Agenda item

To submit a report by the Deputy Chief Executive.

The report of the Deputy Chief Executive was presented to the Committee for consideration.

The Portfolio Holder for Adult Services and Community Safety said that it is statutory that the Safety Partnership exists under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Members of the partnership include Anglesey County Council, the Police, the Probation Service, the Health Bord and the Fire and Rescue Service. Specific responsibilities and fields include crime and disorder, substance misuse, reducing crime, serious assault and more importantly, commissioning domestic homicide reviews. They answer to, and work with the regional North Wales board that meets every quarter.

Daron Owens began by summarising the reports main points. She felt it was important to note that they do not receive continuous funding to commission projects or services directly. The only commission is for domestic homicide reviews as funding isn’t provided on a regular basis for community safety. There is an emphasis on what will be done within the partnership. The team works closely with the North Wales regional board as they also set the priorities for crime and antisocial behaviour prevention. Significant work has been done to continue the serious violence strategy for North Wales. It has been part of the steering group for the past 11 months. The team receives funding from the Home Office every year, that allows them to continue with this regional prevention work.

After considering the report, the Committee discussed the main following points:-

Questions were asked about measuring the Partnerships priorities (that are based on a local needs assessment process), and noting any new or additional local needs.

• Councillor Euryn Morris asked in what way do the priorities for 2025/2026 fully reflect local needs on Anglesey, based on recent data and evidence? The Senior Community Safety Operational Officer for Gwynedd and Môn said, as is noted in the report, their priorities are based on the Safer North Wales Regional Board’s Strategy. The board’s vision is for North Wales to be a safe and inclusive place to live, work and visit. The purpose of the regional Board is to achieve this vision by dealing with crimes and disorder across the county. The basis of the Strategy is the strategic assessment by the police, that reports on risks and threats within crime areas that affect North Wales, and the main aim of the document is to inform those who make strategic decisions and set priorities. The Police Crime Commissioner’s scheme also influences these areas, and it is based on a detailed consultation with the public. Therefore, the Regional Board’s strategy sets the framework for on Community Safety Partnerships within the region, and they report on their work every quarter to the Board. However, they have a responsibility to agree on their own specific actions in response to local need. As all priorities and actions are based on evidence, data and consultation with the public, Daron Owens said that they are confident that they fully reflect the local need on Anglesey but are open to recommendations on any area that is missing. Councillor Euryn Morris asked how the Partnership measures the effectiveness of their activities in relation to reducing crime and disorder on Anglesey? Daron Owens said that it is important that the Community Safety Partnerships’ strategies and activities are based on and driven by evidence. An evidence based method allows them to have a good understanding of the crimes and antisocial behaviour landscape in these areas, and the problems and mattes that should be prioritised. The evidence allows them to make informed decisions about which activities are likely to be most effective when reducing crime and antisocial behaviour, and to understand if their commitment work on a practical level. The evidence they consider is in many different forms, for example – crime data, the transfer of strategic information and constant insight shared by the different responsible authorities, the local community, and academic research on what works. They have analysis partnership in order to provide constat data on crime to support decisions based on evidence. The Police also regularly look at crime figures and review each regional and local change. Any significant change needs a further analysis. Then, problematic areas will be reviewed, with policing plans in place to deal with the problem. Local policing methods include providing day to day resources to deal with matters as they become apparent. The data constantly changes, and the Police respond to this every week to note and understand any increase and to put measures in place if needed. Daron noted that they keep a clear focus on achievements and putting actions in place and measuring the effect by incorporating a method where their plans have clear activities and results that are connected in order to measure and monitor the effectiveness of their broad work stream.

Questions were asked about the effectiveness of the statutory partnership according to the expectations of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

• Councillor Euryn Morris asked how effective is the co-working between the statutory agencies (Police, Health, Fire and Rescue Service and others) in achieving the aims? Daron Owen said that it is a statutory requirement to have a Community Safety Partnership in place, according to the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, and the idea behind this is that crime is a problem for everyone not just the police. They bring together local services to deal with crime and antisocial behaviour. The main responsibility is that the accountable services do everything possible to prevent crime and disorder and develop plans to do this. They act on the principle that no one agency has the ability to reduce and prevent crime, and that an effective, local response requires a coordinated community response by relevant agencies. However, the problems they regularly try to address are complex, and each organisation that form part of the Partnership will have their organisational priorities, their strains and limitations. The partnership’s role is to work across these boundaries and barriers to choose and drive priorities and activities forward. Success is dependent on the Partnerships partners making and effort to prioritise a method where they foster working relationships and share information regularly. Daron said that she is confident that the co-working is very effective, and also meets the statutory duties set upon them. Councillor Euryn Morris thanked her for the response but raised concern about the data that is used and said he would be happier if it said, ‘Anglesey’s data’. He would like to see a dashboard to be able to view the situation at the end of the year to see the difference. Daron accepted the comment and confirmed that she would include this in the next report.

