Issue - meetings
SCRUTINY SPOTLIGHT - COMMUNITY SAFETY
Meeting: 10/09/2013 - Overview & Scrutiny Committee (Item 5)
SCRUTINY SPOTLIGHT - COMMUNITY SAFETY
To receive an oral presentation from Mr Stringer , Borough Commander of the Metropolitan Police and Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Deputy Mayor.
Minutes:
8.1 Community Safety Partnership Plan 2013-16
Variation of Order of Business
At this juncture the Chair informed OSC members that he considered it appropriate that the Order of Business be varied so that agenda item 8.1 “Community Safety Partnership Plan 2013-16” be considered in conjunction with agenda item 5 “Scrutiny Spotlight - Community Safety” because the content of the items was thematically linked. Accordingly the Chair Moved and it was:-
Resolved
1. That the order of business be varied to allow for Agenda Items 5 and 8.1 below be considered in conjunction:
· Agenda item 5. Scrutiny Spotlight - Community Safety
· Agenda item 8.1 Community Safety Partnership Plan 2013-16
2. Subsequently return to the order of business detailed in the agenda.
Special Circumstances and Reasons for Urgency
The Chair informed members of the Committee that the special circumstances and reasons for urgency associated with the proposals were detailed on the front page of the report and that the Constitution required that he agree these before OSC consideration of the report could take place. The Chair subsequently agreed the special circumstances and reasons for urgency as set out on the front page of the report and also set out below:
The Community Safety Plan is a statutory document that the Council is obliged to deliver at the earliest available opportunity. A request was made by the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny to clarify the public consultation section of the plan; this was done by amending the appendices requiring additional legal input. Deferment would adversely impact on the Council’s ability to engage with the Partnership to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.
Declaration of Interest
Councillor Gardiner declared a personal and professional interest in agenda item 8.1 Community Safety Partnership Plan 2013-16 as the content/ recommendations in the report were pertinent to the future of the Probation Service in Tower Hamlets and Councillor Gardiner was a serving Probation Officer.
Mr Dave Stringer, Borough Commander Metropolitan Police, gave a detailed presentation on performance relating to crime/ community safety and associated challenges/opportunities in Tower Hamlets as follows:
· Providing a comparative analysis (with neighbouring boroughs) of levels of reported crime summarised in a Tabled colour version of the chart set out at Appendix 5 to the report (pg 114 agenda pack). Also highlighting the detection level for reported crime (26% of overall crime solved over the past 12 months, one of the highest rates in London).
· Highlighting challenges and opportunities relating to Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB):-
- ASB levels were second-highest of London boroughs and it formed a very large proportion of matters that concerned the community.
- High levels around nuisance, alcohol / drugs and prostitution (latter numbers small and limited to certain areas but never the less a problem). A vice unit has recently been established and vice crime was now starting to fall.
- Acknowledged linkage of domestic abuse and prostitution/ other criminality & social issues were being addressed through a strategy to tackle violence against women & girls. The good practice of the Partnership in addressing domestic ... view the full minutes text for item 5