Central Prospectus June 2012

“Realising the area’s economic potential to be globally connected, deliver sustainable growth, ensuring a green, prosperous and ambitious place for the benefit of all” Contents of Prospectus Page No

Glossary of Terms 3

Introduction 4

Key Attributes 6

Map of 7

Population & Demographics 8

Housing 11

Deprivation 12

Economy 14

Children & Young People 16

Stronger & Safer Communities 17

Community Safety Partnership 21

Community Safety Delivery 23

Structure of the Community Safety Partnership 25

AppendixA 26

2 Acronym Description ASB Anti-Social Behaviour ASBRAC ASB Risk Assessment Conference BBC Bedford Borough Council BDAAT Bedfordshire Drugs and Alcohol Action Team CBC Central Bedfordshire Council CBT Central Bedfordshire Together, the name for the Local Strategic Partnership in Central Bedfordshire CSP CommunitySafetyPartnership DCLG Department for Communities and Local Government DFE DepartmentforEducation DWP Department for Work and Pensions EU EuropeanUnion HWB Health & Wellbeing Board IDVA Independent Domestic Violence Advisor IOM IntegratedOffenderManagement JSA Job Seekers Allowance JSNA Joint Strategic Needs Assessment LBC Borough Council LSCB Local Safeguarding Children’s Board LSOAs LowerSuperOutputAreas MARAC Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference MINI Mental Illness Index MYE Mid Year Estimate NEET Not in Education, Employment or Training ONS Office for National Statistics SARAC Sexual Abuse Risk Assessment Conference

3 Introduction

Central Bedfordshire Prospectus

This prospectus has been developed by Central Bedfordshire Together, which is the name for our local strategic partnership (CBT). CBT comprises senior representatives from the Council, Police, Fire, Health, Education, Business, Town and Parish Councils and the Voluntary and Community Sector. This prospectus is intended to raise understanding and awareness for anyone standing as a candidate for the and Crime Commissioner.

Central Bedfordshire – Our Vision

Our Vision - “Realising the area’s economic potential to be globally connected, deliver sustainable growth, ensuring a green, prosperous and ambitious place for the benefit of all”

Our vision for Central Bedfordshire is one of greater economic prosperity based on sustainable growth. We need to ensure that Central Bedfordshire fulfils its economic potential, and that there are more local jobs for local people.

We will experience considerable population growth over the next 20 years and we need to make sure that we have the houses and facilities needed to support this growth, so that Central Bedfordshire remains a desirable place.

Importantly, our vision reflects the views of local people, communities and stakeholders and responds to their aspirations for Central Bedfordshire. There are two key themes to delivering this vision:

 Creating the conditions for economic success & community prosperity  Raising standards and tackling inequalities

We know that the only way we can achieve our vision is by ensuring that we continue to listen and respond to what our residents, businesses and communities are telling us. It is only by all of us working together that we can shape Central Bedfordshire to be the place we want it to be, both now and in the future

Town & Parish Councils

The Localism Act 2011 and the Open Public Services White Paper supports a national drive to shift power away from central government to local government, communities and individuals. This is highlighted through the adopted Community Engagement Strategy, with a key principle “enhancing the role of town and parish councils”. Current effective partnership working with the town and parish councils will grow and develop over the next few years (see appendix A for further details).

4 Central Bedfordshire Sustainable Community Strategy Priorities

 Maximising employment opportunities and delivering housing growth to meet the needs of our communities  Ensuring our local people have the skills to prosper  Keeping our communities safe  Nurturing a sense of pride and belonging  Getting around and caring for a green and clean environment  Promoting health and reducing health inequalities  Educating, protecting and providing opportunities for children and young people  Supporting and caring for an ageing population and those who are most vulnerable

CBT Priorities for 2011 – 2013

 Jobs growth including infrastructure developments, skills, apprenticeships, and youth unemployment  Anti social behaviour including violence against the person and those who are repeat victims of violence  Child poverty improving the life chances of our young people  Facilitating and enabling communities to do more for themselves

Links to Related Documents

Bedfordshire Police Authority’s Police and Crime Commissioner Prospectus http://www.bedfordshirepoliceauthority.co.uk/PCC-&-Police-Reform.html

Central Bedfordshire’s Sustainable Community Strategy 2010 – 2031 http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/strategies-and- policies/default.aspx

Central Bedfordshire’s Community Engagement Strategy 2010 – 2013 http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/strategies-and- policies/default.aspx

Central Bedfordshire Community Safety Partnership Plan 2012 – 2013 http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/community- safety/partnership-community-safety.aspx

Central Bedfordshire’s Economic Development Plan http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/local-business/business-information-and- advice/local-economic-information-policy.aspx

Central Bedfordshire’s Delivery of services by Town & Parish Councils (draft framework) http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/local-government-in- central-bedfordshire/town-parish-councils.aspx

