Agenda and minutes

The chairman welcomed all to the meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 22^nd January 2021 were approved as a correct record.

Apologies were received from:

·         Zoe Garbett, North Central London CCG

·         Roger Kemp, Chair of Barnet Safer Neighbourhood Board (SNB), who was substituted by Amlan Ghoshal, Vice Chairman of the SNB.

·         LaToya Ridge, Victim Support.

None.

The Board received a presentation on the Performance Dashboard from the Community Safety Team. Mr Leng noted that an updated version was published with the agenda.

Mr Ben Norfolk reported:

·         the levels of burglary, robbery and violent crime in Barnet had reduced since the previous year. There had been an increase in gun discharges, to ten, over the past year.

·         there is an error in the document - there had been a 7% decrease in domestic violence (DV) and violence with injury compared to the previous 12 months, rather than 7% increase. 

·         there had been a 34% increase in the total number of repeat anti-social behaviour (ASB) calls and total ASB calls had increased by 8% compared to the previous 12 months.

Fiona Bateman noted that the Safeguarding Adults Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) had reported a rise in domestic abuse. She asked whether Barnet’s data showed a decrease because cases were being directed for intervention.

Inspector Ishtiaq reported that there had been an increase in reported DV since lockdown, and the Metropolitan Police has increased its resources to deal with this and to work with repeat victims. He had no data at the meeting on the impact of this intervention but would look into this and report back.

Action: Inspector Ishtiaq

Ms Green asked what the likely reason for the significant increase in ASB was. Inspector Ishtiaq responded that there had been an increase in ASB in general across London and this had a lot do with the frustrations caused by lockdown. The Metropolitan Police is trying to make sure that information on cases where there were vulnerable repeat victims is recorded, and is also monitoring typical locations where ASB is prevalent so that it can ensure that systems are in place to deal with this. Inspector Ishtiaq added that Covid breaches are also logged as ASB so it is expected that numbers would decrease as restrictions eased.

Update on Serious Youth Crime Reduction Plan – North Central London CCG

Ms McElligott presented her slides.

Supporting Families Programme (Families First)

Barnet achieved 100% turnaround in the lives of the 372 families allocated to it during 2020/21. Funding beyond March 2022 for the Supporting Families Programme has not yet been confirmed, but agencies continued to develop their partnership work through seconded posts from Job Centre Plus, RISE mutual domestic abuse services, Substance Misuse and Health Services and others. A probation secondee is no longer in post due to the impact of the National Probation Service (NPS) reorganisation but a housing secondee post has been created to help to prevent homelessness.

Youth Offending & Reducing Re-Offending

Ms McElligott reported that at June 2021 74 young people are open to the Youth Offending Team (YOT) and 16 are open to the 0-19 Early Help Services. Barnet has a lower average number of First Time Entrants into the Youth Justice System compared to national and London, partly due to effective diversion and prevention schemes. Barnet’s Out of Court Disposal (OOCD) processes have been recognised as good practice and shared with the Youth Justice Board for wider dissemination.

Barnet’s reoffending rate stands at 32%, which is lower than the national average.

Child Exploitation, Serious Youth & Adult Violence

Barnet’s Vulnerable Adolescents Strategy 2020-22 is developed and monitored by the Vulnerable Adolescent Community Partnership statutory partners, stakeholders and voluntary sector providers. A variety of approaches have been delivered via grants in partnership with the voluntary sector.

Mr Booth enquired whether there were any data on young people with disabilities, particularly autism, and links with exploitation. Ms McElligott responded that such information is recorded and disproportionate numbers of young people with ADHD, conduct disorders and neurodevelopmental disorders were more often found to be at risk. It was known that young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN), some who have autistic traits, in the youth offending system are typically diagnosed far too late. She noted that she did not have specific data at the meeting but could collate this – Mr Cezar Tan, Youth Justice Service Manager, in her team is the best point of contact. 

