Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all to the meeting and all members of the Board introduced themselves.

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RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2023 be agreed as a correct record.

None.

In response to the public question asked, the chair outlined that ‘it is not within the remit of the Safer Communities Partnership Board (SCPB) to comment on regeneration plans. The Strategic Needs Assessment (SNA) will inform the development of a local partnership strategy to tackle violence in the community, including town centres, neighbourhoods, and parks. Police ‘Design Out Crime’ teams continue to engage and support our regeneration colleagues.

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The Metropolitan Police gave an overview on performance from June until September 2023 which included the below highlights:

·         In the 4 months of June 2023 to September 2023 (incl.) there were 480 cases of Residential Burglary in Barnet

·         In the 4 months of June 2023 to September 2023 (incl.) there were 165 cases of Non-Residential Burglary in Barnet

·         In the 4 months of June 2023 to September 2023 (incl.) there were 180 cases of Robbery of Personal Property in Barnet

·         In the 4 months of June 2023 to September 2023 (incl.) there were 587 cases of Violence with Injury in Barnet

·         There were 2310 cases of Violence with Injury in Barnet in the 12 months up to May 2023. In the 12 months prior there were 2302. This is an increase of 0.3%

·         In the 4 months of June 2023 to September 2023 (incl.) there were 23 cases of Knife Crime with Injury in Barnet

·         In the 4 months of June 2023 to September 2023 (incl.) there were 3 cases of Gun Crime Lethal Barrelled Discharged in Barnet

·         In the 4 months of June 2023 to September 2023 (incl.) there were 199 cases of Domestic Abuse VWI in Barnet

·         In the 4 months of June 2023 to September 2023 (incl.) there were 191 incidents captured by CCTV in Barnet

·         There were 15 Prevent referrals in Barnet over Q4. In the same quarter in the previous year, there were 25. This is a decrease of 32%.

It was noted to the Board that Robbery, Knife Crime with injury and Gun Crime were emerging issues which Operation Dakota had targeted so figures at the time of the meeting were very different.

The Chair thanked those for the report and the Board noted the contents of the report and presentation.

Robb Gibbs and Lorraine Busby McVey gave a verbal update to the Board. It was raised that the police are currently experiencing a period of challenge due to an increase in Hate Crime offences. It was noted that Hate Crime incidents were 600 times higher this year, compared to last year, in the BCU due to the current conflict in the Middle East.

The Board were informed that Barnet has experienced a high volume of crime in recent periods, but the crimes committed are not serious crimes committed. It was noted that the Police have maintained and continued their strong presence within the community.

The Chair thanked them for the update.

Tina McElligott, Director of Childrens Social Care introduced the report. An overview was provided to the Safer Communities Partnership Board on three key areas of Family Services delivery which cross over into the Community Safety Strategy, these are:

•      Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women & Girls

•      Violence & Exploitation

•      Reducing Offending

The report set out key progress made and highlighted national initiatives, local innovation, and current/future challenges to delivery.

Objective 1: Early Intervention and Prevention of Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).

Early intervention and prevention helped reduce the amount of domestic abuse, domestic homicide, and suicides linked to domestic abuse and by stopped people becoming perpetrators and victims. An ‘Ending Gender-Based Violence Teacher Toolkit’ has been developed and will be rolled out to schools in the Borough.

The Director of Childrens Social Care noted to the Board that the IRIS programme progress has remained the same.

Objective 2: Support all victims and survivors to report, access help and recover.

The volume of referrals received by the Solace Advocacy and Support Services has increased by 18% compared to 2022.

Operation Encompass, led by the Metropolitan Police (MPS) in partnership with the local authority and schools. The joint-agency protocol enables the Police to share information with schools. The Director of Childrens Social Care reported that Encompass have struggled with school sign ups and encouraged safeguarding leads to advocate to schools.

Councillor Moore suggested that the service should reach out to Governors for support. Fiona Bateman - Independent Chair, Barnet Safeguarding Adults Board offered support to the service also.

Objective 3: Pursue Perpetrators and Engage them in behaviour change.