5 Key Attributes & Projects

 Home to world leading eduction institutes such as University

 Above average new business survival rates

 Over 140 languages spoken, and a highly skilled workforce

 Vibrant and engaged Voluntary and Community Sector

 28,750 new homes planned for Central Bedfordshire by 2031

 Investment in the East West rail route from Bedford to Oxford will provide a new rail route through Central Bedfordshire

 A range of excellent leisure & cultural facilities generating an average of £465 million visitors spend1 – iconic attractions including Woburn Safari Park, Zoo and Downs

 Vast areas of green such as Greensands Ridge which provide space for reflection and outdoor pursuits

 High quality rural and village homes close to main employment sites

 M1 motorway development at Toddington which will increase the transport capacity of the area

 Center Parcs at Woburn Forest, which opens in the spring 2014

 Guided Busway being developed between Luton and Dunstable due to be completed 2012 and open in 2013

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1 Source = Business Ambassador Prospectus

6 Central Bedfordshire Wards

1. Houghton Hall 8. Dunstable - Watling 2. Tithe Farm 9. 3. Parkside 10. North 4. Dunstable - Northfields 11. Leighton Buzzard South 5. Dunstable - Central 12. North 6. Dunstable - Icknield 13. Biggleswade South 7. Dunstable - 14. and Langford Sandy

12 13

Cranfield & Marston Moretaine & Haynes

Shefford 14

Flitwick & Shillington , Aspley & Woburn & Greenfield Barton- le- Clay Toddington

10 Heath & Reach 2 9 3 11 1

4 6 5 7 8

© Crown Copyright and database right. 2012. Ordnance Survey 100049029. Central Bedfordshire Council.

7 Population and Demography

Current population of Central Bedfordshire: 255,200 (2010). Central Bedfordshire is the 18th largest unitary council (out of 56) in by population size2.

Area of Central Bedfordshire: 716 square kilometers. Central Bedfordshire is the 11th largest unitary council in England by area3.

Population density: 356 people per square kilometer (2010). Central Bedfordshire is one of the least densely populated unitary councils, and is classified as predominantly rural with just over half of the population living in rural areas4.

Population of the largest towns (2010)5 Town Population Leighton-Linslade 37,410 Dunstable 35,300 16,620 Biggleswade 16,600 13,550 Sandy 11,700

Forecast population of Central Bedfordshire6: 292,100 in 2021 335,000 in 2031

Growth by age group7 Age range 2010 2021 % growth (mid year estimate) (forecast) 2010-2021 0-15 50,000 55,700 11.4% 16-64 166,100 181,000 9.0% 65+ 39,100 55,300 41.4% Total 255,200 292,100 14.5% Numbers may not add up to totals due to rounding

2 Source: ONS, 2009 mid year estimate. Next update: 2012 3 Source: ONS, 2001 Census 4 Source: Defra’s Rural/Urban definition, Local Authority classification based on 2001 census population figures 5 Source: BBC, CBC & LBC, Bedfordshire Population Model. Next update: 2012 6 Source: BBC, CBC & LBC, Bedfordshire Population Model 7 Sources: 2010 from ONS, Mid Year Estimates, next update: 2012; 2021 from BBC, CBC & LBC, Bedfordshire Population Model

8 Population Estimates of People Aged over 65, 2009-20218 Age Group 2009 2021 % Change 65 – 74 21,100 28,500 35.1% 75 - 84 12,400 18,500 49.2% 85+ 4,400 8,500 93.2%

Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults  From April – March 2012 there were a total of 1,199 Safeguarding Alerts made in Central Bedfordshire. This is an increase of 10% from 1,086 in the same time period last year  Neglect and physical abuse account for the highest number of incidents during 2011-2012. The largest proportion of these alerts relates to incidents in residential homes, with incidents in people’s own homes the second largest proportion  From April - December 2011 a total of 76% of referrals relate to White British people  From April - December 2011 almost half of referrals were for women over 65 years of age  The largest increase in referrals by geographical area during 2011 has been in Dunstable

Health & Inequalities9  Life expectancy for men (79.5yrs) and women (83yrs) is longer in Central Bedfordshire than it is in England as a whole10  Geographically there are wide variations of as much as 8.3 years in life expectancy across Central Bedfordshire  Vulnerable groups such as gypsies/travellers and people with learning disabilities may experience poorer health and lower life expectancy than average  People are spending more years at the end of their life in poor health which has significant consequences for demand upon health and social care  Around 1,100 people develop dementia each year in Central Bedfordshire  Prevalence of dementia in Central Bedfordshire is forecast to rise by 17% between 2010 - 2015 from 2,530 to 2,970 people  The Mental Illness Index (MINI) ranks the prevalence of mental illness in small areas against a nationally defined average of 100. There is a wide range of MINI scores across Central Bedfordshire from as low as 28 (Dunstable Watling ward) to 99 (Dunstable Manshead ward)  People with mental illness are 1.5 times more likely to die prematurely, this is due to respiratory diseases, strokes and coronary heart disease as well as suicides

8 Sources: 2009 from ONS, Mid Year Estimates; 2021 from BBC, CBC & LBC, Bedfordshire Population Model 9 Source: The Health of Central Bedfordshire 2012 10 Source: ONS, Male and female life expectancy at birth, 2008-10. Next update: October 2012

9 Population by ethnic origin, 200911 Central Bedfordshire is less diverse than England as a whole, and has a greater proportion of people who are White British.

