Agenda item

Members will receive a presentation that will update them on the emerging priorities of the police and the Crime Prevention Strategy Group.

Genny Renard (Head of Integrated Community Safety - Strategy, Partnerships and Improvement) updated Members on policing priorities in Brent.  She began by explaining that 83% of offenders in the borough had re-offended and this could be partly attributed to the fact that after being prosecuted for an offence, it affected offenders’ ability to gain employment.  The Crime Prevention Strategy Group (CPSG) was presently undertaking an assessment of issues to be addressed and looking at long term solutions to current trends in Brent such as the rise in robberies, particularly street robberies and the impact of crime upon communities.  An assessment of why anti-social behaviour occurred was also being undertaken.  Genny Renard advised that knife crime in Brent had fallen to the extent that it now had borderline status as a trident borough.  Gun crime figures were influenced by the fact that incidences recorded included those where there was a perception that a gun was involved.  Another priority area was encouraging betting shops to improve their own security arrangements.  Of the most serious violent crimes committed, approximately 60-70% of these were domestic violence related and of those victims murdered, none had been know to the council and this was an area that needed to be focused on.  Genny Renard advised that changes to Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNT) meant that although every ward would still have an SNT, the formula applied for the composition of the SNTs had changed.  It was felt that there was not a requirement for a police sergeant for SNTs in every ward and consultation was taking place with regard to this.  Genny Renard commented that one possibility was that a police sergeant may cover more than one ward in areas where crime was relatively low.  It was also intended to improve the mobility of SNTs to respond to incidents based on the information that had been collected for each area.

During Members’ discussion, Councillor Clues enquired whether the savings required would impact upon the court service and stated that additional pressure both on courts and the police could occur as the defendant could call on a number of witnesses, including police officers.  Councillor Hirani enquired whether reductions in the performance area grant with regard to domestic violence would affect services.

The Chair enquired what the council’s recommendation was with regard to SNT arrangements and sought opinion on what other changes were being considered, were there any specific proposals for Stonebridge ward and when the consultation period on this would finish.  He also asked if there was any further update with regard to funding of the CPSG and the police and whether there was a lot of natural wastage in the police concerning staff reductions.

In reply, Genny Renard advised that the council was considering recommending that an SNT police sergeant cover two to three wards in areas of lower crime, whilst each ward would still have a police constable and two police community safety officers.  She felt that Stonebridge would require three SNTs in view of the size of the area and its crime levels.  She stressed the need for SNTs to operate smarter and work effectively with other groups.  The council was currently funding 16 police community safety officers and consideration of how to make more effective use of them was being considered.  Specific proposals would follow upon the conclusion of the consultation on 17 December and Genny Renard asked that councillors participate through the council’s website.  Members noted that an update on SNT arrangements would be presented at the next meeting.  Genny Renard advised that every effort was being made to retain the domestic violence courts as conviction rates were 30% higher than other courts.  This was due to judges receiving specific training in this area and the victims feeling more relaxed in these courts.  Members heard that a data officer position had been lost in the domestic violence service due to performance award grant cuts, which meant less information was being collated.  Bridging arrangements had been made for the service to continue to function and some funding had also been obtained from a charity.  Genny Renard advised that overall there was 20% less funding available for domestic violence services and that discussion was also taking place with other West London boroughs with regard to joint commissioning of domestic violence services.

Genny Renard stated that further details were awaited in respect of funding for the CPSG and added that funding for this had not been ring-fenced.  However, consideration of what changes could be made in respect of the savings required was taking place, including the possibility of selling some services to registered social landlords.  Members heard that the police were reducing the number of administrative staff and were not presently recruiting.  Genny Renard advised that staff reductions in the police being achieved through natural wastage was high, with a number of police staff recruited in the 1970s due to retire soon.  Members noted that further details with regard to police staffing would be provided at the next meeting.