Perpetrators of domestic abuse need to change their behaviour and stop offending. The relentless pursuit of perpetrators has driven down and reduced the number of domestic violence incidents and homicides. Barnet has delivered a range of programmes aimed at addressing perpetrator behaviour and ensuring victim safety, this included the RISE Mutual Perpetrator Programme, Culturally Integrated Family Approach, Safe and Together and the Drive Programme.

Barnet’s rate of Domestic Abuse Incidents in the 12-month period to September 2023 is 13.6 per 1,000 population. This placed Barnet in as 5th from the lowest rate in London. There were 731 Domestic Abuse with Injury offences recorded in the 12-month period to September 2023; the sanction and detection rate is 7.3% in the reported period.

The Rise Perpetrator Programme commissioned by Family Services is aimed at reducing re-offending and repeat victimisation. Barnet have worked with 9 other Local Authorities and have held the initial implementation meeting.

Objective 4: Strengthen the partnership response to improve multi-agency working and information sharing to deliver improved outcomes.

The Director of Childrens Social Care highlighted to the Board that the VAWG Delivery Group meet quarterly to oversee delivery against the aims of the DA & VAWG Strategy.

Objective 5: Working together for safer streets, community, and public spaces.

It was reported to the Board that this aimed for all Barnet residents to feel safe out in the community by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Declan Khan, Assistant Director, Counter Fraud, Community Safety & Protection, introduced the report which highlighted what the team has done in relation the different key priorities.

David Lingard, Head of Community Safety, CCTV & Intelligence contributed to progress on anti-social behaviour (ASB). Under priority 1: Tackling and reducing ASB, a borough wide Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) has been implemented in Barnet for a year. The Community Safety Team have used several tools such as injunctions, Community Protection Orders (CPN), Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBO) and Premises Closure Orders (PCO) to combat ASB. In the 6 months to September 2023 a total of 358 Fixed Penalty Notices were issued.

Nicholas Licardo,CCTV & Intel. Manager updated the Board on CCTV. It was reported that the new CCTV control room has launched within Barnet Council’s Colindale office which provided a new state-of-the-art technology and capabilities with 24/7 365 days a year monitoring. The improvement has increased the number of images and coverage in the borough.

This allowed to Community Safey Team to:

•      Tackle Anti-Social Behaviour and environmental crime across the borough

•      Increase wellbeing and perception of safety for residents

•      Improved partnership working with MET police

•      Identify economic development and inclusion opportunities

•      Combine Public Space Surveillance cameras with those in Libraries.

•       

Between April 2023 to September 2023 inclusive, there were 408 incidents recorded with many of these being to support the MET police.

Under priority 4: safeguard and support those vulnerable to radicalisation, it was reported that the risk and threat remain the same, but funding provided to the Local Authority (LA) will be withdrawn. The CEO of Barent Council has lobbied and also written to the Home Office in attempt to have the funding reinstated.

Perryn Jasper, Prevent Coordinator and Hate Crime Lead and Barnet MENCAP discussed Hate Crime. Under priority 5: Access to Justice for those affected by Hate Crime it was reported to the Board that the majority of Hate Crimes in Barent are Racist and Religious Hate Crimes. The amount of Hate Crimes in Barnet has been reported as in line with the rest of London and Nationally.

•      Total Hate Crime allegations of all types in NWBCU = 531

•      (289 of these were in Barnet = 54%)

•      Total Middle East Conflict related hate crimes in the NWBCU = 282

•      (201 of these were in Barnet = 71%)

These incidents are broken down as follows:

•      Islamophobic = 45 (20 in Barnet)

•      Antisemitic = 235 (181 in Barnet)

•      Faith Hate = 2 (0 in Barnet)

Barnet had seen a substantial increase in Hate Crime as a direct result of the Middle East Conflict.

Barnet’s Community Response to hate crime includes:

•      Increased comms encouraging residents to stay safe and report hate crime and incidents to the Police.

•      Reminding residents to use Barnet’s Hate Crime Reporting Centres if they need support to report hate crime or signposting to local/community specialist support groups.

