Decision details

The report seeks approval to introduce a multi-agency Gangs, Violence and Exploitation Unit to tackle gang related offending in H&F.

Reasons for urgency:

The council is currently not able to provide an adequate capability to deal with anti-social behaviour on our streets and housing estates. In addition, there is an urgent need to provide dedicated resources to tackle the increase in gangs and youth violence.

1.    To approve the creation of the Council’s first Gangs, Violence & Exploitation Unit.

2.    To approve entering into a contractual funding agreement with the Metropolitan Police under Section 92 of the Police Act 1996.

3.    To approve the one-off allocation of £737,000 in Section 106 funding towards the new Unit for 2020/21 (from Section 106 funding already agreed for the purposes of community safety).

The recommendations are made in order to ensure the operational Community Safety teams can deliver on the Council’s vision to keep people safe and reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

The proposals have been made following research on best practice in dealing with issues of gangs, organised crime and youth violence. The funding of additional resources to investigate, engage with, support and if necessary, enforce against perpetrators is thought to be the best way for H&F to improve levels of safety for our young people and the wider community. The new Unit will require revised working practices to be developed in a number of statutory services to take account of the new resources and ensure there is no duplication.