Apologies were received from Anne Ball (MOPAC), Cllr Tim Stevens JP, Chris Hafford (Borough Commander) David Tait (Chief Inspector for Neighbourhood Policing), and Nicola Walters from Probation Services.

Terry Belcher substituted for Cllr Tim Stevens.  

The minutes of the previous meeting held on the 28^th September 2015 were agreed.

Report CSD 16005

The Head of Trading Standards and Community Safety updated the Group concerning the outcome of funding applications to provide administrative support for IOM (Integrated Offender Management) and for Community Safety. The Group were informed that Community Safety were now receiving administrative support from a graduate intern. The appointment of the graduate intern had meant that invaluable support had been provided to assist with the drafting of the Bromley Crime Data Strategic Assessment. There would be a full update on IOM in the meeting scheduled for March 2016.

The Group noted that Matthew Chaplin and Lisa Whitely would be providing the update concerning Community Payback as outlined in the report. 

Questions to the Safer Bromley Partnership Strategic Group should be received by 5.00pm on Friday 27^th November 2015. 

There were no questions received from Councillors or members of the public.

The Chairman’s update was provided by Superintendent Trevor Lawry.

Mopac 7 offences continued to decrease against the financial year baseline of 2011/12. The current performance was that overall crime had reduced by 17.1%

The Deputy Borough Commander broke this down as follows:

Burglary had reduced by 27.1%

Criminal Damage had reduced by 11.8%

Robbery had reduced by 48.2%

TFMN had reduced by 27.5%

TOMV had increased by 5.5%

Theft from the person had decreased by 9.2%

Violence with Injury had increased by 6.8%

It was noted that the increase in the percentage figures for TOMV was likely to be a seasonal spike, and was less than for the rest of the MET which was 18%. Burglary offences were just starting to rise again, which was also likely to be a seasonal spike; the police were “allowed” 6 burglaries a day, but were currently experiencing around 8/9. It was expected that these figures would reduce.

Met Trace would be rolled out to over 440,000 homes over a three year period. Houses had been identified by the analysis of data complied over three years. In 2015, 4300 houses had been identified. To date the police had provided 1850 households with kits. Nearly 300 households had refused them. The police expected to complete the initial rollout by February 2016.

While engaging the public concerning “Smart Water”, the police also provide crime prevention advice. The intention was that 1 in 7 households would be using “Smart Water” by the end of the programme. The Group were informed that residents who had previously refused the “Smart Water” were now contacting the police and asking for it.

Bromley had currently identified 30 gang nominals who lived on the borough and a further 12 nominals who had close gang associations. Of the 30 gang nominals, 6 were in custody, and 24 lived in the community. Most of these belonged to Bromley’s gangs.

There were no questions for the Deputy Borough Commander.

RESOLVED that the police update be noted.

The update on the Safer Neighbourhood Board was given by Cllr Kate Lymer.

The Safer Neighbourhood Board had hosted a Crime Summit on 19^th September 2015 at Bromley Civic Centre. There was an excellent presentation provided by Bromley Youth Council concerning behaviour on public transport. Mick McNally from the Home Office gave an update on the emerging problems of gangs in Bromley, and there was also an address from the Borough Police Commander. Seventy eight people attended, and forty two gave feedback; forty one of the feedbacks was positive. The next Crime Summit would be scheduled for 16^th September 2016.

Cllr Lymer informed the Group that a new bumper edition of the “Safer Bromley News” was about to be distributed to every household in the borough. 

There had recently been a public meeting of the Safer Neighbourhood Board on November 26^th 2015 in Penge. This was successful, but attendance had been affected as it clashed with the turning on of the Christmas lights. Dave Gill from London Fire Brigade gave a talk on “Impact Courses” run by London Fire Brigade. 

The Impact Factor course was an initiative developed by the London Fire Brigade’s Crossfire Team and  had been designed for young people aged between 12 and 14 (Year’s 8, 9 and 10) to support citizenship and PSHE programmes within secondary schools.

These are one day programmes, exploring decision making, choices, and consequences through real life re-enactments of critical incidents. Presented by the emergency services working in partnership with other organisations within the Borough, the students will be uniquely informed by local knowledge and expertise.

The aim of the project is to engage a difficult to reach age group, where young people are at risk of offending, in positive activities that are delivered in partnership with the LFB, Police, Youth Offending Team (YOT), BYPASS (Drugs and Alcohol) and the Sexual Health Team, thereby supporting positive interactions between young people and local multi-agency services.

RESOLVED that the update on the Safer Neighbourhood Board be noted. 

