Decision details

Members and the public are requested to consider the draft Community Safety priorities 2014-15.

The Committee received a report from Detective Chief Inspector Sloane regarding the consultation on Draft Community Safety Partnership Priorities.

 

1.    Ms Ann Sinnott requested a firm commitment from the Community Safety Partnership to make domestic abuse a high priority.  

 

Detective Chief Inspector Sloane stated that the increase in crime incidents of domestic abuse reflected an increased level of reporting, which indicated that improvements were being made in raising the profile of this crime. In response Ann Sinnott cited evidence, including Cambridge Community Safety Partnership’s October 2013 Report, which showed that the rate of reporting had actually fallen. Detective Chief Inspector Sloane confirmed that further work with the County Council was needed to tackle the issue.       

 

2.    Mr Antony Carpen highlighted the need for a city-wide Community Development Strategy in order to strengthen local communities.

 

This comment was noted.

 

3.    Mr Antony Carpen highlighted the lack of night time economy targeted at older people.

 

This comment was noted.

 

4.    Mr Antony Carpen highlighted the need to work with colleges and language schools to educate students on safe cycling practices.

 

This comment was noted.

 

5.    Mr Richard Taylor suggested that more joint working between the police, Magistrates, the NHS and Area Committees would be beneficial.

 

This comment was noted.

 

6.    Councillor Smart highlighted the impact that cuts in mental health services could have and welcomed the inclusion of the related strategic objective. Councillor Moghadas supported this.

 

This comment was noted.

 

7.     Councillor Hart asked if there was scope to include domestic abuse as a strategic objective in order to raise its profile. Councillor Moghadas supported this.

 

Detective Chief Inspector Sloane responded that if domestic abuse was raised as an important issue through the consultation there would be scope to include it as a strategic objective.

 

8.    Councillor Owers asked why drug related issues did not feature as a high priority – especially as it was often featured in the Safer Neighbourhood reports.

 

Detective Chief Inspector Sloane responded that, whilst the East Area did have a local police priority related to drug offences, this is a city-wide consultation. 

 

9.    Councillor Moghadas asked how successful the Immobilise Scheme had been. 

 

Detective Chief Inspector Sloane responded that it was a valuable tool and the police were encouraging as many people as possible to use it.

 

10.                    Councillor Johnson asked what challenges there were for the police in working in a 2-tier City such as Cambridge.

 

Detective Chief Inspector Sloane responded that, whilst good practice was employed from other areas, Cambridge was a fairly unique City. Close working between the police and the two Councils was very important. 

 

11.                    Councillor Roberts commented that the perception or crime, as well as the raw data, was an important factor. It was suggested that more visible policing could be beneficial.

 

Detective Chief Inspector Sloane agreed that the perception of crime was an important factor. Bringing crime figures down and then marketing these successes was one way of tackling this.

 

 

In response to the discussion, the Area Committee agreed that domestic abuse should be added as an additional strategic priority.

 

The Area Committee suggested that the following priorities be adopted:

 

Strategic

-        To understand the impact of mental health, alcohol and drug misuse on violent crime and anti-social behaviour.

-        Domestic Abuse (with local work around awareness raising and training).

 

Tactical

-        Personal Acquisitive Crime – looking at emerging trends.

-        Alcohol related violent crime – extending the pub clusters if necessary.

-        Anti-social Behaviour – embedding new ways of working.

 

To continue to track and support County led work on

-        Re-offending.

 

The Partnership will keep a watching brief on road safety issues by:

-        Working collaboratively with politicians and the County Road Safety Partnership.

-        Addressing local issues through the Neighbourhood profiles at Area Committees.

 

The Safer Communities Section Manager confirmed that the consultation would be available on the CSP website from 10 January 2014. It was also noted that a full report would be brought back to the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee on 17 March 2014.