Ethnicity Central Bedfordshire England White British 86.7% 82.8% Not ‘White British’ 13.3% 17.2%

The biggest ethnic minority groups in Central Bedfordshire were White Other (not White British or White Irish), Indian and Black African, as shown below.

White Other, 3.5% Indian, 1.9% White British, Black African, Other, 13.3% 86.7% 1.3%

Other, 6.6%

More than 97% of pupils of compulsory school age in Central Bedfordshire speak English as a first language. However, more than 60 different first languages are recorded among the remaining children12.

11 Source: ONS, Population estimates by ethnic group mid-2009 (experimental). Next update: 2012 12 Source: Pupil level annual school census data for Central Bedfordshire. Next update: 2012

10 Housing

Number of occupied households in Central Bedfordshire13 2001 2009 94,300 102,700

Planned housing growth14 2001 – 2021 2021 - 2031 33,000 21,000

Household tenure in Central Bedfordshire, 200115 In Central Bedfordshire, 77% of people owned their own home. This is greater than the figure for England as a whole (69%).

Privately rented / rent free, 8,200, 9% Owned, 72,800, 77% Socially rented, 13,300, 14%

In December 2011 the average house price in Central Bedfordshire was £171,200. This was higher than the England and Wales average of £159,700. House prices in Central Bedfordshire have generally followed the national trend over the past few years.16

In Central Bedfordshire, households are more likely to be detached or semi- detached houses than the England average, and much less likely to be flats.

13 Sources: 2001 from ONS, 2001 Census, next update: 2011 Census; 2009 from BBC, CBC & LBC, Bedfordshire Population Model, next update: 2012 14 Sources: sub-regional strategy 2005, Plan 2008 & local housing trajectory figures 15 Source: ONS, 2001 Census. Next update: 2011 Census 16 Source: Land Registry. Information correct at16/04/2012.Next update: July2012

11 Deprivation

Deprivation is a broad measure of poverty, considering social issues such as crime, education, employment and health. Measured at small area level known as lower super output areas (LSOAs), there are 154 LSOAs in Central Bedfordshire. Each LSOA contains around 1,500 people, and is identified using the name of the ward and a three-digit code.

Overall, levels of deprivation in Central Bedfordshire are relatively low17. However, three LSOAs are in the most deprived 10 - 20% in England and a further six LSOAs were in the most deprived 20 - 30% in England. These are listed below, and shown in the darkest colours on the map on the following page.

LSOAs in the 10-20% most deprived in England  Dunstable Manshead 594 (Downside)  Parkside 602  Houghton Hall / Tithe Farm 618 (Tithe Farm)

LSOAs in the 20-30% most deprived in England  Parkside 601  Leighton Buzzard North 609  Tithe Farm 619  Dunstable Northfields 596  Sandy 433  Flitwick 400

Fuel poverty18

Fuel poverty tends to be more of an issue in rural areas, and those areas with high levels of private rented accommodation. In Central Bedfordshire, four small areas (LSOAs) are in the worst 20% in England for fuel poverty. The first area covers part of Woburn, including , , , and . The other three areas are in Houghton Regis, Cranfield (covering the university) and Southill and . Other parts of rural north Central Bedfordshire and pockets of Houghton Regis and Dunstable are also in the worst 50% in England.

17 Source: DCLG, Indices of Deprivation, 2010 18 Source Centre for Sustainable Energy, Fuel poverty indicator available from www.fuelpovertyindicator.org.uk

12 Map of deprivation in Central Bedfordshire19

IMD National Rank 0 - 20% 20-40% 40-60% 60-80% 80-100%

© Crown Copyright and database right 2011. Ordnance Survey 100049029. Central Bedfordshire Council

The most deprived areas are shown in the darkest colour on the map.

In addition to looking at overall deprivation, we can also look at particular aspects of deprivation, known as ‘domains’. This analysis shows that some LSOAs in Central Bedfordshire are in the 10% most deprived in England for particular aspects of deprivation20. These are:

 Education, skills and training – a particular issue in eight LSOAs in parts of Dunstable Manshead, Dunstable Northfields, Flitwick, Houghton Hall, Leighton Buzzard North, Parkside, Sandy and Tithe Farm wards;  Crime and disorder – a particular issue in six LSOAs in parts of Dunstable Central, Dunstable Icknield, Dunstable Northfields, Eaton Bray and Parkside wards;  Barriers to housing and access to services – a particular issue in five LSOAs in parts of Aspley & Woburn, Caddington, Cranfield & Marston, Eaton Bray, Heath & Reach, Northill, Potton and Sandy wards.

