Minutes of the Dorset Community Safety Partnership - 21 December 2023

Attendance

Apologies

• Cllr Peter Barrow (Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority)
• Cllr Molly Rennie (Dorset Domestic Abuse Forum)
• David Webb (Youth Justice Service)
• Lisa Reid (Dorset Council)
• Ian Grant (Dorset Council)

No 1. 
1. Minutes of Meeting held on 21 September and Matters Arising

1.2 3.7 - John Newcombe discussed ongoing engagement with housing associations at operational levels, efforts to facilitate discussions, and potential strategies to involve them more strategically. Partners discussed challenges with engaging multiple housing providers and considered if there was a forum for collective engagement or a lead housing association to represent at the Community Safety Partnership. Further discussion to continue outside of the meeting to explore feasible approaches.

Action - Andy Frost

1.3 3.12 – No new information had been received regarding sexual offences at Weymouth Harbour. John Newcombe mentioned he had discussed this with the Harbour Master who had confirmed it was historical information and that it had previously been addressed through youth outreach and Community Safety Accredited Scheme officers.

1.4 7.4 – Ian Denness was continuing to work on the development of the performance management framework. He is looking to bring together individuals from partner organisations who are focused on performance and data.

Action - Ian Denness

1.5 7.7 – Simon Hester confirmed the availability of the DiiS as a shared tool for partners, with an email circulated on access details. He also confirmed there is a training course for anyone who may require it.

No 2. 
2. Progress Against Local Priorities

2.1 John Newcombe updated the group on partners’ work to tackle local priorities, which included a summary of the co-ordination, oversight and progress of specific local priorities as identified at the area Partnership Co-ordinating Group (PCG) Meetings.

2.2 Key headlines included:

• patrol hours have significantly increased due to an increase in Community Safety Accredited Scheme officers, from 4-8.
• opportunities to improve reporting mechanisms to assist the public in reporting rural crime are being explored, including use of an app.
• Op Viper continues to tackle drug dealing networks with successes being shared with communities.
• successful closure of various premises which were having a significant impact on the local communities.
• development of Criminal Behaviour Orders to manage individuals are being delayed due to back logs within the courts.
• promotion of the Anti-social Behaviour Case Review is proving successful with increases from 2022 to 2023.
• Op Vigilant over the Christmas period to manage increase night time economy footfall and potential increased violence against women and girls offending.

2.3 John highlighted that police and trading standards had been doing underage test purchases for alcohol sales in the Weymouth area which had prompted enforcement questions.

2.4 Andy questioned the previous disparity between Anti-social Behaviour data of what the community safety operations team were seeing (increase in Anti-social Behaviour) compared to the police (decrease in Anti-social Behaviour) and if this still required attention. John acknowledged the disconnect and mentioned ongoing efforts to compile more comprehensive statistics.

2.5 John highlighted changes in the police reporting system, suggesting that reports may now directly reach the team, contributing to variations in data. Neil added that now people are adapting to the reporting system, this has led to a slight rise in police-reported incidents, possibly influenced by the time of year but also due to the increased familiarity with the system. John assured members of the group that the statistical analysis currently underway will be ready for the next meeting, providing a more detailed update on the situation.

Action - John Newcombe

No 3. 

3. Progress Against Strategic Priorities

3.1 Andy Frost introduced the item, highlighting the legal obligations concerning domestic abuse and serious violence, separate to Community Safety Plan priorities and delivery. This includes advancing the development of new domestic abuse services by April 2025, streamlining procurement schedules, and enhancing evidence collection. He stressed the challenges these requirements pose to partners, highlighting resource strains beyond the usual priorities of needs assessment and delivery.

3.2 Andy provided an overview of the good work and vast number of initiatives detailed in the report that were linked to the Community Safety Plan. Key headlines included:

• partners’ work around Violence Against Women and Girls – Dorset Walk and Talk, Op Soteria and focus but also the highlighted work including positive outcome rates for sexual offences and awareness raising.
• new work around the High Harm Perpetrator Panel (HHPP), which focuses on several crimes including domestic abuse, stalking, and sexual violence.
• strengthening the governance arrangements for the Stalking Clinic
• Links had been made with the Victims and Witnesses Group to strengthen relations between the Community Safety Partnership and the Dorset Criminal Justice Board.
• partners were working with Safelives to redesign future domestic abuse services by taking a Public Health Approach, linked to the recommendations from the Dorset Domestic Abuse Strategy.

3.3 Cllr. Laura Beddow shared the good engagement and conversations she has had with individuals about the Dorset Walk and Talk project, and the amount of people sharing this initiative.

No 4. 

4. Domestic Homicide Reviews

4.1 Di Evans updated the Partnership on the status of Domestic Homicide Review's including those that were marked complete, those currently with the Home Office Quality Assurance Panel, those that were ongoing, and those that did not meet the Domestic Homicide Review criteria or had been passed to other Community Safety Partnership's to deliver.

4.2 Positive feedback had been received from the Home Office on the two Domestic Homicide Reviews recently submitted. They had commended Dorset on one Domestic Homicide Review in particular mentioning the good due diligence work and how the review had captured the victim’s voice.

4.3 The Home Office had provided some recommendations and points to consider on the reviews. Di had contacted the Home Office regarding the publication of one review.

4.4 The Chair and members of the group thanked Di for her work and human-centred approach to this difficult area of work.

4.5 Simon Hester highlighted feedback from the national panel regarding the internal quality assurance process for reviews and the need for a thorough check for typos and spelling errors in final reports. He suggested a collaborative effort for additional copy-editing support from partners.

4.6 Andy Frost emphasised the importance of Domestic Homicide Reviews and ensuring they did not become a clinical, bureaucratic process. He identified the need to keep in mind the personal element and the importance of the learning gained to prevent future incidents.

