Agenda item

This report sets out the recommendations of the Policing & Crime Commission and the H&F officer responses.

Matt Hooper (Chief Officer - Safer Neighbourhood) provided a presentation on the Policing and Crime Commission’s (PCC’s) final recommendations. It was noted that the Commission was created in November 2018. Since then, members of the Commission had undertaken a huge amount of field work, interviews and research to inform their final report. The report set out 35 ‘ambitious recommendations, each one evidence-led and designed to make residents safer, less fearful and better informed’. The report served as a resource and benchmark and included 7 headline recommendations as follows:

1. Crime communication infrastructure

2. A new H&F crime helpline

3. Disbanding existing resident engagement structures

4. New recommended groups, committee and roles

5. Prioritise pupil safety

6. New H&F youth commission

7. Addressing drug and alcohol misuse

In total 33 actions were proposed for the Council, Metropolitan Police and other organisations. 18 of these were supported, 12 were partially supported and 3 were not supported. The 3 actions that were not supported for either legislative or financial reasons were; a new H&F crime helpline, disbanding existing resident engagement structures and addressing drug and alcohol misuse.

Superintendent Mark Lawrence, relating to recommendation 3, noted that Ward Panels were functioning across the borough, some more well attended and more productive than others, but these cannot be disbanded. These were driven by The Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) and the central Neighbourhood Unit. Again, representation could always be increased, and everyone was welcome to join. It was crucial to deliver a consistent engagement strategy across London and Ward Panels formed part of that. However, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) recognised the validity and importance of the Ward Action Groups recommended in this report and made a commitment to ensure Ward Panels and Ward Action Groups work together to achieve the best outcomes.

Councillor Sue Fennimore (Deputy Leader) praised the sheer amount of work that had gone into the PCC. She thanked everyone that was involved in the Commission to bring forward these recommendations for an important and invaluable piece of work.

The Chair also thanked the members of the Commission for taking their time to address the Committee.

Councillor Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler asked Councillor Sue Fennimore to clarify what her views were on the recommendations included in the report. In response Councillor Sue Fennimore noted that she was grateful for all the work carried out by the Commission to produce these recommendations. All recommendations would be presented at Cabinet for consideration in November 2020 at which point it would be collectively determined which ones would be taken forward. 

Councillor Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler asked for further clarification to be provided on whether Council officers were involved in responding to the recommendations. In response Matt Hooper noted that the Council worked in collaboration with the Police to jointly agree and respond to the recommendations proposed by the independent Commission.

Lorraine Ainscow-Searle (Police and Crime Commission) asked why the recommendation to consider working with the Police to adopt a diversion scheme for drug users such as that operating in Thames Valley was not supported. Matt Hooper explained that this was a significant programme of work which due to current resource and funding restrictions, the Council was not in a position to deliver at this time. However, the Council had agreed to extend the funding for the resilience project, and this would be made available post 2021.

Councillor Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler provided a summary of concerns regarding the arrangements for Ward Panels and the Ward Action Groups set up across the borough. However, noted that she was in favour of some of the other recommendations outlined in the report.

Councillor David Morton commented that he was the Chair for the Ward Action Group in Avonmore and Brook Green. He felt that these had worked extremely successfully and there was good integration between Council officers, Police and the Safer Neighbourhood team. Additionally, he provided a summary of the improvements that could be made in future to ensure these continued to work well.

Adam Matan (Police and Crime Commission) noted that the Commission had worked very closely with residents and key stakeholders to collate their views and action some of the challenges that were faced in the borough. He was pleased with the recommendations that had been submitted to the Council and hoped that these were implemented to achieve a practical solution for crime going forward.

Summing up the discussions, the Chair thanked everyone in attendance for their contributions, and efforts that had gone into developing the proposed recommendations

RESOLVED:

That, the Committed noted the recommendations of the Policing and Crime Commission (PCC) and the H&F officer responses.