Agenda item

Joint briefing note and presentation

Councillors A S Khan and P Akhtar, Cabinet Member and Deputy Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities have been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item

Chief Superintendent Mike O’Hara and Chief Inspector Suraya Latif, West Midlands Police have also been invited to attend along with the following representatives from the Sub-Groups which support the Coventry Police and Crime Board: Joy Adams / Caroline Ryder / Elaine Yates,  Manjeet Pangli, Kirsty Baker and Craig Hickin

The Committee considered a Briefing Note and presentation at the meeting which provided details of the Coventry Community Safety Plan, which was approved by the Coventry Police and Crime Board and which explained how the partnership will address the priorities highlighted in the annual strategic assessment.

Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) are the statutory body that bring together local partners to solve shared issues around Crime and Disorder, Anti-Social Behaviour, Drug and Alcohol misuse and Reoffending. The CSP in Coventry meets as the Police and Crime Board (PCB). Each year, CSPs are required to undertake strategic assessments, created by West Midlands Police analysts on behalf of the CSP, to help to inform their priorities. The document consists and is informed by both local data, contributions from the local CSP members and from a survey, where members of the public are asked for their views on community safety in the City. A copy of the survey was appended to the Briefing Note. The strategic assessment is used by the Police and Crime Board to set priorities and actions for the partnership.

A further appendix to the report detailed the strategic priorities. The responsibility for delivering the priorities lies with the PCB, although these are allocated and managed by the sub-groups, which support the Board. The chairperson for each sub-group is a PCB member and is answerable to the Board for the priorities that fall within their specific areas. Some of the priorities are “cross-cutting” and collective ownership is taken for these areas.

The Briefing Note detailed the following sub-groups that support the PCB:-

·  City Tasking – This group covers public place-based issues, safety and reassurance

·  Harm and Abuse Reduction Partnership – This group responds to and seeks to reduce a range of vulnerabilities/issues which range from domestic abuse, sexual violence, hate, crime, modern day slavery etc

·  Reducing Re-Offending Group – This group looks at reducing reoffending and the resulting harm, integrated offender, management and tackling serious and organised crime

·  Prevent - This group responds to the ideological challenge of terrorism and the threat we face from those who promote it; prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure that they are given appropriate advice and support; and work with sectors and institutions where there are risks of radicalisation that we need to address

The PCB meet on a quarterly basis and the document that details performance against the qualitative and quantitative is circulated to PCB members. Specific reporting is limited to “exceptions” ie under, or over performance, although PCB members are able to ask specific questions relating to any part of the Coventry Community Safety Plan. There is further scrutiny of the plan by the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, who has a representative on the Coventry PCB.

The Committee questioned the officer and sought assurances on aspects of the Briefing Note and presentation, including:-

·  Road safety in Coventry

·  How the PCB engage with the public and the make up of the PCB, including elected member representation

·  Work undertaken in relation to “on-line” crime

·  How the PCB deal with cross cutting themes, ensuring  overlapping where necessary, whilst avoiding duplication

·  Clarification in relation to CCTV cameras in the city, including responsibility for and ownership of

·  How the survey is circulated to ensure maximum participation and what work is being undertaken to improve feedback rates and engagement

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee:-

1)  Receives and notes the content and actions contained in the Community Safety Plan designed to address community safety issues in the City.

2)  Recommends that the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities:-

a)  Includes the Chair of the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee (or their nominee) in the membership of the Coventry Police and Crime Board.

b)  Investigates ways to improve the wider circulation of and better participation in the Community Safety Partnerships Public Survey, including circulating it to all Councillors.

c)  Encourages all Councillors to sign up for the West Midlands Now initiative.