19 Source: DCLG, Indices of Deprivation, 2010 20 Source: DCLG, Indices of Deprivation, 2010

13 Economy

Unemployment – jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) claimant count21 Unemployment is lower in Central Bedfordshire than in England. 4,560 people were claiming JSA in Central Bedfordshire in March2012 a rate of 2.7%, compared to the England rate of 4%.

Claimant count unemployment in Central Bedfordshire has followed the national trend over the last couple of years.

Central Bedfordshire wards with the highest unemployment rates, March 201222 The five wards shown below have had the highest monthly unemployment rates in Central Bedfordshire since June 2009, with Dunstable Manshead and Tithe Farm always in the top two. Other wards with consistently high rates of unemployment include Dunstable Central, Biggleswade North, Sandy and Leighton Buzzard North.

Wards Number Rate Dunstable Manshead 200 6.5% Tithe Farm 185 7% Parkside 195 5.8% Houghton Hall 260 5.1% Dunstable Northfields 280 5%

Weekly gross pay and commuting for workers, Central Bedfordshire, 201123 Central Bedfordshire residents, who commute out of the area, earn more than people who actually work in Central Bedfordshire. This is likely to be a result of better paid opportunities available out of the area. In relation to commuting 60,900 Central Bedfordshire residents travel outside of the area to work, while 29,300 people travel to work in Central Bedfordshire from other areas. This means that there is a net out-commuting level of 31,60024.

21 Source: Local calculations based on ONS, Claimant count unemployment, from Nomis. Next update: July 2012, monthly updates are available on the Council website 22 Source: Local calculations based on ONS, Claimant count unemployment, from Nomis. Next update: July 2012, monthly updates are available on the Council website 23 Source: ONS, Annual survey of hours and earnings, resident and workplace analysis, 2010, from Nomis. Next update: January 2013

24 Source: ONS, 2001 Census, Travel to Work tables. Next update: 2011 Census

14 Economically active population (all people aged 16-64), 201025 People in Central Bedfordshire are more likely to be economically active or in employment than the England average. Economic activity includes both people in employment and those who are unemployed but actively looking for work.

88% 82% 83% 82% 75% 76% 77% 76% 70% 72% 70% 65% Male Female Total

Central England Central England Bedfordshire Bedfordshire

Economicactivityrate Employmentrate

Workforce Skills26

70% of the working age population hold at least level two qualifications, and 29.9% level four (degree equivalent).

Central Bedfordshire economy is varied with the largest number of people employed in the education sector (13,300) followed by manufacturing (9,700) and retail (9,400).

While Central Bedfordshire performs strongly with respect to adult skills, the challenge faced as part of a more competitive labour market will continue to require Central Bedfordshire to future enhance its skills base. In achieving the area’s economic powerhouse potential, Central Bedfordshire must continue to increase the proportion of the workforce with recognised qualifications and support those without recognised skills into vocational and academic opportunities.

Comparing Central Bedfordshire to the region, the area has a higher demand for more highly skilled workers (level four & five) and a lower demand for those with level one or no qualification.

25 Source: ONS, Annual Population Survey, January-December 2010, from Nomis. Next update: July 2012, quarterly updates are available through Nomis 26 Source: Sustainable Communities Central Bedfordshire Local Economic Assessment 2011

15 Children & Young People

Schools and pupils, by school type, as at January 201227 Type of School Number of schools Number of pupils Primary school 96 16,608 Middle school 23 10,542 Upper school 10 11,427 Mainstream total 129 38,577 Please note that these figures include two schools that were Academies in January 2011.

Key stage 2, pupils attaining level 4 or above, by subject, 2011 (revised)28 Key Stage 2 test results in Central Bedfordshire are below the national average. This is partly due to one school boycotting the tests, skewing the figures by around 5%.

Subject Central Bedfordshire England English 74% 82% Maths 72% 80% Science (Teacher assessment) 90% 85% English & Maths (NI 73) 66% 74%

Key stage 4, GCSE achievement, 2011 (revised)29 Fewer Central Bedfordshire pupils achieved 5+ GCSEs A*-C compared to the England average. However, when looking at 5+ GCSEs A*-C including English and Maths, Central Bedfordshire performed slightly better than the England average.

GCSE Central England Bedfordshire 5+ GCSEs A*-C 76.8% 79.5% 5+ GCSEs A*-C, including English and Maths (NI 075) 59.4% 58.9%

Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) In 2010–2011 Central Bedfordshire Council successfully achieved its performance indicator for NEET’s at 4.6% against the target of 5%. This year, 2011-2012, the Department for Education has not set a NEET target, however Central Bedfordshire’s NEET percentage of 4% is currently lower than that of our statistical neighbour (5%), regional average (5.8%) and of the national average (6%).

