Agenda and minutes

The Evacuation Procedure was noted.

There were no Declarations of Interests.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held 30th May 2024.

Agreed that the minutes be approved.

Members of the Partnership heard from representatives of the Victim Care and Advice Service (VCAS), which had been commissioned by the Police & Crime Commissioners (PCC) Office to support victims of serious crimes other than Domestic Abuse and Serious Sexual Crimes.

The briefing outlined who VCAS defined as a victim, with the example if a person’s house is burgled then all those living there are victims. Another example given to members was if a child is the victim of a crime the parents would be impacted.

VCAS explained that they are able to support victims in a variety of ways, such as assisting victims to attend court and supporting them through those process. The Service is not limited by the amount of time that they are able to support victims, with an example of this being given as support for a victim of the Manchester Arena Bombings 2017.

Officers explained to members that they operate through a face-to-face basis usually at the victim’s home or a coffee shop, but in lockdown it was found that a simple walk and talk was equally as affective.

How easy it is to refer a potential victim to the service was also discussed, Officers explained that most referrals come through from the Police, but anyone can refer themselves or others to VCAS and Officers would rarely say no.

Following the report Members and Officers discussed the following:

•              That there were three full time members of staff who take any calls and triage those victims. With six victims care officers which are based around the local area.

•              Officers extended an invite to Members of the partnership to shadow one of the Victim Care Officers.

Members agreed to note the report.

Officers spoke about when the Serious Violence Duty was first introduced a strategic needs assessment was carried out, which identified that it would mostly affect the nighttime economy. An action plan was drawn up with some of the points highlighted below:

•              The change in behaviours of those using the night-time economy due to coming of age during or post Covid.

•              That Redcar would be the last area run an Street Angel programme, but it was being looked into setting one up.

•              Testing of seized drugs and highlighting the content of the drugs to the public to raise awareness.

Members and Officer discussed the following:

In relation to drug use is there any training that could be offered to licensed premises in regard to drug overdoses. The Catalyst representative informed members that they could provide training which can be covered in a ten minute course for those interested.

The organisation of the Street Angels programme was also discussed, some members expressed concern of the possible religious connection to the programme which hindered its development in the past. Officers explained that the programme would be run non-denominationally with all people of all faiths and practices being welcome to volunteer.

Members noted the report.

Officers attend the national Clear Hold Build conference recently, it was well attended by all Authorities. Officers were reassured in the terms of crime reduction stats with a 30% reduction in the clear hold build areas.

The funding for the operation would be looked at to ensure the longevity and sustainability of the operation. The feedback from the Community engagement felt that without adequate funding the operation will flounder in the months following. Worked had been undertaken to identify other possible funding schemes.

Regular drop-in surgeries were held on Thursdays for the community, with a case of serious bullying being reported at the last session. This encouraged members as it showed the community were using these sessions to report issues.

It was also highlighted that community groups would be receiving seeding funds for their own projects for the area as well.

A report would soon be released following Operation Nightfall and interviews with the community. Positive work had been done with community members, Ward Councillors and Sex Workers to find a solution going forward.

Partners would look at plans to roll out similar operations to operation Harmony in other wards, trying to learn from what has worked best in Ropner and how to use any funding most affectively. But it was cautioned that with the use of preexisting resources and funds it would be unlikely that Officers and Partners would be able to facilitate effective schemes across multiple wards simultaneously.

The move to another ward would have to be motivated by the data of which is in the most need. Officers were hopeful that those groups formed in Ropner could be utilised to set up similar strategies in the next wards in the future.

Members agreed to note the report.

Officers presented the Recorded Crime and Disorder Report with Members, they noted several sections of the report for members. These were as follows:

•              A large reduction in the number of reported cases in the theft from person.

•              There had been an increase in the number of cases of anti-social behaviour.

•              In the report burglary was down in the month-to-month comparison but it was up in the year-to-year comparisons.

•              A spike in incidents involving off road bikes had increased, resources had been allocated to tackle the increase.

•              Reported shop lifting has decreased by 25%, which Officers explained was due to increased allocation to Town Centres. But noted that the increased allocation could not be maintained forever.

Members AGREED to note the report.

Officers presented a report on the Serious Youth Violence Project and discussed the following. That a snapshot was taken of children arrested in August 2023, of those children there were some common themes. The children in the snapshot were all Male, with most already being know to Police. They were also often already known to other services such as Childrens Services. Most of the incidents were committed as groups not individuals.

The report had already been presented to the Youth Justice Management Board which had suggested that they take a lead on this issue. They have agreed to set up an outline which was presented to members. Stage one of the project had already begun, and Officers asked members of the partnership to support the endeavour with a request that any who are able to join the working group being set up.

Members expressed their support for the project and suggested that an update be added as a regular item for the partnership agenda.

Members Agreed to note the report.

Members were presented with a restricted report that provided an overview on crime comparisons against other similar CSPs utilising iQuanta. 

This report was a restricted document due to the statistical information only made available as an intelligence tool for partnerships until released by the Home Office.

AGREED that the report be noted.

Members were presented with a restricted report that provided an update on the Prevent Counter Terrorism Policing Programme.

Due to the nature of the update and the possible connection to ongoing investigations this item was restricted.

AGREED that the report be noted.

Members were presented with a restricted report that provided an update on the Prevent Counter Terrorism Policing Programme.

Due to the nature of the update and the connection to possible ongoing investigations this item was restricted.

AGREED that the report be noted.