Agenda item

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 were:

1.    Strengthen partnership working for a coordinated whole system approach to preventing and tackling violent offending in the borough.

2.    Learn from and build on the successes of existing local projects and services that are targeted at preventing and reducing crime, violence, and exploitation.

3.    Build on the early success of the “Clear Hold Build” approach to improve community safety and reduce crime and anti-social behaviours in areas with higher levels of violent offending.

4.    Support the development of universal and standardised support that is place-based in local schools and communities, with a focus on:

·         Empowering parents and carers

·         Preventative education approaches

·         Pro-active and evidenced-informed support for 10 to 25-year-olds at the greatest risk of exploitation, offending and violence.

5.    Development of targeted support aimed at reducing exploitation and offending in vulnerable groups including those aged 10-24 years with SEN and needs arising from neurodiverse conditions.

6.    Pro-actively monitor and tackle disproportionately of over-represented groups who are affected by violence and build data into key performance indicators and evaluation of all services.

7.    Effectively engage and coproduce solutions to local problems with local people

8.    Support the development of victim support services for males as a high-risk group.

9.    Monitor and proactively intervene to reduce the risk of exclusion from education (including children subject to ‘managed moves’), employment and training.

10.Develop a public awareness campaign aimed at reducing knife-enabled offending.

11.Align strategic priorities of the Combatting Drugs Partnership, Community Safety Strategy, Reducing Offending Partnership, Youth Justice Partnership, Health and Wellbeing Board, Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls, Tackling Violence & Exploitation Strategy with the Serious Violence Strategy

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