27 Source: CBC Performance Team. Next update: July 2012 28 Source: DfE. Next update: August 2012 29 Source: DfE. Next update: October 2012

16 Stronger and Safer Communities

Residents’ priorities30 The recent residents survey asked residents what is important in making somewhere a good place to live, and also what they feel needs improving in their local area. The responses to each of these questions are combined to show residents’ priorities for the Central Bedfordshire area. The following issues, listed in alphabetical order, were highlighted as priorities:

 Activities for teenagers  Job opportunities  Levels of crime & ASB  Road & pavement repairs  Traffic congestion

How residents feel about their area 81% of people are satisfied with their local area31, which is a 6% increase from 2009

How involved are residents?32 23% of people contribute to community life in some voluntary capacity 24% of people think they can influence local decisions

Volunteer Schemes Examples of active community schemes running in Central Bedfordshire are:

 Street Watch33 - There are currently nine active Street Watch schemes running throughout Central Bedfordshire with a total of 80 volunteers. Following a successful bid under the Home Office Crime Innovation Grant, over the next 12 months work will be undertaken in three vulnerable areas of Central Bedfordshire namely Dunstable Manshead (Downside), Houghton Hall (Sandringham Drive) and Houghton Regis (Tithe Farm).  Street Pastors – Walk the local streets in Leighton Buzzard and Dunstable every Friday / Saturday night between 10pm and 4am. With 41 volunteers the emphasis is on pastoral care rather than Christian preaching. The initiative sees increased public confidence, increased personal and business safety, youth engagement and prevention of offences and assaults on our streets.  Speed Watch – There are currently 13 active Speed Watch groups run by the community with support from Local Policing Teams. Partnership funded speed detection radar devices are used to tackle speeding problems in local communities.

30 Source: Central Bedfordshire Residents’ Survey 2011 31 Source: Central Bedfordshire Residents’ Survey 2011 32 Source: Central Bedfordshire Residents’ Survey 2011 33 Street Watch are members of the community walking their local area as a good citizen, taking responsibility for their areas and helping tackle low level issues that impact most on their communities

17 Serious Acquisitive Crime (SAC) Offences (SAC includes domestic burglary, robbery, theft from and of motor vehicle)

SAC Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar 2010-11 292 275 275 247 254 272 288 269 243 360 272 265 2011-12 218 242 242 244 208 233 245 247 247 246 197 193

SAC levels are significantly lower when comparing 2010-11 to this year’s performance. Between April – March 2012 there were 2,762 SAC offences compared to 3,312 in the same time period last year. This is a reduction of 16.6%.

Domestic burglary levels between April –March 2012 are 34.9% lower than the same time period last year.

Reoffending

Reoffending has a significant impact on crime rates and public safety, with half of all adult offenders reoffending within one year of their release from custody. Nationally the Home Office estimates that 0.5% of offenders commit 10% of offences and 10% of offenders commit 50%34 of offences. Bedfordshire’s most prolific 250 offenders, and those which mainly make up the Integrated Offender Management (IOM) cohort, have been convicted of nearly 4,00035 offences in the last three years. Local cost analysis estimates that direct costs of offences committed by this group are in excess of £64m over the last three years.

The IOM programme is an overarching framework that allows local and partner agencies to come together to ensure that the offenders, whose crimes cause most damage and harm locally, are managed in a coordinated way.

In Quarter four 2011-2012 there were 33 offenders on Central Bedfordshire’s IOM cohort. 23 offenders were at liberty (72%), compared to 67% at liberty in Bedford Borough area and 56% in Luton Borough.

Reoffending rates have reduced from 1.96 re-offences per offender at liberty in quarter four 2010-2011 to 0.96 re-offences in quarter four 2011-2012. 26% of the offenders at liberty reoffended in quarter four 2011 – 2012.

Anti-Social Behaviour Incidents

ASB Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar 2010-11 1235 1124 1178 1236 1115 953 1114 866 830 793 768 920 2011-12 1101 966 964 1083 968 847 1000 795 704 749 753 790

Between April – March 2012 there were 10,687 incidents of ASB reported to Bedfordshire Police. This is an 11.6% decrease on the number of incidents during

34 Home Office PPO Mini-Site 35 Bedfordshire IOM Business Case 2011-12 - BPT

18 the same time period in 2010 - 2011. Incidents are reported to a number of agencies within the Partnership, and work is required to record data from all agencies to give an overall picture of the levels of ASB currently within Central Bedfordshire.

Dunstable town centre remains the largest generator of incidents. Further analysis has shown that a high number of incidents are linked to the Night Time Economy and to drinking establishments.

Top three ASB issues identified by residents36 1. Teenagers hanging around the streets 2. Vandalism, graffiti and other deliberate damage to property or vehicles 3. Rubbish or litter lying around

Domestic Abuse cases going to the Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)

Within Central Bedfordshire high risk domestic abuse victims, including repeat victims, are referred to the MARAC. These are voluntary meetings where information on the highest risk cases is shared between local agencies. By bringing all agencies involved in a case together to share information, a coordinated safety plan can be put together for the victim more quickly and effectively.

Cases going through the MARAC

MARAC Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar 2010-11 11 11 12 11 15 10 8 9 12 24 13 16 2011-12 17 8 12 20 7 15 9 13 20 26 16 14

National research37 concludes that for every £1 spent on MARAC at least £6 of public money can be saved annually on direct costs to agencies such as the Police and Health Service. It also shows that following intervention by a MARAC and the Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) service up to 60% of domestic abuse victims report no further violence.

