Minutes:
Bromley Mentoring Programme – Jane Belding introduced the mentoring scheme which recruited, matched and managed volunteer mentors with young people across the Borough who had been identified as being at risk of developing criminal or anti-social behaviour. There were now 83 mentors within the scheme, with 20 mentors recruited since January 2012.
Drug Action Team – Dave Prebble reported that the new drug treatment centre had opened in February 2012 and was working well. Work was being undertaken to identify drug users within integrated offender management. The Assistant Director, Public Health reported that the Drug Related Deaths Panel was looking at how it could contribute to positive outcomes for people receiving drug treatment.
Youth Offending Team – The Chairman congratulated the Youth Offending Service on the outstanding result achieved following the inspection of the service in November 2011 by her Majesty’s Inspectors of Probation. The service was performing very highly, with outcomes related to safeguarding, risk of harm to others and likelihood of reoffending well above the national and regional average. The Head of Bromley Youth Support Programme thanked the Chairman and was pleased to note that the Public Protection and Safety PDS Committee would be considering a funding proposal at its meeting on 13th March 2012 for a project targeting young people who would not engage with education. This project would give young people access to inspirational speakers and work experience placements with an element of restorative justice. A support fund would also be available to resolve barriers into education and training, such as the need for appropriate clothing.
Bromley Community Engagement Forum Report – Ian Smith reported that a successful age exchange event had taken place on 25th February 2012 at the Priory School. A Youth Conference was planned for 23rd March 2012 at the Education Development Centre. Year 8 pupils would be brought together from schools across the Borough to consider issues around cyber bullying, mutual respect and alcohol awareness, and partners were invited to become involved. The annual general meeting of the Bromley Community Engagement Forum would be at 7.00pm on 11th July 2012 at Bromley Town Football Club. A funding bid for 2012/13 had recently been submitted to the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, and work had been undertaken to develop Bromley Community Engagement Forum’s partnership model to ensure the processes of engagement and scrutiny were undertaken effectively.
Arson Sub Group Report – Andy Holcombe reported that where fires were identified as being deliberate, notification was now being given to Community Safety Officers to review what action needed to be taken to reduce the likelihood of further deliberate fires on the same site. A programme for young people which included consequential learning would be launched in April 2012 and the London Fire Brigade was working with the Youth Offending Team and Safer Neighbourhood Teams to identify young people who would benefit from joining the programme. Following the successful development of the ‘Crossfire’ project by London Borough of Croydon, a similar pilot project would shortly be delivered to Year 11 students at Charles Darwin School with referrals made to the Bromley Mentoring Programme where appropriate.
Operational Tasking – The Deputy Borough Commander reported that a number of operations were currently underway. This included Operation Valiant which had targeted gang activity over a three day period, and Operation Condor which had brought together Trading Standards, Licensing Officers and the Police to carry out checks on licensed premises. There had also been a number of successful convictions in relation to burglary and robbery offences committed in the Borough.
It was AGREED the update be noted.