Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Rebecca Harvey (Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion and Community Safety) and Trey Campbell-Simon.

If a Councillor has a disclosable pecuniary interest in a particular item, whether or not it is entered in the Authority’s register of interests, or any other significant interest which they consider should be declared in the public interest, they should declare the existence and, unless it is a sensitive interest as defined in the Member Code of Conduct, the nature of the interest at the commencement of the consideration of that item or as soon as it becomes apparent.

At meetings where members of the public are allowed to be in attendance and speak, any Councillor with a disclosable pecuniary interest or other significant interest may also make representations, give evidence or answer questions about the matter. The Councillor must then withdraw immediately from the meeting before the matter is discussed and any vote taken.

Where Members of the public are not allowed to be in attendance and speak, then the Councillor with a disclosable pecuniary interest should withdraw from the meeting whilst the matter is under consideration. Councillors who have declared other significant interests should also withdraw from the meeting if they consider their continued participation in the matter would not be reasonable in the circumstances and may give rise to a perception of a conflict of interest.

Councillors are not obliged to withdraw from the meeting where a dispensation to that effect has been obtained from the Standards Committee.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting as an accurate record and note any outstanding actions.

Councillor Andrew Dinsmore clarified that he had requested a breakdown of the Law Enforcement Team’s (LET’s) salary scale – and the criteria that justifies the salaries of the LET officers so they could be compared with the salaries and job criteria of a Police Officer. Neil Thurlow said he would provide the information outside of the meeting.

ACTION: Neil Thurlow

RESOLVED

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 1 February 2023 were agreed as an accurate record.

This report provides an update on work of the Law Enforcement Team between January and February 2023.

Appendix 3 includes information on a community engagement project undertaken by Neighbourly Lab.

Neil Thurlow (Assistant Director, Community Safety, Resilience and CCTV) introduced partners from Neighbourly Lab, who were present to talk about community engagement and the work done in collaboration with H&F.

Neil Thurlow offered updates on the two Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) regarding dogs in public spaces, and cyclist activity on river paths. Since the previous meeting, consultations on both issues had closed with healthy public engagement in both issues. This provided a solid basis to understand local views on both issues. Analysis was ongoing, and recommendations would be made shortly.

Neil Thurlow thanked members and all those involved for their assistance in circulating surveys across community groups in these consultations, confirming that the PSPOs would be introduced in a phased approach of engagement and education, with enforcement in cases of repeat offences.

Sharon Tomlin asked if Housing Associations could initiate requests for patrols on their sites. Mohammed Basith (Law Enforcement Team Manager) confirmed they could, and the LET would respond in accordance with the severity of the issue being reported.

Grainne O’Dwyer (Senior Programme Manager, Neighbourly Lab) presented the work of Neighbourly Lab, a not-for-profit community organisation focused on improving social connection and strengthening communities. Grainne O’Dwyer explained that Neighbourly Lab had engaged with, and shadowed, the LET in H&F, to better understand their role and offer an evaluation of the service as a critical friend. She praised the LET as offering an invaluable asset and role in the community that many other local authorities didn’t offer.

Neighbourly Lab identified a co-produced approach with H&F LET Officers to design further training to improve the service in the realms of both community engagement and enforcement. Alongside Officer training, Neighbourly Lab also ran community engagement events in parks and places of worship across the borough. Following the engagements, Neighbourly Lab found both improved morale and a greater sense of wellbeing amongst LET Officers, whilst residents reported an improved understanding of, and belief in, the role of the LET.

Tony Boys asked if Neighbourly Lab could extend their remit to working with Resident Associations to broaden the messaging about the LET service and Officers. Neighbourly Lab confirmed that this would be a consideration in future.

The Chair asked if the LET could broaden its reach by engaging in community walkabouts to enhance community engagement and presence. Mohammed Basith confirmed that the LET engaged with residents via ward-based email addresses, which allowed the public to contact Officers who could meet with residents at their convenience. Mohammed Basith also noted that the LET team attended ward panel meetings and held surgeries in local libraries three times a month.

Neil Thurlow said the LET was operational 24/7 and members of the public were welcome to join patrols at any time. Neil Thurlow also welcomed any invitation Tony Boys extended on behalf of ward panels and residents associations across the borough. Tony Boys and Sharon Tomlin commended the LET for their engagement in their local wards of Fulham Reach and Lillie.

Members requested  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

This item provides a headline summary of the main issues impacting on policing within the borough, police performance against key crime types, and the impact some of the wider issues affecting policing in London may have over the next few months on communities and partnerships.

Superintendent Craig Knight (Metropolitan Police) introduced himself to the Committee and noted that he would shortly be starting in the role of Neighbourhood Superintendent for the borough. The post involved leading neighbourhood teams and acting as a senior leader representative for partnership meetings, engaging in effective problem-solving and local engagement, and acting as a local strategic lead for neighbourhood policing.

Superintendent Craig Knight gave an overview of the briefing item covering January 2022 to January 2023. He noted there had been a slight uptick of offences recorded in H&F following the end of the pandemic. He stressed that H&F was a safe borough when compared to others across London and that it should be remembered that H&F is especially vibrant, with a very high footfall. He noted that there had been around 4,000 stop and search incidents in H&F, with the majority related to drug offences. Around 30% of searches rendered a positive outcome. He also discussed the Met’s Turnaround Plan – a platform for Londoners to provide feedback, to help inform and guide the Police Commissioner and Neighbourhood Superintendents. The aim was to improve community responses and relations, be proactive and evidence-based, strengthen public protection, and raise standards.

Superintendent Craig Knight emphasised the importance of ward panels and working with local authorities. He commended H&F in its performance over the previous year, particularly the reduction in crime in an around Shepherd’s Bush Green.

Councillor Andrew Dinsmore asked for clarification on detection rates in H&F as set against national standards, how detection rates could be improved, and for detail in the role of vehicles (e.g. moped and electric scooters) utilised in robberies. Superintendent Craig Knight confirmed that detection rates in H&F were broadly in line with those of the rest of London, adding that rates were generally low and needed to be improved. He also confirmed that moped-enabled crime had fallen in the past two years and that e-scooters were not currently being used prolifically in criminal activity. Superintendent Craig Knight emphasised the importance of preventative tools such as stop and search and CCTV in appropriate areas.

Superintendent Craig Knight illustrated the preventative value of stop and search procedures, particularly in the context of drugs offences, which accounted for around 68% of all offences in the borough. Superintendent Craig Knight also confirmed that 97% of stop and searches were recorded on Officer body-worn video cameras. Stop and search processes also include the recording of demographics, where that information could be obtained from the person being stopped. Police Officers were legally obliged to identify themselves during the process of recording and must inform the person being stopped that they had a right to request a copy of the video recording. He noted that less than one in every thousand stop and search event resulted in a complaint against the Police in H&F. Stop and search footage was regularly reviewed and was subject to checks and balances, with particular sensitivity around adversely approaching  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To discuss items for inclusion in the work programme.

The work programme was noted.

To note the following dates of future meetings:

·       26 Jul 2023

·       22 Nov 2023

·       7 Feb 2024

·       24 Apr 2024

The dates of future meetings were noted.