Minutes:
99.1 The Community Safety Project Manager and the Community Safety Officer presented the information Bulletin to the Committee outlining the key information in the bulletin which covered the last 9 months:
- Introduced a new case management system
- Training for Councillors
- The depth of subjects that ASB covered.
- What pro-active work could be undertaken by the Council.
- Engaged with external and internal partners in the public sector
- That Officers were trying to get their message out to young people and engaging through crucial crew, talking about online safety.
- Engineering an ASB Champion who is someone who has gone through the process.
99.2 Councillor Dave Muller enquired whether the Officers met up with the engagement officer for Mid Suffolk, PC Hendrickson. The Community Safety Officer responded that the team already worked with the engagement Officer during the compilation of the Information bulletin but would like to develop that further and raise awareness with street meets with the Police. The Community Safety Project Manager added that officers were a part of an Area Tactical Command Meeting which dealt with high risk crimes as well.
99.3 Councillor Melanie Barrett questioned the officers about mediation that was offered. The Community Safety Project Manager responded that there was a structured and tiered approach when a situation is identified for mediation and a need for a conversation and that the Councils had a contract with Catch 22 (with effect from 5 August 2021 for a 12 month period) who are trained mediators who will engage, but emphasised the parties have to voluntarily engage in the process and if unsuccessful is taken to the next tier.
99.4 Councillor Paul Ekpenyong questioned whether the report included population growth into the statistics and why there had such a large shift in Suffolk’s numbers. The Community Safety Project Manager responded that the data represented what was reported and outlined that some authorities were better than others in reporting information. The Officer responded that they would take this away and report back outside of the meeting.
99.5 Councillor Paul Ekpenyong queried the comments on the bottom of p78 in relation to the Mental Health Trust and comments on the victim focussed basis. The Community Safety Project Manager responded that Victim First was a golden thread promoted in legislation and mental health was a challenging area and there are different stages for that and measuring capacity under the Care Act when dealing with cases.
99.6 Councillor Margaret Maybury questioned how the officers dealt with motorbikes that were being anti social. The Community Safety Project Manager responded regarding of a PSPO (Public Spaces Protection Order) if the incidents were in public spaces.
99.7 Councillor Sian Dawson questioned whether the council had ever evicted any tenants and whether mediation worked.
99.8 The Community Safety Project Manager responded that mediation was the way to look at all the options that were available to the solve the issues.
99.9 Councillor Terence Carter commented that there was a victim first approach whereas he would prefer to see a mediation first approach and whether the Council was prepared to deal with a large amount of complaints.
99.10 The Community Safety Officer responded that an analysis of situations was undertaken and all factors were taken into account on a case by case basis and that the Council reviewed its capacity and capability whereby training had been undertaken and that that the right structure was in place including the first point of contact at the Local Authority. In response to a further question the Officers responded that a Risk Assessment Matrix was undertaken whereby their case was assessed and that Officers engaged after the main process to ensure that all aspects were covered with appropriate and proportionate action taken.
99.11 Councillor Scarff asked that in future the CCTV segment in any report be expanded as it did not cover the complete picture of Babergh and Mid Suffolk.
99.12 The Report was noted.
Supporting documents: