To receive a report.

Jon Challen, Safer Communities Service Manager and Sarah Cocker, Community Safety Partnership Officer (virtual) were in attendance to present Members with the Crime and Disorder Report, pages 27 to 114 of the Agenda refer.

The report provided an overview of the work currently being undertaken by the Safer Lincolnshire Partnership at County level, the South & East Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership (SELCSP) at a local level, along with information on CCTV across the partnership and Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) enforcement activity in East Lindsey.  The report recommended that the contents were noted, and additional areas of focus were considered for inclusion in future reports.

Members were invited for their comments and questions.

·         A Member spoke in support of the report and commented that the frequent use of acronyms was not easily deciphered by a layperson.

·         A Member commented that strategies played out differently on the ground and emphasised the importance of ensuring that strategies worked.

·         A Member further highlighted concerns with streetlighting in Louth town centre and queried whether it was being addressed to reduce crime.

·         In reference to White Ribbon Day and 16 days of Action in relation to the Safety of Women & Girls, a Member expressed disappointment that the Council was not working more closely with EDAN Lincs, a charity providing support and assistance to anyone suffering or fleeing from Domestic Abuse in Lincolnshire.

·         A Member further highlighted concern for the lack of recognition for violence against Men and Boys. 

·         The Chairman commented that Louth was one of the few towns that still benefited from PCSOs.

·         The Safer Communities Service Manager advised Members that all risks would be managed as part of the strategy and that the Community Safety Partnership Officer had assisted in ensuring that the action plan was up to date for identifying and informing on priorities.  The Safe Communities Service Manager further advised Members that the approach aimed to ensure that the strategy was working and reflected what the Council was trying to deliver locally in comparison to the Safer Lincolnshire Partnership which operated at a different strategic level across the whole of Lincolnshire.

·         In reference to the Pride in Place and Purple Flag aspirations campaign, a Member queried the level of work being undertaken in relation to the community payback scheme and whether community payback initiatives could be directed towards assisting with local issues such as clearing sand on the promenade in Mablethorpe, page 31 of the Agenda refers.  In response, the Safer Communities Service Manager informed Members that a presentation was delivered 18 months ago at the Community Safety Partnership by the lead officer for that area and that requests for assistance could be considered.  The Safer Communities Service Manager further advised Members that the community payback scheme was very active within the county and that an update on the level of activity would be requested.

·         A Member praised the work of the community payback scheme and provided an example of the schemes work at Louth cemetery and further highlighted that policy and procedural restrictions were holding back more widespread utilisation of the schemes assistance.

·         In reference to the Community Rangers in Boston town centre, a Member spoke in support of the initiative and queried whether they were a substitute for policeman and whether the amount of work undertaken by the Council from their own expenditure was being used to compensate for a poor police budget.  In response, the Safer Communities Service Manager highlighted to Members the ways in which the role of Community Rangers differed to the role of the police.

The Safer Communities Service Manager confirmed to Members that an update would be requested from Superintendent Lee St Quinton to clarify the police’s position on concerns about local policing and the effects following the removal of PCSOs.

The Safer Communities Service Manager further advised Members of the significant increase in environmental crime in recent years and informed Members that the Council had been required to step in where other agencies had been unauthorised to do so.

·         In reference to the project for SELCSP sponsorship of the match ball at Boston Utd on 23rd December 2023, a Member commented that a message on a ball was not easily observed and queried whether other opportunities for advertising had been considered such as community safety banners which had wider visibility, page 50 of the Agenda refers.  In response, the Safer Communities Service Manager assured Members that in addition to ball sponsorship, announcements were made at the football ground as part of the sponsorship deal which would reach an audience of approximately 2500-3000 people.  The Safer Communities Service Manager further advised Members that following the Committee’s comments, additional avenues for different forms of advertising would be explored. 

·         A Member queried whether special constabulary was involved in the development of strategies.  In response, the Safer Communities Service Manager confirmed there was no involvement by special constabularies in the strategies due to the use of police officers being an operational matter which was the responsibility of the Chief Constable.  The Safer Communities Service Manager further assured Members that the Partnership was kept informed of increased police presence in relation to specific events or protests, were updated on police structures and invited onto recruitment panels.

·         A Member further commented that the presence of special police on the streets was non-existent.

·         The Community Safety Partnership Officer referenced an earlier point in relation to the White Ribbon Day and 16 days of Action Campaign and assured Members that EDAN Lincs was promoted as part of the campaign and moving forward more support would be given to local support agencies.  In response, the Chairman commented on the benefit of further information being provided on EDAN Lincs.

No further comments or questions were received.

The Chairman extended her thanks to the Safer Communities Service Manager and Community Safety Partnership Officer for their attendance.

Following which it was,

RESOLVED:

·         That the content of the report be noted.

·         That areas of focus to be included in future reports be considered by Members.

N.B. The Safer Communities Service Manager and Community Safety Partnership Officer left the Meeting at 10.43am.