Agenda item

The YOS and Gangs Sub Group update was given by Betty McDonald.

A round table meeting was chaired by Jim Gamble (Independent Chair of Bromley Safeguarding Children's Board) on 29 November 2017.  The purpose of the meeting was to understand how vulnerabilities could lead to pathways of harm for some children and young people. The BSCB’s intention was to analyse the co-ordination of partners’ work on gangs and serious youth violence as set out in the BSCB Vulnerable Adolescents Strategy published in July 2017. The priority areas of work for the strategy were Child Sexual Exploitation, Missing, FGM, and Gangs/Serious Youth Violence.

The attendees at the round table meeting agreed there was an urgent need for a protocol on gangs and serious youth violence and the need for a  working group to develop this. The terms of reference for the working group would be to profile gangs in Bromley, to analyse patterns and trends, examine the nature of vulnerabilities, to look at ways that intelligence sharing could be improved, mapping, the provision of support and advice and the development of a resource directory.

Post Meeting Note:

This was the suggested working group by Jim Gamble which would meet once by the end of February, followed by a virtual meeting.

The following volunteered or were co-opted:

• -  Sadie McClue or Jenny Flavill (Clinical Commissioning Group -Health)
• -  DI Charles Clare or DCI Mark Hine
• -  Sue Staley (Head of Referral and Assessment Children's Social Care)
• -  Penny Davies--Social Care
• -  Betty McDonald-LBB Head of YOS
• -  David Dunkley--Bromley Changes
• -  Cllr Chris Pierce-Vice Chair of Public Protection and Safety Committee
• -  A representative from LBB Education Department 

The Group heard that funding had been received from MOPAC to develop a local review concerning the subject of gangs and serious youth violence in Bromley. After a review document had been finalised, MOPAC would then arrange a two day meeting with the Review Team.  

It was hoped that the meeting would take place by the end of January. The meeting would be held to get a better understanding of what the issues were. There would also be a period of post review support from MOPAC which would be free of charge, the normal rate chargeable for such services would be in the region of £4K.

Ms Baldwin asked how the £4K charge had been calculated. The LBB Director for Environment explained that the cost would incorporate estimated costs for officers’ time, skills, expertise and travel.

The Borough Fire Commander stated that he felt the referral process for the ‘LIFE’ programme lacked clarity. Ms McDonald confirmed this by stating that she was not aware of the referral pathways for the LIFE programme. All of the referrals seemed to be originating from schools rather than the YOS.

Justin Brett (Clarion-Neighbourhood Intervention Officer) advised that Clarion was also seeking to set up a LIFE programme. He affirmed that in terms of referrals to the LIFE programme, the referrals seemed to be coming from schools only and he also expressed the view that clarity was required concerning the referral process. He agreed to send details of the referral process to Betty McDonald. It was also agreed that Mr Brett would circulate details of the referral process to Sham Kidane.

Mr Brett advised the Group that if Clarion was to undertake a LIFE project for young people living on the Ramsden Estate then the young people would need to be able to find their way to Lee Fire Station. Ms Baldwin asked why the Fire Station at Orpington could not be used for the LIFE Programme. The Borough Fire Commander explained that PFI rules applied which imposed certain restrictions on what the building could be used for, and there was no facility for separate male and female changing. Various ideas were mentioned concerning transportation of the young people from Ramsden to Lee:

·  Using the Council School Transport provider

·  Using the Police Cadet Mini Bus

·  Just transport for the Induction only

None of the above were agreed as final.

Regarding the Betts Park murder, six people had been arrested and remanded in custody. Three of these were from Bromley. 

RESOLVED that Justin Brett forward details of the LIFE referral process to Betty McDonald and Sham Kidane.