A new graduate intern had been resourced to help draft the Strategic Assessment Document. The update on the document was provided by the Head of Trading Standards and Community Safety. He stated that this was an important piece of work, and that the intern was working two days a week, with roughly 70% of his time allocated to working on the Strategic Assessment. 

The document was compiled using data from LBB, MOPAC, the Police and the GLA. It was noted that this was the first serious draft of the document, but it was a document that would evolve. The next stage in the process would be to liaise with other partners for more data. Data would be required from the Probation Service, and the London Fire Brigade. It would also be the case that the JSNA (Joint Strategic Needs Assessment) would be studied. The LBB Assistant Director of Public Health informed the Group that the current JSNA document would be presented to the Health and Wellbeing Board on the 8^th December 2015 for sign off.

The LBB Director of Children’s Services suggested that the Bromley Safeguarding Board Manager be asked to input into the Strategy, and that data be incorporated concerning domestic abuse.

The Group agreed that further partnership input be sought to develop the Strategic Assessment Document further, and that there would be an update in March 2016.

RESOLVED

(1) that the update on the Strategic Assessment Document be noted

(2) that further partnership input be sought to develop the document further

(3) that an update be brought in March 2016  

The minutes concerning SBP initiatives are detailed separately in the following three agenda sections:

·  Trading Standards and LFB Vulnerable Adults Initiative

·  New Psychoactive Substances

·  Update on the PREVENT Strategy  

The Group heard that LBB and LFB were proactive in working to counter fraud, scammers, and rogue traders. The safeguarding of vulnerable adults and the elderly was a priority. This was a matter that would be discussed at the Safeguarding Adults Board the following week. LBB were seeking dialogue with voluntary organisations and resident’s associations to increase awareness of these issues. A symbiotic relationship was developing between LBB and LFB in terms of information sharing, but work was required to fine tune the information sharing protocols. 

The Head of Trading Standards and Community Safety gave the update on NSP substances (New Psychoactive Substances). There had been few issues noted with respect to the shop in Anerley that had been selling NSP substances. A visit to the premises had been undertaken by the Head of Trading Standards and Community Safety, the LBB Assistant Director of Public Health, and the Director of Public Health. One referral had been picked up by the Adult Safeguarding Team after an individual was hospitalised subsequent to using an NSP substance. This person would be visited by the Safeguarding Team. ASB would need to be reported before any action could be taken against the premises under the current legislation.  New legislation was expected in April 2016 which would make these substances illegal.

The Head of Trading Standards and Community Safety informed the Group that he had been tasked by the Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Safety to explore the possibility of using a PSPO (Public Spaces Protection Order) to enforce a borough wide ban on NSP substances. He had met with LB Lambeth to discuss the PSPO that had been enforced in their borough. In this case, the police had requested the PSPO due to problems with the night time economy. The cost of obtaining a PSPO was between £2k and £5k. In LBB a PSPO would not be required unless requested by the police.

The LBB Assistant Director of Public Health stated that there had been a rise in sexual health infections, and that there was a correlation with NSP use as the substances were sexual deinhibitors. She also explained to the Group that if individuals used nitrous oxide in conjunction with alcohol, then the mix could be fatal. 

It was agreed that the Head of Trading Standards and Community Safety update the Group in due course subsequent to the new legislation being introduced, and that at that time an action plan would be developed. 

The Head of Trading Standards and Community Safety gave a verbal update  on the Prevent Strategy. There was some uncertainty over who should lead on Governance. The Bromley Children’s Safeguarding Team thought that they were leading. The Director of Children’s Services expressed the view that it would be appropriate if the Strategic Group led on governance.  It was noted that staff training had been rolled out, and that more training would be implanted in January 2016. The training would also be rolled out to contractors. The Child Safeguarding Team had already received training.

The Group felt that an action plan was required, and then decisions made as to where to invest resources—the difficulty was that there was no extra money available to implement Prevent strategies. Clarity was required from the Home Office concerning their expectations. At the moment LBB did not have a Prevent Co-ordinator; some of the work concerning Prevent would be implemented next year when staff came back from leave.

The Director of Children’s Services asked for clarity concerning the implementation of the Prevent strategy in schools, and what the implementation difference would be for Academies and local authority schools. Would the strategy be implemented by Ofsted? It was agreed that clarification would be sought from the LBB Director of Education.