Action: Ms McElligott/Mr Tan

Ms Bateman reported that the Autism Strategy, which contained a funding offer that might be useful for Barnet, had recently been published. She also enquired what could be learnt on reoffending rates in young people, to improve this in the adult population.

Ms McElligott noted that there is no prevention service in place for 18+ young adults but was looking to develop this as an arm of the Integrated Offender Management offer. She would invite the Safeguarding Adults Board to be represented on this group.

Action: Ms McElligott

Mr Leng reported that the Metropolitan Police has an intervention scheme - there had been a review of all the Criminal Behaviour Orders that had been issued over the past two years; very few had been issued to young people. Other interventions were often found through the Youth Justice System.

Ms McElligott commented that many of this cohort are victims of exploitation,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Metropolitan Police – verbal update

Inspector Muneeb Ishtiaq reported that Covid-19 was still a big aspect of the work of the Police, mainly around breaches to regulations. There had been increased staff sickness absence also, due to Covid-19.

It had been decided that Metropolitan Police’s public meetings should remain virtual for the time being to help with resilience of the service.

The Metropolitan Police has been continuing to have productive daily meetings with Barnet Council.

Colindale Police Station, the designated front office for Barnet, has reopened after refurbishment and is open 24 hours a day.

The priorities for the Metropolitan Police in Barnet are knife crime injuries in the under-25s, robbery, VAWG, open spaces and the night time economy. Over the summer several pop-up events are expected in Barnet; there would be additional security provision including in neighbouring Boroughs, to ensure that knife crime doesn’t disperse into Barnet.

As reported at the last SCPB meeting, the Safer Neighbourhood teams have been reviewed. A new Ward Panel Handbook has been produced in agreement with the community, and this should help to ensure more corporate consistency.

The Vice Chairman for Barnet Safer Neighbourhood Board asked whether there is a Neighbourhood Inspector for each ward in Barnet. If so he would find it helpful to have these contacts for a meeting at the end of August. Inspector Ishtiaq noted that Inspector Toporowski covers the whole of Barnet. There are also two Police Constables (Designated Ward Officers) and a Police Community Support Officer for each ward, as well as a Sergeant to oversee two or three wards, moving across them as required.

Inspector Ishtiaq noted that several Interim Sergeants are acting up to the post currently. The capacity of the BCU is above its usual level and the shortage of Sergeants is being addressed with internal promotion processes.

The Assistant Director, Community Safety and Protection reported that the Council has a Sub Group focusing on security arrangements, which also continues to learn lessons from previous events. This group accompanies the Police and assists in preventing weaponry being taken into events, and with securing events with enclosures. Also, the Sub Group is working on assessments prior to events before allowing them to go ahead. 

The Borough Commander, London Fire Brigade enquired whether the BCU refers into the Youth and Community Centre Safety Scheme. Inspector Ishtiaq responded that it does and in addition to this recent funding for security around youth clubs with the aim of preventing violence, has just been made available. Inspector Ishtiaq would share details of this.

Action: Inspector Ishtiaq

Update on London Innovation and Improvement Alliance’s Accommodation Pathfinder Project and Business Plan

Matthew Knights, London Accommodation Pathfinder Strategic Development Manager, London Borough of Camden, presented his slides on the scheme which is due to be piloted in Barnet. He noted that the project offers an alternative to custody for children aiming to improve outcomes for them.

Mr Cezar Tan, Youth Justice Service Manager, Children’s Services LBB was also invited to the table.

Mr Knights reported that the pilot programme provides integrated partnership support for 16 and 17-year-olds. The work would be shared and promoted across London and nationally.  Risk assessments are carried out for each child, and the scheme offers intensive support for up to six months.

Mr Knights noted that care has been taken around the accommodation, including discussions with the police to highlight any concerns such as drugs or gangs in the area. CCTV is also in operation at the property. The accommodation is in Hamilton Road, NW11 and has two members of staff present 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The staff will have contact with local police and safer neighbourhood teams.