Between April – March 2012 there were 2,546 incidents of domestic abuse reported to Bedfordshire Police. This is a decrease of 8.8% on the same time period last year. Domestic abuse is a crime which is significantly unreported, yet it still represents approximately 25% of all recorded violent crime. .

36 Source: Central Bedfordshire Place Survey 2008 37 Saving Lives Saving Money – www.caada.org

19 Confidence of residents 47.2% of people thought the Police and local council are dealing with the local issues that matter most in Bedfordshire. This increases when looking specifically at Central Bedfordshire, where 72% of residents thought Police and the local council are dealing with the local issues that matter most in Central Bedfordshire38.

21% of Central Bedfordshire residents feel that crime and ASB are an issue in their local area.39

Proportion of residents who feel safe outside in their local area40 During the day After dark Central Bedfordshire 89% 54%

38 Local Confidence Survey Nov 2009 – Sept 2010 by Bedfordshire Police Authority 39 Local Confidence Survey Nov 2009 – Sept 2010 by Bedfordshire Police Authority 40 Source: Central Bedfordshire Place Survey 2008

20 Community Safety Partnership (CSP) Community safety is an area of concern for everyone. We know that it is always a high public priority that can affect the quality of life not just for individuals but entire communities. Partnership approaches to tackling crime and disorder are largely built on the principle that no single agency can be responsible for dealing with complex community safety and crime problems. This coordinated approach was encapsulated in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, which made it a statutory duty for each local authority area to have a CSP, made up of representatives from six statutory partners.

Central Bedfordshire's CSP comprises Police, the Council, Health Services, Probation Trust, Fire Service, Police Authority, Drug and Alcohol Agencies, Youth Offending Service, Domestic Violence Services, and representatives from the Voluntary and Community Sector.

The partnership works together to reduce crime, disorder, antisocial behaviour and other behaviour that affects the local environment, as well as reducing the misuse of drugs, alcohol and other substances, reducing the fear of crime and increasing public confidence in the services we provide.

Every year, we conduct a Partnership Strategic Assessment which highlights priorities and ensures we are focusing our efforts in the right areas and towards the issues that concern the community most. For the coming year we have identified these three priorities:

 Anti-Social Behaviour – focus on supporting vulnerable and repeat victims  Re-Offending – working with the offenders who commit the most crimes  Domestic Abuse – focus on supporting vulnerable and repeat victims

What are our issues? In the last three years Dunstable has consistently been the hotspot in terms of ASB incidents, analysis of data has shown a clear hotspot in the town centre in the High Street North area. Incidents in this area are generated in or around drinking establishments. There is a clear link between reported ASB incidents and the Night Time Economy and in turn with alcohol consumption.

Identification of repeat and vulnerable victims has been difficult due to a high degree of discrepancy in data recording. Over 19% of calls relating to ASB do not include the address information of the caller. A study of our top 15 repeat Domestic Abuse victims over the last year shows that these victims reported 220 separate incidents to Bedfordshire Police. Of these 15 victims, six had their names spelt in different ways, which hampers research into repeat victim cases.41

In Domestic Abuse cases, 91% of female victims and 92% of male victims are white. This is significantly higher than the population figures, with 86.7% of Central Bedfordshire’s population estimated to be white. Domestic abuse is recognised to be highly under reported with reports from ethnic minorities even lower. Data suggests that lesbian, gay and bisexual members of the community are more likely than average to have experienced sexual assaults

41 Source: Partnership Strategic Assessment 2012 – 2013 & HMIC Review of Police Crime Incident reports in Bedfordshire January 2012

21 and domestic abuse during their lifetimes, but are less likely to have reported the incident.

The sensitive nature of sexual violence and abuse means that sexual offences are largely under reported especially those which happen in a domestic environment. The number of incidents reported in the area is a fraction of the actual number of sexual offences which are happening in Central Bedfordshire. This is also the case when we look at Hate Crime across the area. Workshops and consultations with vulnerable groups has shown that there is a high level of under reporting due to the stigma attached to either the incident type or the ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and or mental health of the victim.

In Central Bedfordshire there is a higher perception of crime and disorder compared with the actual rate of crime and disorder. 89% of our residents say they feel safe when outside during the day, but this falls to 54% of residents after dark. Residents of rural areas are more likely to feel safe outside in their local area after dark (63%) compared to those from urban areas (48%).

What we are doing: The Emerald Centre (Sexual Assault Referral Centre) was established and opened in May 2011. During 2012 it will move towards the development of self referrals, offering the same pathways of support and forensic medical examinations, without any police involvement from the start. This is a brand new area of work nationally and is the first time victims of rape & sexual assault will be able to access the same level of service, without engaging in the criminal justice process.

We will create and provide a Perpetrator Training Programme in Central Bedfordshire, which will provide a service for perpetrators of domestic abuse and enable them to positively change their lifestyle and offending behaviour.