The Portfolio Holder asked what would happen when the money allocated for training was used. The Head of Trading Standards and Community Safety responded that a group of people would be trained internally, and that they would pass on the training going forward. It was anticipated that Academies would be responsible for their own training. The Group heard that Oxleas had already rolled out training. The Executive Director for Environment and Community Services informed the Group that a young person in danger of radicalisation had been identified in the Penge area, and was being dealt with through the “Channel Programme”.

RESOLVED that the update on the PREVENT strategy be noted, and that clarification be sought from the LBB Director for Education concerning the implementation of the PREVENT strategy in schools.

The Victim Support Presentation was given by Joanna Davidson—Senior Service Delivery Manager.

Ms Davidson advised the Group of the names locations and locations of the IDVA’s (Independent Domestic Violence Advisors) based in Bromley. She informed the Group that a central number was available for IDVA’s, and that she would circulate this to Group Members.

Victim Support was working in partnership with Safer Neighbourhood Boards, ASB Panels, the Gangs Unit and Community Links. Ms Davidson was newly appointed to Bromley and was in the process of establishing networks. She wanted to set up Victim Impact Training Days, and set up outreach sites that would provide ease of access for victims. She was hoping to establish outreach sites at Bromley Civic Centre, Bromley Library, Bromley Police Station, Bromley Fire Station, Citizen’s Advice Bureau and Children’s Centres.

Susie Clark (LBB Communications Officer) asked if individuals were making contact with VS digitally—the answer was yes, and Victim Support was active on Twitter.

The Group were informed that the Service Delivery Manager for Bromley was Kate Frail, who managed 7 caseworkers. The Portfolio Holder encouraged the Group to establish contact with Kate.

The Assistant Director of Public Health asked Ms Davidson if she would present to the Child Safeguarding Board, which she agreed to do.

RESOLVED

(1) that the Victim Support update be noted

(2) that Ms Davidson forward requested contact details to the Strategic Group

(3) that Ms Davidson present in due course to the Child Safeguarding Board

The Community Payback Presentation was given by Mr Matthew Chaplin-- Deputy Operations Manager for Community Payback. Ms Lisa Whitley—Community Payback Manager also attended to help answer any questions that arose from the presentation.    

“Service Users” are sentenced via the courts to undertake unpaid work.  This work is known as Community Payback (CP). CP Teams are targeted on how quickly service users are put to work, and on successful completion of the programme. London Community Payback accounted for 20% of CP in England and Wales.

The Group were informed that CP recommenced in LBB around 8 weeks prior to the meeting. The local co-ordinator was Jackie Baxter. CP had just completed a big project in Penge, and had been working on other projects at schools and at a big refurbishment project at Anerley Town Hall. Work had also been undertaken at Christchurch Lunch Club, where service users prepared food and served lunch. In this case they were awarded a Health and Hygiene Certificate. 

The Group were informed that if they wished to try and secure CP places, they should contact Jackie Baxter. Mr Chaplin was keen to manage expectations, and stated that there was a limit to what CP could deliver; it was also the case that CP required a new infrastructure. Questions were asked concerning the training that service users may receive. The training that may be received by service users would vary depending on what programme they had been allocated to. Training was not always the priority, sometimes it was punitive. It was hoped that Probation Services would allocate offenders to a scheme that provided some element of training if they regarded this as appropriate.

Ms Whitley explained that an important aim of CP for young people was to instill basic life skills like getting out of bed, going to work and bringing lunch. It was important to build a sense of purpose. This may seem very basic, but many of these young people had come from fractured homes. It was hoped that CP may be able to develop training programmes later.

The Borough Fire Commander was keen to develop training, and felt that Community Links would be a good organisation to link up with to source project work. They may also be able to help further down the line with sourcing paid employment.

The Portfolio Holder for Public Protection informed the Group that according to the Terms of Reference for the Safer Neighbourhood Board, the SNB should have a representative from CP on the Board. The Deputy Borough Commander and the Executive Director for Environmental and Community Services were keen to link up with CP. The overlap with youth offending was noted. Mr Chaplin stated that it was difficult to run a specific Youth Offender Project. Interested Heads of Service should make contact with Mr Chaplin.

RESOLVED that the Community Payback update be noted. 

Updates from Sub Groups are noted in the relevant Sub Group sections.

There was not much to report as the Domestic Abuse Lead was on maternity leave. There would be a detailed update at the next meeting.

The Youth Offending Sub Group update was provided by the Director of Children’s Services. She informed the Group that the Management Board met once a month, as did the Improvement Board. A new manager had been appointed, and a person from the Youth Justice Board had also been drafted in. Discussions were ongoing with the police, including discussions around casework capacity. Caseloads had now been reduced. New Children’s Workers had been appointed, but they required training as they had not worked in the Youth Offending Service previously. 