Action 1:

Include the dashboard in the next annual report to measure and show the progress and effect of projects, comparing the performance at the start and end of the year with the Senior Community Safety Operational Officer for Gwynedd and Môn.

• The Chief Executive appreciated the detailed information that was shared with the Committee. He said that they receive confidential data from the Police regularly. The priorities meet the needs and there are differences, and the work programme reflects that. A lot of work depends on grants. Processes need to be followed in order to ensure that grants come through. Councillor Ken Taylor made a comment about data. He said that he’s almost certain that the Chief Auditor had recently reported on figures in the Anglesey Town Council, and that they are positive.
• Councillor Non Dafydd said that she had listened on the emphasis on prevention. She said that patients in Benllech, Llanfairpwll, Beaumaris, Gwalchmai for example were going to lose access to Occupational Therapy services unless other provision is available. She asked what effect losing the provision will have? Daron Owens said that she wasn’t aware of this before the meeting and that she would raise this with the board in a few weeks. An update will be shared after 7 November.

Action 2

Provide an update to Committee Members following a meeting with the Health Board on 7 November in relation to the proposed reductions in Occupational Therapy services across the Island dur to funding limitations by the Senior Community Safety Operational Officer for Gwynedd and Môn.

Action 3

Chief Executive to engage with the Director of Social Services and the relevant Portfolio Holder to ensure that concerns regarding the effect of the proposed reductions to Occupational Services across many surgeries on Anglesey are reflected in the consultation process.

• Councillor Sonia Wiliams noted that domestic violence and abuse is on the rise. She asked for examples of early intervention that is happening. Daron Owens said that they do not receive funding to intervene on projects but that the matter is important to them. A lot of work has happened to raise awareness. A support line is available to professionals, but more awareness is needed around that. White Ribbon Day on 25 November and a lot of work is happening regionally. Councillor Sonia Williams accepted the points, but she would like to know what is being done to try and prevent an incident rather than the steps that are taken after an incident. Very often, it isn’t even noted that domestic abuse happens to men. Daron Owens said that funding for serious violence have allowed them to provide ‘Men in Work’ sessions to allow Council staff to be confident to talk.
• Councillor Pip O’Neill asked what support is in place to help people that leave prison to reintegrate in the community, especially in relation to training and development programmes, as well as access to accommodation? Daron Owens said that the Council’s Housing Service follows Welsh Governments pathway when someone leaves prison and that the Probation, Housing and Prison Services work together to ensure that an individual has access to services, including homelessness. She said she’s aware that the Housing department have a resettlement pathway for prisoners that they action for everyone who leaves prison that have gone into HMP without a stable home, or who do not have stable accommodation when they are released. Two Resettlement Officers are employed through the HSG. They are employed by Anglesey County Council and work for the internal Housing Support Team. The Housing Service works closely with colleagues in the Police and Probation. One of the main aims is to reduce reoffending by providing accommodation hand in hand with emotional and wellbeing support. The Prisoner Resettlements officers visit prisons to complete a necessary housing assessment. They can do this via video. The aim of this is to reduce the risk of homelessness and to follow a good accommodation plan when they are released. Each individual will have an individual support plans and this includes access to training, volunteering and employment. They work with DWP and MônCF to provide employment support. Digartref Cyf were successful with an application for the Rural Homelessness Lottery. They also support taking people who leave prison to health appointments, probation meetings and much more. Some cases are complex, and other agencies have to provide support – for example, Children, Adults Services, CMHT and the Food Bank. Currently working on a pilot with the Integrated Offenders Management (IOM) group hand in hand with North Wales Police and Probation. They have 11 nominals on IOM, and the aim of the pilot is to ensure that they have a continuous home after being released. Agencies have shown that having accommodation of standard can reduce reoffending. They work with other local authorities if someone is released from prison who are prohibited from coming to the Island. Although there aren’t many cases like these, they are difficult to manage as accommodation must be provided out of county. Elliw Llŷr added that 50 units are available for people who leave prison. Benefits support is available, and 6 accommodation units are being supported. The Head of the Probation Service has expressed that the relationship with the Council is excellent.
• Councillor Douglas Fowlie asked if support is available for individuals who don’t return to their family home and are the rules the same for women and men. Elliw Llŷr said if anyone makes an application for support they have a responsibility to provide appropriate accommodation for them. The service can work with the individual after that. Women and men are treated the same.

IT WAS RESOLVED to note the contents of the report and supporting documents, and note that the Scrutiny Committee supports the priorities and direction of work for the future.