Agenda item

To submit a report by the Community Safety Delivery Manager (Anglesey and Gwynedd).

Submitted – the Annual Report by the Community Safety Delivery Manager (Anglesey and Gwynedd on the Community Safety Partnership.

 The Community Safety Delivery Manager reported that the Community Safety Partnership is required to present an overview of its activities to this Committee annually.   This ensures that the Partnership delivers its obligations in accordance with Sections 19 and 20 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2006.  There is a statutory duty on Local Authorities, in accordance with the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and subsequent amendments, to work in partnership with the Police, Health Service, Probation Service and the Fire and Rescue Service to address local community safety agenda.  The Community Safety Partnership has a duty to deal with :-

·      Crime and Disorder

·      Substance Misuse

·      Reducing reoffending

·      Delivering a strategic assessment to identify priorities (work that is now undertaken on a regional basis)

·      Putting plans in place to deal with these priorities (a plan now exists on a regional and local basis)

It was noted that the Community Safety Partnership works to an annual plan which is based on a three year regional plan.  The 2017/18 end of year performance report, and 2018/19 plan were attached to the report to this Committee.  The following seven priorities are the Partnerships focus for 2017/18 and 2018/19 :-

·      Reducing victim based crimes (acquisitive crimes only)

·      Reducing Antisocial Behaviour

·      Supporting vulnerable people to prevent them becoming victims of crime

·      Raising confidence to report incidents of domestic abuse

·      Raising confidence to report sexual abuse

·      Addressing substance misuse in the area

·      Reducing re-offending.

The main messages deriving from the activities of the Community Safety Partnership for 2017/18 were included at Pages 3 and 4 of the report.

The Community Safety Delivery Manager further said that victim based crime has increased in Anglesey by 24% in 2017/18.  Analysis has evidenced that this is an increase in crime recording effectiveness rather than an increase in offending; these changes have had a particular impact on the number of recorded Violence and Sexual offences.  Anglesey has experienced a reduction of 10% in Acquisitive Crime, including residential burglary.  Antisocial behaviour reported to North Wales Police is highly seasonal with a significantly higher number of incidents reported during summer months compared to winter months.  Hate Crime in Anglesey has increase in recent months with racially aggravated crime being the most common type though overall numbers are very small.  Recorded levels of High Risk Sexual Violence have remained relatively stable, although there were spikes in offending linked to historic reporting. 

The committee considered the report and raised the following matters :-

·           Clarification was sought as to problems with drug related issues and whether there are issues with gangs carrying drugs to the Island.  The Community Safety Delivery Manager responded that the police are working closely with partnerships within the ‘Organised Crime Group’ in Gwynedd and Ynys Môn to share information and to tackle drugs related crime.  She further said that violence can also be an issue as regard to drugs related crime and these offences are on an increase locally and nationally;

·           Reference was made to the number of police officers which has decreased over the years.  Questions raised as to whether it is an issue as regard to the lack of police officers patrolling the streets and the unavailability to be able to speak with local people and to gain information of potential crime related issues.  The Community Safety Delivery Manger responded that she was unable to gauge as to the effects on crime related incidents due to the decrease of police officers patrolling the streets; she note that the police have developed a number of specialist units, in addition to local teams.  Members suggested that a letter be sent on behalf of this Committee to the Home Office to express concerns as to the decrease of police offices and that consideration be given to increasing the funding of police authorities to enable recruitment of additional police officers;

·           Questions raised as to the increase in hate crime issues locally.  The Community Safety Delivery Manager responded that due to the increase in hate crime a review was undertake which showed that the issues related to arguments between people and ‘name calling’ resulted from those arguments.  She noted that no specific pattern has resulted within hate crime issues in Gwynedd and Anglesey and that overall numbers remain low;

·           Reference were raised as to recent complaints to delay/non-response to the police non-emergency 101 number.  The Community Safety Delivery Manager responded that the Police Authority is restructuring the procedure for the non-emergency telephone number as concerns have been received as to the delay in answering calls.  She further said that the ‘Crime Stoppers’ line is available to report community crime issues; the Police Authority must respond to such inquiries through Crime Stoppers;

·           Clarification was sought as to whether ‘cyber-crime’ is a matter for the Community Safety Partnership. The Community Safety Delivery Manager responded that ‘cyber-crime’ needs specialist investigation and the Police Authority has invested in tackling cyber-crime.  She noted that the Community Safety Partnership has a limited budget and has to prioritise;

·           Reference was made to the importance of the education of children within the local schools as related to crime and drugs issues and the consequence resulting from such issues.  The Community Safety Delivery Manager responded that School Liaison Officers already attend local schools, however, it is understood that this service is to come to an end in the near future.  She noted that Welsh Government is establishing an ‘All Schools Curriculum’ which will include issues of crime being taught through all subjects within schools. 

It was RESOLVED :-

·           To note the report and attached documents and to support the properties and future direction of work of the Community Safety Partnership;

·           That a letter be sent on behalf of this Committee to the Home Office expressing concern as to decrease of police officers and the need to increase the Police Authorities budgets to enable recruitment of additional Police Officers.   

ACTION : As noted above.