In February 2023 four Community Safety Hubs  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

Councillor Moore thanked the Metropolitan Police and partners for the work on Clear Hold Build, noting that the step change it created within the local community has had a huge impact. Councillor Moore expressed passion for combatting drugs in the Borough and outlined importance of the program in the context of neighbourhood working in health and well being as well as community safety.  

Luke Kwamya, Head of Public Health, introduced the report and provided an overview to the Safer Communities Partnership Board on the progress and delivery of Barnet Combating Drugs Partnership (BCDP) and substance misuse services and, these are:

•      Barnet Combating Drugs Partnership (BCDP) / Key Achievements.

•      Funding of Substance Misuse Services.

•      Substance Misuse Treatment & Recovery Services.

•      Number of People Accessing Treatment and Outcomes.

•      Data on Structured Treatment – Adults and Young People.

•      Continuity of Care.

The head of Public Health reported the key achievements outlined in the report.

Priority One – Break drug supply chains has been contributed to through Operation Dakota and displayed a visible reduction in offences related to substance misuse including the disruption of five county lines.

Priority Two – Deliver a world class treatment and recovery system. Within this, it was reported to the Board that task and finish group, from the subgroup has been created to increase drug and alcohol treatment orders.

Priority Three – Achieve a generational shift in the demand for drugs, has been further developed through joint working with Public Health and Children and Family Services applying learning on delivery plans.

The Chair thanked the head of Public Health for the report and the Board noted the contents.

Christopher Kelly, Strategic Lead for Tackling Violence and Exploitation, Safeguarding Division, Children's Service and Jalpa Patel, Improvement Lead, Family Servicesintroduced the Serious Violence Duty – Strategic Needs Assessment produced on behalf of Barnet’s Community Safety Partnership to support organisations and authorities exercising functions in relation to the Serious Violence Duty 2023, to formulate a Serious Violence Strategy.

The SNA provides a comprehensive evidence-based analysis of the local profile, causes and contributing factors of serious violence. It is informed by information and feedback collated from specified authorities, local communities and organisations providing support in Barnet and, provides the basis from which solutions to reduce serious violence can built. It has outlined a range of key findings and 11 recommendations.

The SNA mapped out Barnet’s Violence Profile. It highlighted that Barnet’s firearm offences peaked at 11 offences in April 2023, the highest since July 2019. The Metropolitan police’s adoption of the Clear Hold Build led to a successful rate of arrests following the increase of serious violence in relation to firearm possession and shootings. Gun Crime offences have now decreased by 64%.

The SNA highlighted that Knife Crime continued to pose as a concern for Barnet. Between April – July 2023 there was a 100% increase in Knife Offences. From January 2020 to July 2023 128 victims of knife offences resulting in injury where under 24.

Some key highlights from the SNA were reported to the Board.

·         Males under the age of 25 are most affected by and involved in incidents of serious violence.

·         Youth Justice Service (YJS) data shows a 63% increase in the number of 10 to 18-year-olds found in possession of a weapon in 2023 compared to reported data in 2022. The increase is relative to an increase in robbery offences.

·         873 individuals aged between 14 to 17 underwent stop and search procedures. Among them, 44.6% were related to drugs and 28.5% were associated with weapons, points, and blades. This aligns with the increasing trend observed in Barnet youth justice data, specifically concerning individuals aged between 10 to 18 carrying blades and knives. The prevalence of sharp weapons appears to be pronounced among young males.

·         Over the past year, there were 3,325 stop and search incidents of which 67.2% were related to potential drug offences. 49% of the stop and search resulted in positive outcomes such as arrest, community resolution, penalty notice, postal charge requisition, or caution. The remaining 51% resulted in no further action.

·         In 2023, there has been a 40% reduction in serious violence incidences in the community, against a rise of violent incidents at public transport hubs and restaurants in the borough.

·         In 2023, there has been a 43% reduction in the number of young people residing in Barnet being identified as suspects in incidents of violence in the community.

·        Sexual assaults have increased by 89% since 2021; there is a correlation between deprivation and rates of violent crime and sexual offences; Barnet’s overall figure for economic activity is 64.57%.

The recommendations from there SNA  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

The Board discussed the Forward Plan programme and were urged to notify the relevant officer of any items they wished to be included on the Forward Plan.

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