Ms Bateman commented that this approach is welcome but enquired why the number of children included is only 20 (five at any one time) and whether the team is collaborating with NHSE and others. Mr Knight responded that the scheme is only offered to children with a custodial sentence. Ms Bateman noted that a prior adult safeguarding review in another area of London had revealed a setting which had resulted in a toxic environment with children being subject to abuse. She enquired whether the scheme would be Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered and what safeguards would be in place. 

Mr Knight responded that the scheme would not be CQC registered but was subject to OFSTED review standards. As part of the comprehensive procurement process the provider has to demonstrate it has the right type of experience, staffing and therapeutic model to meet the needs of children. It is specifically aimed at children at risk of going into custody. An external evaluator will be appointed for the next two years, to monitor outcomes and procedures.

Mr Tan added that the programme is part of the Lammy Review to tackle disproportionality. The Youth Justice Board’s approach is to give each child an opportunity to thrive with wraparound support using a partnership approach. Reparation is a part of community payback. He added that there are five Boroughs within the pilot. The support is provided prior to sentencing to ensure that the young person reports to the Youth Offending Team and accesses provision that is available. 

Declan Khan requested his team to meet with Matthew Knights and Cezar Tan outside the meeting to discuss the various concerns raised/clarifications sought/required.

Action: Mr Khan, Mr Tan, Mr Knights

Emily Bowler, Head of Assurance and Business Development presented her slides on constituency boundary changes in Barnet.

A statutory ward boundary review had been commenced in 2018, and the previous changes had been in 1999. There had been a significant population growth in Barnet since that time and this was likely to continue. The review, by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, looks to establish electoral equality by ensuring that there are the same number of electors in each ward, and should also help to promote community identity and provide effective local government.

The recommendations of the Boundary Review were published in 2020. There would continue to be 63 Ward Councillors but the number of wards would increase from 21 to 24. Instead of three Councillors per ward this would change to 15 wards with three Councillors and nine wards with two Councillors. Every Ward Boundary in Barnet will change and this would come into effect from the local elections in May 2022 – detailed on the slide. New polling places and districts would be submitted for committee approval.

Mrs Bowler added that the changes would have an impact on the Council’s operational services and processes, such as links with the police and other partners. It will also have an impact on data so she recommended that this information be fed back to the relevant people for them to start to consider the implications. She offered to provide advice and attend meetings as requested, and noted that the Council’s Insight Team can provide shapefiles (which show the ward boundaries on the map).

Mr Richard Norfolk, Reducing Offending Partnership Lead, LBB presented his slides.

Integrated Offender Management (IOM) is a multi-agency non-statutory national framework for managing persistent offenders and will be part of MOPAC’s Police and Crime Plan 2021-25.

The IOM was recently reviewed by HMIP and HMICFRS and was found to need a refresh. This included highlighting the potential benefits of more collaborative working, and an updated IOM was published in January 2021. The main change is use of the OASys Violence Predictor Score, monthly automated referrals from the Probation Service and the use of ECINS, a secure cloud-based information sharing system which also captures performance data and outcomes.

In Barnet reoffending has reduced by 20% due to the interventions in place. Mr Norfolk commended the multi-agency partners, including the Police, Probation Service and Housing teams who had all worked to maintain a grip on a small minority of offenders who had been committing a large number of offences.

New selection criteria of the IOM would mean more focus on existing IOM cases with more serious acquisitive offences and repeat violence. This will mean that lower risk offenders will be excluded and the focus would be more on robberies and burglaries.

New criteria for young offenders is included in the IOM, with a focus on persistent offenders.

A Board member asked how the figures compared with those of Brent and Harrow and who has oversight of the IOM given that it is non-statutory. Mr Norfolk responded that the main oversight is by the Police but also other agencies who attend, such as mental health providers and BOOST. Mr Norfolk would provide more detail at a future meeting. Brent and Harrow have a similar arrangement but Barnet has achieved a slightly higher reduction in reoffending.

