Agenda and minutes

The evacuation procedure was noted.

There were no interests declared.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 9 March 2023

Consideration was given to the minutes of the Crime and Disorder Select Committee meeting which was held on 9 March 2023 for approval and signature.

AGREED that the minutes of the Committee meeting held on 9 March 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider the Adults, Health and Wellbeing overview report

As part of the annual opportunity to hold Cabinet Members and services to account, as well as understand the challenges and issues arising at the start of the current year’s work programme, the Committee was presented with the overview report from the Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) Adults, Health and Wellbeing directorate.  Introduced by the SBC Assistant Director – Community Safety and Regulated Services, who began by emphasising the importance placed on this area of work by the Council, attention was drawn to the following elements:

Crime and Disorder Overview

•           Overall, a total of 25,056 crimes within Stockton-on-Tees were reported to Cleveland Police during the period July 2022 to June 2023 – this was 3,076 (14.0%) more crimes compared with the same period in the previous year, and in-line with both national and Tees Valley trends of increasing levels of reported crime (though Stockton-on-Tees had the lowest increase within the Tees Valley).

•           Since the previous July 2021 to June 2022 period, there had been recorded increases in several crime types including violence against the person, robbery, theft, criminal damage and arson, public disorder, trafficking of drugs, and possession of weapons.  However, there had been fewer recorded sexual offences, bicycle thefts, and burglaries.

•           Stockton-on-Tees had a crime rate of 114.5 crimes per 1,000 of the population which was higher than the ‘most similar group’ (compiled using data such as population figures and deprivation levels) average of 97.5 crimes per 1,000.  When comparing crime within the Borough against the other Tees Valley areas, Stockton-on-Tees had the lowest crime rate in the Cleveland Police force footprint for the last financial year.

•           In terms of anti-social behaviour (ASB) within the Borough, up to the end of June 2023, reports to Cleveland Police decreased by 13.4% when compared to the previous 12 months.  However, in the last financial year to March 2023, 3,692 service requests were recorded by SBCs Community Safety Team as ASB (including noise and alcohol issues) – an overall increase of 461 incidents (14.3%) in the last year.

Despite an extremely challenging year in terms of raw crime data, the Committee was assured that scrutiny of such information was continually considered by the Safer Stockton Partnership (SSP), and that a more positive picture was already being seen post-April 2023.  To further understand the July 2022 to June 2023 reporting period, Members requested a breakdown of crime data (per crime type) following this meeting.  If possible, a crime locality map would also be useful.

Debate ensued around the impact of COPA (Cleveland Online Policing App) on the latest reported crime figures.  It was stated that the Council worked closely with the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Cleveland regarding this relatively new app and received regular updates from the PCCs office with regards its use.  It was, however, difficult to say the app had directly contributed to the increase in reported cases, but it certainly provided a good intelligence source (e.g. fly-tipping).  Officers clarified that, whilst crime could initially be  ...  view the full minutes text for item CD/4/23

Chair’s Update

The Chair had no further updates.

Work Programme 2023-2024

Consideration was given to the current Crime and Disorder Select Committee Work Programme.  The next meeting was scheduled for 21 September 2023 and would include consideration of the draft scope and plan for the Committee’s first in-depth review of the current municipal year regarding safety of staff in the night-time economy.  An update on progress of outstanding actions in relation to the previously completed Fly-Grazed Horses review was also anticipated.

AGREED that the Crime and Disorder Select Committee Work Programme 2023-2024 be noted.