To help combat repeat victimisation of ASB we will pull our resources together to support victims and their families, support vulnerable members of the community, and tackle those who commit ASB.

We are working to reduce the high number of offences that are committed by the small percentage of offenders who regularly commit them, in particular those who are substance users. We fully support and engage with IOM.

Where can we develop? We understand that Sexual Abuse and Hate Crime incidents are under reported in Central Bedfordshire. We need to work with our vulnerable communities to understand the scale of the problem, and provide suitable support for victims, and bring offenders to justice.

We need to analyse alcohol related incidents causing ASB incidents, to fully understand the root causes and our opportunities for prevention. Analysis will provide evidence in what support substance uses require, and how we can proactively support and work with the community to reduce disorder.

We need to ensure data captured by partners is accurate, timely and informative. The Partnership utilises data to identify vulnerable victims, locations and areas of high risk. We need partners to improve data quality and data sharing to ensure we can provide the right level of service to our most vulnerable.

We need to continue to address perception issues, increase confidence and reduce the fear of crime within our communities, and in particular, with those who are vulnerable.

22 Community Safety Delivery Across Central Bedfordshire we have collaborated, shared services or combined resources with partners from across Bedford Borough, Luton Borough and those who opeate on a county basis. Examples of these are:  Integrated Offender Management (IOM) - The IOM programme was launched across Bedfordshire in 2011. IOM provides a whole system approach to partnership-led rehabilitation and management of repeat offenders, in order to reduce crime, make communities safer and address social exclusion of offenders and their families. Chief Officers in Bedfordshire agreed this co-ordinated approach in 2010, and provided funding for two years (2010 – 2012)

The IOM programme continues to be fully supported by the CSP. National research, and the first quarterly local performance pack, indicates that the programme is working with reoffending rates having reduced compared to the same time period last year. Working with the small cohort of individuals (32 offenders) and successfully rehabilitating them will have a significant impact on the number of offences that are committed within Central Bedfordshire.

 Domestic Abuse & Sexual Violence – This is a shared service with Bedford Borough Council, with a service level agreement and funding from both authorities. The service brings together the main statutory and voluntary agencies who are working together to provide and improve services in relation to domestic abuse across Bedford and Central Bedfordshire.

 Central Bedfordshire Health & Wellbeing Board (HWB) - The Health & Social Care Bill 2011 proposes the establishment of a statutory HWB in every upper tier local authority, to be fully operative in April 2013. HWB’s have a duty to encourage integrated working between decision makers and service providers in health and social care. HWB’s will be the focal point for decision making about local health and wellbeing facilitating joint working between Clinical Commissioning Groups, local authorities and community stakeholders.

The HWB is responsible for leading on production of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA), an assessment of local health and wellbeing needs across health care, social care and public health. The HWB will be responsible for producing a “Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy” in response to the JSNA. The Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy will provide a strategic framework for local commissioning plans. These plans need to be linked to those of the CSP, to ensure a joined up approach to similar issues and commissioned services.

In Central Bedfordshire a shadow HWB has been set up in preparedness for operating fully in April 2013.

23  Safeguarding Board - Safeguarding adults services in Central Bedfordshire are coordinated by the Local Safeguarding Board for Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire. The role of the Board is to promote the safety of adults by developing robust multi-agency systems for the prevention and investigation of the abuse of adults. Operationally work is undertaken by two teams which remain within each organisation.

 Local Safeguarding Childrens Boards (LSCB) - LSCBs are in place to ensure that organisations work together effectively to safeguard children and promote their welfare. The LSCB’s role includes coordinating and ensuring the effectiveness of work done by member organisations to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. Individual organisations and services remain accountable for operational work.

On the 1st April 2010 Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire councils established their own LSCB’s each accountable to the respective Director of Children’s Services. A service level agreement is in place, until March 2013, to govern the function of the Business Support Team for the two LSCB’s.

Emerging Issue  Victim Support Review42 – A national project to identify victim and witness needs; review what services are in place and what support victims actually received from those services. In Bedfordshire the focus of the review was around ASB, Hate Crime, Domestic Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Children and Young People. The review concluded in May 2012 with five proposed recommendations / actions: 1. PCC to oversee co-ordination and collection of county-wide data, victims needs and services available, to address unmet need; 2. PCC to work with commissioners to ensure appropriate service is in place; 3. PCC to ensure police enage effectively with victims and young people; 4. PCC should ensure a victim centred approach is taken by services; and 5. PCC should champion victim needs assessment and handover of cases. Cental Bedfordshire CSP supported this review and will ensure they work with Victim Support, partners and the Bedfordshire Transition Board around the findings and recommendations.