Action: Richard Norfolk

Mr Norfolk commented that monthly data is received by Barnet from the NPS, and he is then provided with names, alongside the Police, and a list of potentially eligible individuals for the IOM. This is then discussed at the IOM Panel Meeting to ascertain whether they meet the criteria. In addition, any other agency can make a referral into the Panel. 

Sam Rosengard, Barnet Prevent Coordinator presented his slides.

The Barnet Prevent Risk Assessment, further to contributions requested via the Barnet Prevent Delivery Group, has recently been finalised and sent to the Deputy CEO for approval.

During 2020-21 there has been an increase in referrals due to extreme right wing ideologies. Daesh and Al Q-aeda-inspired terrorism make up most of these referrals.

83% of individuals who had met the criteria for Channel referral had an accompanying concern in relation to poor mental health. Almost 1/3 referred to Prevent in the last 12 months had a diagnosed mental illness.

During 2020-21 positive engagement with partners of the Barnet Prevent Delivery Group had continued on MS Teams. There had been 13 Channel Panel meetings due to the large increase in referrals.  In addition training on Prevent had been provided throughout the year on MS Teams.

Home Office funding would continue for 2021-22 from Barnet Prevent, for the Prevent Coordinator, Prevent Education Officer, and Prevent projects, following a Home Office risk profiling exercise. The highest priority 40 areas in England and Wales receive this funding.

Mr Leng thanked Children’s Services for the online Prevent training provided by them. Ms McElligot noted that moving to virtual training had enabled a greater number of social workers to attend.

Reshma Hirani, Community Hate Crime Reporting Coordinator presented her report and slides.

Ms Hirani reported that Barnet Hate Crime Strategy focuses on how to increase reporting of hate crime, support victims and increase community confidence.

The Metropolitan Police had reported a rise in hate crime reporting during the pandemic, including arguments over the use of face coverings leading to racist abuse. There had also been an increase in online hate crime during the pandemic, and an increase in interpersonal hate crime (where the victim knows the perpetrator).

Of the 941 incidents of anti-Semitic hate crime recorded across Greater London in 2020, 243 had been in Barnet.

The Zero Tolerance to Hate Crime Project in Barnet provided support for the Chinese community. There had been an emergence nationally in early 2020 of hate crime towards people who appear of Chinese or South East Asian origin.

Barnet Council’s training programme on identifying and reporting hate crime continued, with 350 staff at 36 organisations having been trained during 2020/21.

Mr Rosengard reported and together with Ray Booth and Reshma Hirani he is working the Access to Justice Group, a sub group of the Safeguarding Adults Board. The group had produced the Strategy for the SCPB to approve (included with the agenda).

Mr Leng asked how this fits in with work carried out by Children’s Services. Ms McElligot responded that there are separate strands of work in Children’s Services but links between the two probably need to be strengthened.

Mr Leng asked what happens if crimes are not reported as ‘crime’, and whether they are still followed up. Ms Hirani responded that other interventions can take place such as removing a perpetrator’s bus pass. So all reports are followed up.

The Board approved the Barnet Hate Crime Strategy 2020-24.

Verbal update on unification.

KoreenLogie, Head of Service, Harrow & Barnet Probation Delivery Unit provided a verbal update.

On 26^th June 2021 the Probation Service joined with the London Rehabilitation Company to provide a unified service. Community Payback is therefore managed by the civil service. There would be greater focus on local projects as part of this. The NPS is looking at what might be suitable in Barnet and what additional work the local authority might want. There is also greater opportunity to undertake co-commissioning bids and a small pot of money is available to use for challenging groups, with an emphasis on providing partners with the opportunity to think creatively about co-bids.

Four delivery partners are in place; to cover accommodation, wellbeing, employment/training/education and services for women. Services are more aligned with consistent input from partners. 

Mr Norfolk reported that a monthly meeting is held in Barnet Council around community payback opportunities, based on residents’ requests. Also 30% of the hours can be used for education, training and employment. Mr Leng reported that this information would be shared with Ward Members.

Action: Mr Leng

Noted.

None.