South Staffordshire Safer Neighbourhood Panel Minutes Of
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South Staffordshire Safer Neighbourhood Panel Minutes of the meeting held at Codsall Community Fire Station on 25 November 2019 at 18:00 No: Item: 1 Welcome & Apologies Attendees: Apologies: Geraint Lang Val Chapman David Hudson Calvert Stonehouse Robert Spencer Victoria Wilson Janet Johnson David McGirr Barbara Cox Martin Adams (Observer) Sgt Kelly Wareing – South Staffs NPT Caroline Gascoyne - OPFCC Michelle Ryan - OPFCC 2 Minutes and Matters It was noted that the contact details on the website were still incorrect. The 0300 contact number is invalid. The new Arising Staffordshire Police web site enables contact to be made with officers for each area digitally. Sgt Wareing agreed to notify the Force Comms team of the incorrect number. 3 Local Policing Team Sgt Wareing shared the latest data with the panel. Performance Review Crime Figures indicate:- Crime within the force has reduced by 8% over the last 12 months Crime within South Staffs NPT has reduced by 12% which is 695 reduction in incidents Reduction ward by ward, over the last 12 months, was as follows - Cheslyn Hay – down 22% - Codsall and Bilbrook – down 11% - Essington and Featherstone - down 3% - Kinver – down 5% - Penkridge and Huntington – down 17% - Perton – down 13% - Trysull and Seisdon – down 12% - Wheaton Aston – down 25% - Wombourne – down 1% South Staffordshire Safer Neighbourhood Panel Minutes of the meeting held at Codsall Community Fire Station on 25 November 2019 at 18:00 The main area of crime has been around vehicles, theft and interference. The force have recognised this as a priority particularly the involvement of OCG who target high end vehicles in affluent areas. The NPT are increasing their intervention in terms of crime prevention and the force have a central team focussing on vehicle theft. There has been a slight increase in arson but this has been linked to small gang of youths which has now been addressed and resolved. There has been a small increase in the possession of offensive weapons but this has been contributed to by an increase in Stop & Search Business crime is at its lowest. This may be due to the crime prevention advice being given to local businesses. Anti-Social Behaviour data indicates: ASB within the force is down 9% over the last 12 months ASB within South Staffs NPT is down 5% - 84 less incidents over the last 12 months. 17 % of these incidents were involved youths Reduction ward by ward, over the last 12 months, was as follows - Cheslyn Hay - 4 less number of incidents in last 12 months - Codsall and Bilbrook – 15 less number of incidents. Down 7% - Essington and Featherstone – 30 more incident. 20% increase - Kinver – 5 less incidents. 4% decrease - Penkridge and Huntington – 11 more incidents. 4% increase - Perton – 31 less incidents. 19% reduction - Trysull and Seisdon – 18 less incidents. 37% reduction - Wheaton Aston – 26% reduction - Wombourne – 5% reduction The NPT are focussing on the ASB hotspots. Biggest area within ASB is rowdy and inconsiderate behaviour followed by neighbour disputes The panel had submitted some questions for a formal response: South Staffordshire Safer Neighbourhood Panel Minutes of the meeting held at Codsall Community Fire Station on 25 November 2019 at 18:00 1. In the last data release for September, the Snapshot graph for South Staffordshire revealed that there had been a 10% reduction in overall crime. This is most encouraging, could an explanation be given for this? Sgt Wareing indicated that the focus had been on vehicle crime and had already indicated the actions that were in place. Increased visibility had also assisted in the hotspot areas. Refresh on Stop & Search training for officers has also assisted with officers utilising their powers in this area more effectively and being more proactive Many of the traditional crime types have been falling within the last 12 months, specifically theft from motor vehicle and theft of motor vehicle. This is due to a combination of factors, including crime prevention advice, specific targeted patrol strategies, but most impactive is the targeting of offenders intelligence is received as to who is committing the crime type. Arresting and removing the offender has the biggest impact and the NPT work tirelessly with Offender Manager/CID colleagues to do this. The NPT receive support from colleagues from central departments and other Forces who collaborate effectively. Some of the violent crime reduction is due to the work carried out by safeguarding victims of crime (specifically domestic related) and encouraging reporting to prevent repeat cycles of regular abuse. Joint working with other agencies ensures that the most appropriate service is able to support and help the victim and bring offenders to justice where appropriate. The NPT have good relationships with neighbouring forces and work alongside them to support cross-border crime series. The NPT also focus on repeat callers to understand and work with them to reduce calls for service. 2. With reference to the 'Offence Volume Change over 12 months' bar graph for South Staffs, Vehicle Interference stands out as the largest crime statistic. What steps are being employed to counter this worrying crime trend? Answered previously Vehicle Interference is often a precursor to theft offences, and so is targeted in the same way that we would target theft of/from vehicle crime. Where we can, we use intelligence related stop and search to target suspects, we also use crime prevention advice in terms of general motor vehicle crime. 3. In one of the email exchanges following the Locality meeting, one correspondent identified an alleged drug dealer by name. Is the Chief Inspector able to provide a broad indication as to whether action is being taken against that individual, or would that jeopardise operational integrity? Not for discussion in this forum 4. The panel are keen to broaden general awareness of the SNP within South Staffs, and wondered whether we could develop links within the 5 localities with other community groups such as NW and Speed Watch as we have with our parishes. South Staffordshire Safer Neighbourhood Panel Minutes of the meeting held at Codsall Community Fire Station on 25 November 2019 at 18:00 Sgt Wareing agreed to assist with raising the profile of the group. The publication of minutes on the OPFCC website will happen once the website had been updated. The panel agreed to share the minutes of the Panel with their contacts in Parish Councils. 5. Funding for supporting measures to reduce rural crime. Is the Chief Inspector able to comment on how funding is to be distributed within our district? Update from the Rural Crime Lead - No specific funding is allocated to a district rather each area has allocated staff who volunteer to do this in addition to their normal day job. In south Staffs Louise Jones and Kelly Wareing coordinate some fantastic activity…..eg Farm watch and Canal watch as well as Tack marking and all manner of prevention activity. So as a unit the NPT do not allocate any funds rather support those local staff with coordination and extra staff if needs be… for example to support a policing operation. 6. What has happened to the police tractor? The tractor was only on loan for one off events. 4 Scrutiny Updates Both core scrutiny reports have been completed. The Panel extended their thanks to Sgt Wareing and Alexa at Codsall Police facility for their support 5 Staffordshire Induction Training is currently being delivered. The 2020 training schedule will be finalised shortly and distributed Commissioner Update Geraint Lang gave an overview of the recent FARS consultation and clarified the requirements for the panel. Consultation closes on 13 December 2019 6 AOB Data Champion Session is on 18 December at 18:00 at Rugeley Fire Station. Panel members were invited to attend if they wished to understand further the role of the Data Champion and the data that was available. 7 Date and Time of Next Interim : 20 January 2020 18:00at Codsall Fire Station Meetings Main : 10 February 2020 18:00 Codsall Fire Station Action Log: South Staffordshire Safer Neighbourhood Panel Minutes of the meeting held at Codsall Community Fire Station on 25 November 2019 at 18:00 Action Responsible 1. Sgt Wareing to notify Comms of invalid number on website 2. .