Agenda item

[To provide an update on the progress made against the Local Police and  Plan 2015-16]

Chief Inspector Tracey Packham provided a report to update the Panel on progress and performance against the Wolverhampton Local Police and Crime Plan for the first three quarters of the performance year from April – December 2015.

The Chief Inspector advised that the Wolverhampton Police and Crime Plan focus is on three main objectives:

·         Reduce crime

·         Reduce harm and vulnerability

·         Understanding and responding to community concerns

She highlighted the performance detailed in the report which was welcomed by the Panel. She indicated that there was recognition of the need to provide more support in some areas than in others and that despite the cuts the police are committed to neighbourhood policing in a refreshed approach to 2015, aligned closer to the community.

In response to questions she advised that the PACT meetings were still positive.  Panels considered that the types of issues raised were related to prostitution, parking. Anti-social behaviour etc. she advised that the local police teams work closely with Wolverhampton Homes (WH) where criminal investigations are not the best way forward there are other options such as tenancy solutions. She advised that that in response to specific community concerns around the police use of stop and search powers bi-monthly scrutiny panels take place to ensure issues are looked into and appropriate actions taken to policy and procedures.

Cllr Daniel Warren welcomed the reduction in overall crime, he indicated that the fear of crime often did not relate to the number of actual crimes in a community and the performance figures clearly show that there is a reduction in many types of offence.  Panel considered how many in the community did hear about crime.  They considered that there were usually only a few regular attendees at PACT meetings and that the wider community tended to hear local news by facebook or word of mouth. The Chief Inspector acknowledged that the PACT meetings need to be looked at and advised that there will always be people who perceive crime is higher than it is but that fear of crime was monitored in a twice yearly satisfaction survey.  She advised that the survey asks if the police deal with what matters and the outcome is usually high, 86-90%, demonstrating that people have confidence in local policing. She advised that the way police talk to people and use positive news to balance out the fear to show a visible police presence.

The Chief Inspector informed panel that as part of the Police 2020 programme the way policing is conducted at force level is changing, incorporating partners and the use of new technology. Installation of new technology can help to reduce fear of crime and prevent crime and gave the example of protecting vulnerable people from unwanted phone calls simply by screening calls.  Officers can also make better use of technology to follow up and give feedback to the public. 

The Chief Inspector advised that there are changes planned, the PACT meetings are to be reviewed in light of recent changes which have taken place with neighbourhood policing teams. She gave an example where recent changes has led to a petition of 500 signatures and advised that all petitioners that had left an address had been contacted to reassure them and keep them fully informed around changes made.

In response to concerns raised about the increase in knife crime and reducing resources the Chief Inspector advised that knife crime is a concern to the police and that when there were emerging issues such as gang related tensions, further resources are deployed into Wolverhampton from across the Force area.

She advised that persons who are arrested for carrying knives are routinely asked about their motivation for doing so, and officers try to discourage the person carrying weapons.  Prevention is the way to reduce knife crime, encouraging people not to carry knives and to surrender weapons into the knife bins.  The Chief Inspector stressed the need to use new technology as a tool to reduce crime, information, awareness and intelligence can all help to monitor interventions and suppress activity.

Karen Samuels, Head of Community Safety referred to information provided to the panel by Chief Superintendent Keith Frazer relating to the gang strategy for the City; she advised that the intelligence relating to gangs membership and location is extensive and that there is a shift from reducing gang harm to preventing gang involvement, a greater focus on communications, texting etc and better use of social media will be a key feature of the new approach.  

In response to questions raised by Cllr Jasbinder Dehar relating to honour based crime the Head of Community Safety advised that there are intentions to move forward the agenda to address this and other hidden crimes such as Forced Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).  She explained that there is an understandable reticence amongst victims to report these crimes when family members may be complicit and part of the problem; targeted work is needed within communities to challenge the culture of acceptance and make it easier for victims and those at risk to come forward.

The Head of Community Safety advised that mandatory reporting for FGM was introduced on 31 October 2015 but staff need to have the confidence and skills to report and work with all involved.  She advised that pivotal to this work is the need to develop communication and reduce risks.

The Head of Community Safety advised the panel that the Council and partners are working hard to reduce risks relating to gangs and violence against girls and women strategies.  Proposals to develop a new Preventing Gang Involvement Strategy and a new Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy were discussed at this Scrutiny Panel on September 2015; both strategies have recently been endorsed by Cabinet and work is underway  to finalise delivery plans for both.  The strategies will ensure strengthened links to safeguarding, MASH, Early help and the Troubled Families programme.

.

In response to points raised by Cllr Lynne Moran about the St Peters ward drugs problem Chief Inspector Tracey Packham advised that the police and partners are acutely aware of the problems as issues about needle litter and the associated anti-social behaviour had been raised at the local PACT meeting. She confirmed that the reports had been escalated to a community worker, currently working on a needle exchange project. She confirmed that the local police would have a look what more could be done in the Whitmore Reans area.

Cllr Rupinderjit Kaur highlighted some dissatisfaction reported to her from people who had reported a crime and the method in which they had been contacted.  The Chief Inspector indicated that the satisfaction survey is carried out twice a year; participants are made up of a dip sample of people who had reported a crime.  She advised that there is an established complaints procedure in place if there was a matter to report.

In response to a question from the Chair the Chief Inspector advised that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) thresholds have remained the same and that where thresholds are not met the police have to consider what further investigative opportunities exist.

Resolved

That the update on Wolverhampton’s Local police and Crime Plan 2015/16 – April 2015 to December 2015 is received.