Agenda and minutes

The evacuation procedure was noted.

There were no interests declared.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 26 September 2024.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the Community Safety Select Committee meeting which was held on 26 September 2024 for approval and signature.

AGREED that the minutes of the Committee meeting held on 26 September 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider information from the following organisations in relation to this scrutiny topic:

·         Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Cleveland

·         Cleveland Police

·         Cleveland Fire Brigade (to follow)

Cllr Mrs Ann McCoy (Billingham) wished it to be recorded for transparency purposes only that she was currently a member of her respective Town Council as well as a Ward Councillor.

The third evidence-gathering session for the Committee’s ongoing review of Welcoming and Safe Town Centres was scheduled to involve contributions from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Cleveland, Cleveland Police, and Cleveland Fire Brigade.

OFFICE OF THE POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER FOR CLEVELAND

Beginning with an appreciation of the importance of the scrutiny function (which included previous involvement in his role as a former Councillor), the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Cleveland gave a presentation to the Committee which covered the following:

·       Tackling Shoplifting: A Retail Crime Summit was held in October 2023, an event which was followed-up last week and gave similar assurance that Cleveland Police was doing what it could to address this issue (work which was bucking the national trend around shoplifting).  Further engagement with the force via its bi-monthly retail crime meetings and through the OPCCs scrutiny work on the topic had also provided assurance on the ongoing approach, with key areas of concern raised around police communication, sentencing (not something the force could influence but an important element which caused significant public alarm), difficulties in passing evidence (e.g. transferring CCTV coverage from older systems), and wider issues such as anti-social behaviour (ASB) and addiction (which require Public Health solutions / support).

The development of a cross-Cleveland retail crime Action Plan had aided the identification of single points of contact within each Local Authority area, as well as the availability of data (via a dashboard) showing shops experiencing six or more offences of shoplifting.  Problem-solving plans were in place for the top five shoplifting-affected settings within each Local Authority boundary, with use of Police National Computer (PNC) facial recognition checks also being worked upon.

·       Safer Streets Funding (Round 5): With £331,000 funding (over 18 months) received from the Home Office as part of this ongoing national initiative, the focus was on tackling ASB, neighbourhood crime, and violence against women and girls (VAWG) in Stockton Town Centre (Portrack and Tilery area) and Ropner wards.  Within the former, tangible developments using this funding included the distribution of target hardening packs (e.g. locks to make homes more secure) to vulnerable residents and repeat victims, the installation of kick rails to prevent anti-social use of motorcycles, the installation of integrated CCTV / lighting columns, and the launch of a ‘Power of Women’ project focusing on developing skills, confidence and empowerment.  Operation Nightfall (a joint venture between Cleveland Police and A Way Out) was the continuing focus within Ropner.

Work undertaken off the back of the Safer Streets Fund was significantly reducing incidents of ASB across the Borough, with residents starting to report positive messages on the difference this was making.

·       ASB Hotspots: Funding was made available from the Home Office to pilot an ‘ASB Hotspots’ programme in Cleveland –  ...  view the full minutes text for item CSS/26/24

Consideration was given to the minutes of previous Safer Stockton Partnership (SSP) meetings which took place in March 2024, May 2024 and July 2024.  Attention was drawn to the following:

·       28 March 2024: Members expressed alarm at the recorded truancy levels within the Borough (170% above the national average) and raised specific concerns around home schooling and how this was being checked / quality controlled.

AGREED that:

1)    the minutes of Safer Stockton Partnership (SSP) meetings which took place in March 2024, May 2024 and July 2024 be noted.

2)    the Chair of the SSP be contacted regarding the Committee’s concerns in relation to truancy levels across the Borough (as referenced within the minutes of the March 2024 meeting).

CHAIR’S UPDATE

The Chair had no further updates.

WORK PROGRAMME 2024-2025

Consideration was given to the Committee’s current work programme (2024-2025).  The next meeting was due to take place on 28 November 2024 where the third evidence-gathering session for the ongoing review of Welcoming and Safe Town Centres was scheduled to involve submissions from the Borough’s Town Councils and the deferred contribution from Cleveland Fire Brigade.

Looking further ahead, the Chair notified Members of potential plans to move the Committee meeting in December 2024 to early-January 2025 – confirmation of arrangements would be circulated to Members in the coming days.

AGREED that the Chair’s Update and Community Safety Select Committee Work Programme 2024-2025 be noted.