Agenda and minutes

The Chairman introduced herself and welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 September 2020 were taken as read and confirmed as a correct record.

There were no matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

The Board considered the LSCSB Action Log, a copy of which, marked ‘Agenda Item 4’, is filed with these minutes.

With regards to Action no. 1 - Use Leicestershire Matters and Social media to publicise car thefts, members raised concerns that this action had not been completed yet even though it had been on the Log for over a year. Members felt that current communications to the public regarding community safety were not sufficient and in addition to messages on social media there needed to be more printed media disseminated. Members also wanted to evaluate the current communications approach to understand how successful it was.

Members asked for further explanation and narrative regarding the Anti-Social Behaviour graphics which had been provided with the Action Log. Paul Hindson, Chief Executive, Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner offered to present to a future meeting of the Board a summary of all the factors which lay behind Anti-social Behaviour in Leicestershire. 

RESOLVED:

(a)        That the status of the LSCSB Action Log be noted;

(b)        That the Community Safety Communications Plan be considered at the March meeting of the Board on an annual basis;

(c)        That at a future meeting of the Board there be a presentation from the Head of Communications at Leicestershire County Council explaining the current approach to publicity around Community Safety, why Leicestershire Matters had not been used so far to publicise car thefts, and providing statistics showing the success of the current communications approach;

(d)        That a report be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee regarding the underlying causes of Anti-social behaviour.

The Chairman invited members who wished to do so to declare any interests in respect of items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations were made. 

This report will be presented by Chris Hedworth, Community Safety Team Manager, Leicestershire County Council.

The Board considered a report of the Community Safety Team at Leicestershire County Council which provided an update regarding Safer Communities Performance 2020/21 - Quarter 2. A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 6’, is filed with these minutes. The report was presented by Chris Hedworth, Community Safety Team Manager, Leicestershire County Council.

Arising from discussions the following points were noted:

(i)          Domestic Violence with injury had increased yet referrals to United Against Violence and Abuse (UAVA) had decreased and it was questioned what was the reason for this disparity. It was noted that UAVA had conducted a publicity campaign which may have increased the numbers of Domestic Violence Offences being reported to the Police but the referrals had not yet come through to UAVA. Further investigation into these statistics would take place to ascertain the narrative behind them.

(ii)         There had been an overall increase in First Time Entrants to the Criminal Justice System but there had not been a spike in any specific areas of Leicestershire.

(iii)       Members raised concerns that the Police recorded data in different ways to other organisations and there needed to be consistency so that meaningful comparisons could be made. The way the Safer Communities data was compiled had remained fairly static of late though further work needed to take place to ensure consistency of data collection. There were particular concerns regarding the accuracy of ASB data relating to the Charnwood area and the way it was recorded.

(iv)       As a result of public venues being closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic violence and particular violence arising from alcohol consumption may have moved into domestic situations. At some point the night-time economy would revive and it was important to be prepared to tackle any crime issues arising from it.

RESOLVED:

That the 2020/21 Quarter 2 performance information be noted.

This report will be presented by Paul Hindson, Chief Executive, Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), and Victoria Charlton, Relationships and Change Manager, OPCC.

The Board considered a report of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner which provided an update on the work of the Office and future developments. A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 7’, is filed with these minutes.

Arising from discussions the following points were noted:

(i)          At its meeting on 10 September 2020 the Strategic Partnership Board (SPB) had focused on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and this work had been taken forward by a small group funded by the Violence Reduction Network which was looking at:

·       What work was already taking place in Leicestershire in relation to ACEs;

·       How the existing work could be enhanced and the quality of existing services be improved;

·       Looking to the future to see what changes should be made in the longer term.

The ACEs work was a long term project and could take several years before results were seen.

(ii)         A data pack had been developed for Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) which had received positive feedback though further consideration needed to be given to how the packs were presented to partners.

(iii)       The results of the Community Safety Survey would be circulated to CSPs before the end of December 2020 and each CSP would also receive the specific comments for their own area. Dr Stevie-Jade Hardy, Evidence and Evaluation Lead, Violence Reduction, Network would be analysing the results of the survey and was able to attend the next meeting of the Board to present the findings.

(iv)       Tackling Domestic Abuse took up a large amount of Police time. Most of the work so far had involved helping the victims of Domestic Abuse but more work needed to be carried out with the perpetrators. The OPCC was leading on the Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Programme which aimed to change the behaviours of those people that committed Domestic Abuse. The National Probation Service were already running a similar programme but the OPCC programme was shorter and was aimed at those perpetrators that did not reach the threshold for the Probation programme. The PCC thanked CSPs for their involvement in the scheme.

