partners were encouraged to submit their nominations for the three categories; ‘Community Champions’, ‘Above and Beyond’ and ‘Working Together’.

(b)  A commendation had been awarded to Bromley firefighters who had used their training and first aid equipment to save a man’s life outside their station by London Assembly Member James Cleverly and the Chairman of the Safer Bromley Partnership at a ceremony at Bromley Civic Centre on Friday 30^th November 2012.

(c)  The Borough Commander’s Update for December 2012 had been circulated for information.

There was no other business.

10.00am, Thursday 21^st March 2013

All meetings start at 10.00am unless otherwise notified.

Thursday 21^st March 2013