A recent audit on pre contract work was satisfactory, but an audit on Court and Commissioning was still inadequate. The YOS had been participating in the voluntary “deep dive” audit led by the YJB, but no outcomes were currently available. In year savings were required.

The Director concluded by stating that everything was now in place to grow service delivery.

RESOLVED that the update on the Youth Offending Sub Group be noted.     

The Gangs update was given by the Deputy Borough Police Commander.

He informed the Group that thirty gang nominals had been identified; six were in custody and twenty four were in the community. The Gangs Sub Group met recently, and were focusing on enforcement. Due to limited resources, the question was posed as to how much time could be reasonably allocated to other priorities such as Prevention and Intervention. The Deputy Borough Commander expressed frustration over difficulties with school engagement, and noted that a scheduled meeting with Harris Academy had recently been cancelled.

It was suggested that the Group needed to engage more with schools and that the Group liaise with the Director for Education to promote this. The Group were informed that the Children’s Trust had recently held a Gangs’ Morning at a church in Penge, and this was well attended. The Group were informed that two gang nominals had been stabbed over the previous weekend, and that on the 26^th November 2015, around 30 youths had been fighting in Penge. There was a concern that the Gang problem in LBB was growing.

The Children’s Director stated that what was developing was not just issues related to crime, but also to safeguarding. She felt that more effort should be focused on Prevention to stop situations from developing in the first place. It was also important to look at intervention measures to try and draw young people out. The Group agreed that all relevant measures should be taken to prevent LBB from developing into a gang borough.

The Portfolio Holder noted the importance of diversionary activities. The Group were informed that Eamon Brennan had been put in charge of these. The Children’s Director expressed the view that as Mr Brennan was currently engaged in multiple projects, he was not best placed to be tasked with mapping diversionary activities across the borough. It was agreed that the Children’s Director liaise with Chief Inspector David Tait to discuss this.

RESOLVED:

(1) that the Gangs Sub Group update be noted

(2) that the Director of Education be contacted to discuss measures to promote intervention projects like GAV in schools

(3) that the Children’s Director liaise with Chief Inspector David Tait to discuss who should be tasked with developing diversionary activities 

There was not much to say concerning this apart from the fact that the Group were hoping to get back on track with IOM next month.

The Community Safety Manager would pick up co-ordination.

RESOLVED  that the IOM update be noted. 

The ASB Sub Group update was provided by the Bromley Borough Fire Brigade Commander.

The Group heard that there had been a meeting of the sub group in October, and that there had been an increase in the number of thefts of motor bikes over the last two months.

The problem of fly tipping had not gone away, especially around Star Lane. Some suggestions to deal with this issue were:

·  Width restrictions

·  Making the road one way

·  CCTV

·  Review charges for waste sites

It was suggested that if charges and restrictions concerning waste sites in the area were reviewed and relaxed, then this may lead to less fly tipping.

The Borough Fire Commander asked if the Group had the authority to make these decisions. The Group noted that this was serious issue; the local community seemed to know who the offenders were, but were not disclosing. Lisa Whitely suggested that CP could get involved in site clearance project work at Star Lane and that Toby Smith (LBB Street Scene and Greenspace) should make contact with CP to discuss. The Borough Fire Commander stated that a decision was required urgently as roads were being blocked by fly tipping and was hindering the access of the fire service when responding to calls for assistance from the public. 

RESOLVED that action be taken to resolve the problem of fly tipping around Star Lane urgently.

The Communications Update was provided by Susie Clarke (LBB Communications Officer) who updated the Group on the contents of the latest edition of the Safer Bromley News.   

The Group noted the latest edition of the Borough Police Commander’s Newsletter.

It was noted that the Substance Misuse Service had been reprocured, and that Dr Agnes Marossy (LBB Consultant in Public Health) was leading on this.

The Assistant Director for Education and Housing Needs stated that there was much interest currently in the rising number of Eastern European nationals arriving in the area and rough sleeping. Intelligence was always welcome concerning this. This seemed to be an emerging issue. Information on “beds and sheds” would be forwarded to the Fire Service.

RESOLVED that attention be given to the issue concerning the rising number of Eastern European nationals sleeping rough, and that intelligence on rough sleepers in “beds and sheds” be fed back to the Fire Service.  

The date of the next meeting is Thursday 10^th March 2016 at 10.00am.

The next meeting was confirmed as scheduled for 10^th March 2016 at 10.00am.