The Committee received and noted a report that provided an update on the implementation of recommendations from the scrutiny review into how the council, police and social landlords promote the reporting of incidents of drug dealing, drug taking and related ASB in communal spaces and communicate the outcome of this reporting. It was noted that the report and recommendations were agreed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in May 2015. An action plan was then developed to address the recommendations, and the report and accompanying action plan were agreed by Cabinet in November 2015. Accordingly, the Committee noted the progress against the recommendations from the scrutiny review. The main points of the discussion may be summarised as follows:

The Committee Noted:

• That the mechanisms used by Crime Reduction Partnerships to address the cause and effect of ASB can vary dependent on a community’s particular situation or circumstance;
• That the way ASB is managed across the Crime Reduction Partnership is now subject to change to address those particular challenges and circumstances unique to the Borough;
• Work is being undertaken to improve the tasking of resources in a co-ordinated manner e.g. regular Partnership Action Groups to support victims of ASB; developing mechanisms to support stakeholders and partners in addressing ASB and support for repeat victims;
• That the MPS see the addressing of ASB to be a significant priority given how ASB is addressed will have a major impact on how the public perceive the Police Service;
• That Tower Hamlets Homes (THH) accept the importance of the role that they must play in addressing the process including how housing stock is maintained and developed e.g. Physical measures to address ASB; 
• That there had been 1,283 calls regarding ASB to the THH ASB Team and that the “call handlers” are now part of that Team.  The Team provides important support to victims throughout the process of addressing these incidents and works closely with the Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officers (THEOs) and the Police to address the cause and effect of ASB;
• That the4 review of ASB has considered what works in addressing ASB and what does not;
• That the Government has introduced new guidance for dealing with ASB with a greater emphasis on community engagement;
• That across the Borough there is from stakeholders and the partners to make a real difference in addressing ASB e.g. how to make enforcement measures effective and make residents feel confident in reporting ASB;
• That the majority of those perpetrating ASB of locals and the kind of gang related crime not as serious as elsewhere.  However, the trade in Class A drugs is not as significant as in other Boroughs;
•  That the police Service are working to proactively address localised drug dealing balanced with the support for those wishing to break their addiction;
• That the partners are working to formalise the processes to be used that would effectively address the causes and not only the effect of ASB e.g. Greater central co-ordination;
• That a better communications programme was needed as people need to see what is being done to address ASB e.g. How people can report ASB; information on prosecutions for ASB and the live streaming of the Community Safety Ward Walkabouts Community Safety Ward Walkabouts and to host them on a dedicated Face Book;
• That community empowerment and a co-ordinated approach is the way forward;
• Expressed concern that the police Services practice of the regular rotation of staff has an impact on continuity and how confident t resident will be in engaging with the partners;
• That for many years’ local councillors have raised their concerns about the unacceptable level an incidence of ASB in Weavers Ward. 
• That Weavers is located at the border between Islington and Hackney and that Councillors have stated their concerns regarding the incidences of violent ASB and those sleeping rough on the streets. Councillors wanted to see positive measures to address all aspects of ASB including the levels of motorists driving in excess of the speed limit through residential streets and gang related ASB;
• That there is a need to address ASB as early as possible and when designing new housing stocking and renovating existing properties to minimise the incidences of ASB;
• That there needs to be improved engagement with schools; faith groups and local councillors;
• That whilst it was accepted that addressing ASB would be a lengthy one that people must see that partners are being proactive in dealing with the incidence of ASB e.g. Drug dealing;
• That people need to know that there has been a recognition that changes need to be made in addressing ASB and that they are being made;
• That there has been an acceptance that in the past that they have not been good at telling people what they have and are doing to address ASB e.g. cash seizures; night time economy; door entry systems; under aged sales; violent crime; and support for community groups to address ASB;
•  That operations are undertaken to address such as underage sales;
• THH have through utilisation of the Capital Programme made significant investment in the repair and maintenance of door entry systems;
• That a contributory factor for ASB was the increase in the Borough’s population; the need to provide the well considered housing and the development of a continuing sense of community.  Whilst a review of community cohesion would be essential in any debate on this issue;
• That details of OWL (Online Watch Link) which is used by the Metropolitan Police Service in partnership with local Neighbourhood Watch coordinators to communicate with residents and businesses across the Borough. OWL is an advanced solution for police & communities to grow and manage Neighbourhood Watch, School Watch, Business Watch and dozens of other schemes. OWL provides watch members with the latest messages and local crime alerts sent by email, telephone, SMS or fax. To register to this scheme please register by following this link

In conclusion, the Committee whilst welcoming the report indicated that it wanted to have an opportunity to comment on the Review of Community Cohesion before it goes to Cabinet.