42 A full copy of the review can be found at http://www.victimsupport.org/About-us/Policy-and- research/~/media/Files/Publications/ResearchReports/VSA%20reports/Listening%20and%20learning%20- %20Bedfordshire

24 Central Bedfordshire Together (CBT) * Quarterly meeting * Provide vision and strategic leadership, to improve the quality of life for existing and future residents of Central Bedfordshire. Bringing together & encouraging greater partnership working at a local level & with the different parts of the public, private, community & voluntary sectors; allowing different initiatives & Central Bedfordshire services to support one another so that they can work together more effectively. To ensure that Sustainable Community Strategy is delivered & that each partner makes an effective contribution to that delivery CSP (May 2012) * There are five thematic partnerships of the CBT, the CSP is one. Community Safety Executive Group * Quarterly meeting * Made up of senior officers from the statutory authorities identified in the Crime & Disorder Act 1998 * Manages Performance, Agrees Funding, Authorises Strategic Assessment & Partnership Plans, Reviews Steering Group Update & Signs off any Recommendations, Ensures Compliance with National Standards, Manages the Business Plan for the CSP, Gives Direction for the CSP CSP Steering Group * Monthly meeting * Monitors Performance, Scrutinises the Priority/Theme Groups, Reviews Action Plans from Priority Groups, Manages and Suggests Communications & Messages, Reviews Risks for the CSP & Recommends Actions to the Priority/Theme Groups/CSP Exec, Supports the CSP Exec by Monitoring the Business Plan

Priority Groups Theme Groups

Integrated Offender Domestic & Sexual ASB Partnership Group Partnership Tasking Bedfordshire Drugs & Sexual Abuse Group Management Abuse Strategy Group Alcohol Action Team Delivery Group Implementation Group * Reviews partnership Board (BDAAT) * County wide group working around ASB * The operational arm of the working on issues that * Oversee the IOM * Group ensures a co- CSP, dealing with live time * Monthly meeting surround Sexual Abuse initiative in ordinated approach to * Collaboration of resources issues that need to be Bedfordshire domestic & sexual abuse in and partnership working, addressed. * The aim of the group is to * Action Plan in place and Bedfordshire (ex Luton), that suggests ways forwards and oversee the work of partners work towards * Deals with resource is agreed & implemented by improvements in ASB work * Reviews where resources BDAAT, ensure direction is common outcomes decisions, performance all partners & agencies need to be placed, and provided, performance is and gaps. * Oversees the which areas are in need of monitored and budget * Links with the SARAC * Identifies key actions implementation of the Action additional support details are reviewed. required to tackle domestic Plan developed from the & sexual abuse strategic review of ASB

* Links with the MARAC, * Links with the ASBRAC SARAC, & the LSCB

* Group is Bedfordshire * Group covers Bedford and * Group covers Central * Group covers Central * Group covers Bedford * Group is Bedfordshire wide Central Bedfordshire Bedfordshire Bedfordshire and Central Bedfordshire wide

25 Appendix A

Towns (Major Service Centre) with Town Councils Current population between approx 5,000-38,000

A major service centre provides a focus for employment, shopping and community facilities for the local community and surrounding rural communities.

Ampthill Town Council Houghton Regis Town Council Arlesey Town Council Leighton Linslade Town Council Biggleswade Town Council Potton Town Council Dunstable Town Council Sandy Town Council Flitwick Town Council Shefford Town Council

Large Villages (Minor Service Centre) with Parish Council Current population between approx 900 - 4,999

A minor service centre is a large village or small town with good level of services, possibly including a school, doctor’s surgery, a basic retail offer and frequent public transport links.

Aspley Guise Parish Council Langford Parish Council Barton-Le-Clay Parish Council Parish Council Parish Council Marston Moretaine Parish Council Caddington Parish Council Parish Council Campton and Parish Council Parish Council Clifton Parish Council Northill Parish Council Parish Council Shillington Parish Council Cranfield Parish Council Silsoe Parish Council Eaton Bray Parish Council Parish Council Fairfield (from April 2013) Parish Council Flitton and Greenfield Parish Council Stotfold Parish Council Harlington Parish Council Streatley Parish Council Haynes Parish Council Parish Council Parish Council Toddington Parish Council Parish Council Westoning Parish Council Houghton Conquest Parish Council Woburn Parish Council Parish Council

26 Small Villages with a Parish Council Current population between approx 150 - 899

Aspley Heath Parish Council Millbrook Parish Council Billington Parish Council Parish Council Parish Council Northill Parish Council Parish Council Parish Council Old Warden Parish Council Chalton Parish Council Parish Council Dunton Parish Council Ridgmont Parish Council Parish Council Southill Parish Council Eversholt Parish Council Stanbridge Parish Council Everton Parish Council Steppingly Parish Council Gravenhurst Parish Council Sundon Parish Council Parish Council Sutton Parish Council Parish Council Parish Council Hyde Parish Council Parish Council Parish Council Kensworth Parish Council and Parish Council Lidlington Parish Council Whipsnade Parish Council

Parish Meetings Current population between approx 1 - 149

Astwick Parish Meeting Milton Bryan Parish Meeting Battlesden Parish Meeting Potsgrove Parish Meeting Parish Meeting Parish Meeting Parish Meeting

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