(v)        A proposal to further integrate the LSCSB Senior Officer Group (SOG) and CSPs with the SPB was being developed. It was hoped that the SOG could join in the SPB structure and get the benefit of understanding the work they were carrying out and contribute to SPB initiatives. For example both the SPB and the CSPs were carrying out work in relation to Gypsy/Roma/Traveller sites and this work could be more joined up.

RESOLVED:

(a)        That the contents of the report be noted:

(b)        That Dr Stevie-Jade Hardy be invited to the next meeting of the Board to present the results of the Community Safety Survey.

This report will be presented by Grace Strong, Strategic Director - Violence Reduction Unit and Carly Turner, Youth and Justice – Service Manager, Children and Family Wellbeing Service, Leicestershire County Council.

The Board considered a report of the Violence Reduction Network which provided an update on the Mentors in Violence Prevention Programme (MVP). A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 8’, is filed with these minutes. The report was presented by Grace Strong, Strategic Director - Violence Reduction Unit.

Arising from discussions the following points were noted:

(i)          The causes of violence could be similar whether the violence took place in a public or domestic setting. Sessions of the Mentors in Violence Prevention Programme could be adapted to focus on either Domestic Abuse or public place violence.

(ii)         School staff were able to contact the Violence Reduction Network for advice in relation to MVP and how to deal with any particular issues.

(iii)       A Public Health England report published on 10 December 2020 supported the Mentors in Violence Prevention programme and found the programme to be effective.

(iv)       LSCSB members were invited to attend the Introduction to MVP webinar which was taking plac on Thursday 17 December 2020. 

RESOLVED:

(a)        That the contents of the report be noted;

(b)        That the electronic link to the MVP webinar be circulated to LSCSB members.

A presentation will be given by Manjeeta Sunnar, Head of Service, Victim First.

The Board received a presentation from Manjeeta Sunnar, Head of Service, Victim First. A copy of the presentation slides, marked ‘Agenda Item 9’, is filed with these minutes.

In response to a question from the Chairman it was confirmed that victims did not have to have made a report to the Police for Victim First to help them and a lot of community engagement was undertaken by Victim First to gain the trust of victims and help them report to the Police if they wished to. Victims were able to contact Victim First anonymously using post, email or webchats.

The Violence Reduction Network was carrying out intervention work in the Leicester Royal Infirmary Emergency Department with patients that had been involved in knife crime and Victim First was providing longer term support to these people.

RESOLVED:

That the contents of the presentation be noted. 

This report will be presented by Joshna Mavji, Consultant in Public Health, Leicestershire County Council.

The Board considered a report of Public Health, Leicestershire County Council which provided an update on the progress and plans in relation to the re-procurement of domestic and sexual violence and abuse services (DSVA) for Leicestershire. A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 11’, is filed with these minutes.

The report was presented by Joshna Mavji, Consultant in Public Health, Leicestershire County Council.

It was noted that due to the Covid-19 pandemic the existing contract with United Against Violence and Abuse (UAVA) had been extended for 12 months and it was now expected that the new domestic and sexual violence and abuse services would commence in April 2022.

RESOLVED:

That the work being undertaken to recommission the domestic and sexual violence and abuse services for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland be noted.

A presentation will be given by Bob Bearne, Head of National Probation Service - Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

The Board received a presentation from Bob Bearne, Head of National Probation Service - Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland regarding developments for the structure of probation services nationally. A copy of the presentation slides, marked ‘Agenda Item 10’, is filed with these minutes.

Arising from the presentation the following points were noted:

(i)          The National Probation Service (NPS) and Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRC) would be unified on 26 June 2021. There would be more collaboration between NPS and CRC in the lead up to unification and either Bob Bearne or Kay Knowles, Community Rehabilitation Company, would attend LSCSB meetings during that period to avoid duplication of personnel. Meetings were taking place between middle managers of both organisations.

(ii)         After 26 June 2021 the structure of probation services would not return to exactly the same position they were in prior to the 2014 restructure; local probation trusts would not be returning, there would be a National Probation Service which would be part of the civil service. CRC’s had not been a complete failure and they had carried out some innovative and creative work. After unification there would be local and regional commissioning of approximately 10% of probation services.

(iii)       Feedback from partners on the unification plans had been positive.

RESOLVED:

(a)        That the contents of the presentation be noted;

(b)        That a representative of the National Probation Service be invited to give a further presentation to the Board prior to 26 June 2021 on progress towards unification.

The next meeting of the Board is scheduled for Friday 19 March 2021 at 10:00am.

RESOLVED:

That the next meeting of the Board take place on Friday 19 March 2021 at 10:00am.