Agenda item
Crime Indicators (verbal report)
In February 2011 the Partnership and Place Committee agreed to monitor a set of crime related performance indicators. Members will receive a presentation at the meeting which will provide the most up to date information.
Minutes:
It was noted that the committee had previously considered several updates from the Community Safety Team and that it had been agreed that the committee should select key areas for data monitoring. Genny Renard tabled two supporting documents for the committee's consideration. The first of these, a key performance indicator report for 2011-12 for the Brent area, had been supplied by the police. The second document set out the suggested data areas for the committee to monitor and possible targets for these areas.
Genny Renard outlined some of the key trends evident from the police performance indicator report. Members were advised that the figures set out in the police performance indicator report were not representative of the number of incidences or victims, as one crime could be counted a number of times if it crossed several classifications. For example, a robbery could be both a property crime and a violent crime. The committee was further informed that gun or knife crime included all incidents in which someone had reported seeing a gun or knife, as well as actual violence committed with such weapons.
Genny Renard then drew members attention to those areas proposed for further monitoring, setting out the reasons for their selection. It was suggested that members monitor the violence portfolio with particular emphasis on serious youth violence and violence with injury, the number of sanction detections for Rape and the property portfolio. The latter of these contained most of the significant property crimes including robbery, motor vehicle crime, burglary and shoplifting. Suggested targets for these selected areas included a reduction by eight per cent in the numbers recorded for violence with injury and a reduction in the rise of Serious Youth Violence by twenty per cent in 2011/12, fifteen per cent in 2012/13 and ten per cent in 2013/14. It was intended that the sanction and detection rate for rape would be increased by ten per cent by the end of 2013/14. For property portfolio offences a reduction of three per cent was proposed for 2013/14 alongside a target of fifteen per cent increase in the sanction and detection rates by 2013/14.
During member’s discussion a number of queries were raised and members sought clarification with regard to several issues. With reference to the target of an eight per cent reduction in violence with injury, the Chair sought further details regarding how the targets had been set. Genny Renard explained that the targets reflected informed estimations of what could be achieved. For instance, targets for youth violence related to a reduction in the increase of youth violence rather than an overall reduction in these crimes. The Chair further queried whether benchmarking data relating to other similar local authorities was available. Genny Renard noted that Hackney had experienced a rise in youth violence by twenty-six per cent and Lambeth by thirty two per cent over the same period. It was agreed that benchmarking information would be circulated to members before the next meeting of the committee.
Clarification was sought by councillor Hirani on the age range encompassed within the youth crime category. Genny Renard advised that this category included crimes committed in Brent by any young people up to the date of their eighteenth birthday. Councillor Cheese sought further information regarding the number of crimes committed within Brent by people who resided outside the borough of Brent. Genny Renard advised that the next report on this subject could include details of those people arrested within a sample area who did not have a home postcode within Brent. HB Patel queried from where the legal definition of ASB was drawn. Genny Renard advised that ASB was defined within legislation; however, the metropolitan police was working in consultation with the council to clarify the definition of ASB and to ensure that it was not subjective.
Councillor Hashmi queried whether a breakdown of the crime data by ward was still available as he no longer received this information for his ward. Sergeant Barron advised that this information was provided at each Ward Panel meeting. Crime mapping was also available on the internet. Councillor Hashmi advised that it was important that councillors received this information for their wards as it aided their decisions with regard to ward funding and neighbourhood working. Genny Renard confirmed that crime information by ward could be distributed to all councillors for their respective wards.
Councillor Mistry queried whether the data relating rape included those cases where a rape had been reported but the allegation was later withdrawn. Sergeant Barron advised that the report stayed on the database and was included within the data provided to the committee by the police; however, such cases would not be counted by the home office. It was noted that there was no information regarding racial hate crime provided within the crime data. Genny Renard explained that information regarding racial hate crime was not included on the performance indicator report but was provided to the council separately. Genny Renard explained that she had recently assumed responsibility for the Prevent agenda in Brent and so information on racial hate crime could be made available to the committee at its next meeting. It was also intended that further information would be made available regarding domestic violence. The Chair highlighted that information on racial hate crime should be one of the areas that the committee monitored.
Councillor Harrison queried what actions were taken around firework night to mitigate any potential ASB. The committee was informed by Genny Renard that the law around fireworks dated back to 1886 and related largely to the storage of fireworks. Significant work had been carried out with trading standards to ensure that shops were appropriately storing fireworks and were asking for proof of age for those who appeared too young to purchase fireworks. Test purchasers had been employed for this purpose Letters were also being written to the parents of young people who had been found misusing fireworks previously to advise of the significance of the offence should they be found doing so again. Councillor Mistry queried whether checks were made to ensure that fireworks on sale in shops should be on sale to the general public. Genny Renard confirmed that checks were made that the fireworks were suitable for the European market. In response to a further query, Genny Renard confirmed that fireworks could be used on any night of the year but not beyond 11.00 pm.
The Chair queried how the suggested targets linked in with the council’s performance framework. Genny Renard confirmed that the crime indicator targets were linked to the council’s performance framework and that when the targets were set, they were done so with consideration of the work that the council and its partners was carrying out across a range of issues.
RESOLVED: -
That data be provided to the committee on a quarterly basis with regard to the following categories: -
· Violence portfolio
· Property portfolio
· Rape - Sanction and Detection rate
· Racial hate crime.