Resolved

4.7 The recommendations in the report were agreed.

No 5. 

5. Serious Violence Duty

5.1 Di Evans updated the Partnership on the Serious Violence Duty which came into effect at the end of January 2023. Since then, there has been much work on the strategic needs assessment to identify the priorities in Dorset, draft the Serious Violence Strategy and put in place interventions for the mainstay of the work next year.

5.2 Main headlines from this work were presented as:

• regular attendance at the task and finish group, with good engagement across all agencies.
• regular partner updates on their ongoing work and achievements towards meeting the Duty.
• meeting the government’s key milestones, submitted to the Home Office via the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
• completed the strategic needs assessment (SNA), providing a strong evidence base for the development of interventions.
• seen good progress in undertaking community consultation work and engaging with young people.
• developing further consultation work to engage with serving prisoners, as part of our work to better understand the drivers of violent crime.
• using a strong evidence base to generate a delivery plan focused on key opportunities for interventions, according to need and within themed areas.
• developed a Serious Violence Duty Strategy Paper.

5.3 Partners were on track to meet the final milestone for the Home Office at the end of January 2024.

5.4 Early intervention and prevention work was ongoing with a full programme of delivery work expected for 24/25. Interventions covered the following key areas.

• Targeted work with young people to prevent them being drawn into crime, specifically around weapons enabled crime and serious violent crime.
• Young people vulnerable to exploitation, particularly children in care and care leavers, and where mental health is an additional vulnerability.
• High harm offending and recidivism.
• Serious violence in the community, specifically vulnerable adults where mental health, substance misuse and risk of cuckooing are identified vulnerabilities.
• Night-time economy and violence against women and girls
• Young people as victims of serious violence.
• Peer mentoring programme, using the bystander model to educate young people and reduce violence in schools.

5.5 Cllr. Laura Beddow expressed her appreciation for the amount of work that had been done on the duty and highlighted the point on the report that partners had ‘exceeded’ expectations and requirements of the Home Office in certain areas.

5.6 All partners agreed with the strategy and confirmed sign off.

No 6. 

6. Home Office Community Safety Partnership Review

6.1 Andy Frost gave an update on the Home Office’s review into Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) and their relationship to Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs).

6.2 Phase 1 was complete, and the Home Office has proposed several changes. It was noted that some of their proposals could have a significant impact on partners’ local arrangements including:

• creating a power for Police and Crime Commissioners to make recommendations on the activity of Community Safety Partnership's to support the delivery of the objectives set out in the police and crime plan.
• creating a duty on Community Safety Partnership's to take those recommendations into account. A Community Safety Partnership will not be mandated to implement the recommendation but should demonstrate consideration.

6.3 These proposals were not generally supported by Community Safety Partnership's nationally but were supported by those Police and Crime Commissioner’s who responded to the consultation.

6.4 Andy highlighted that several of the recommendations that have come out are already achievable through existing legislation and emphasised that in Dorset the working relationship with the Police and Crime Commissioner and his office was positive and collaborative.

6.5 The Home Office had recently opened consultation on phase 2. This phase aims to build on phase 1 and consider the broader role and responsibilities of Community Safety Partnership's in the local partnership landscape. A response from Dorset had been submitted however, there were concerns regarding some of the questions and the fact they did not accurately reflect existing statutory responsibilities.

6.6 Lewis Gool from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, discussed the current working dynamics in the Dorset and the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole areas, emphasising the effectiveness of existing structures and expressing reluctance towards change.

6.7 He shared insights from a recent regional meeting with the Home Office, where concerns were expressed about smaller Community Safety Partnership's and their operational methods but this was not the case in Dorset or Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

6.8 Andy added that a review of existing legislation would be sensible, but the current approach did not seem to do that and instead seemed to be looking to introduce a new and different model.

6.9 Although no immediate decisions were required, the group emphasised the importance of staying informed and involved in potential changes to ensure collective input.

No 7. 

7. Partnership Strategic Assessment (PSA) and Community Safety Plan Refresh

7.1 Andy Frost gave an update on the latest Partnership Strategic Assessment and Community Safety Plan refresh explaining the need to revisit and discuss the current strategic priorities, emphasising that formal approval would take place at the March Community Safety Partnership meeting.

7.2 Partners’ current priorities were domestic abuse and stalking, sexual offences, violent crime, anti-social behaviour, rural crime and fraud. These were underpinned by mental health, substance misuse, complex cases / multiple need and violence against women and girls as cross cutting issues.

7.3 Priorities had been determined through previous Partner Strategic Assessment's (including using MoRiLE analysis) and subsequent partnership discussions. Although it was necessary to review priorities annually, partners accepted these were long term issues that needed to be addressed over a longer time period.

7.4 Partners discussed the detail around priorities and:

• Acting Superintendent Neil Leat confirmed that rural crime related to crimes such as agricultural plant theft and animal theft rather than all crimes taking place in a rural location.
• Simon Hester and Lewis Gool both expressed the need for a subgroup for reducing harm from sexual violence.
• Andrew Billany referenced previous discussions and the opportunity to take a narrower approach to tackling fraud focusing on those aspects of direct relevance to Dorset.

7.5 Following discussion, partners agreed to retain their existing priorities and use the detail and insight provided in the forthcoming Partnership Strategic Assessment to enhance and focus their response to them.

7.6 Acting Superintendent Neil Leat confirmed the priorities matched well to those in the Dorset Police Force's strategic assessment.

No 8. 

8. Unpaid Work – Duty to Consult

8.1 Katie Sorrell gave an update on the duty to consult on unpaid work, which was introduced in 2023 under section 155 of the Police, Crime Sentencing, and Courts Act. The duty involves informing Community Safety Partnership’s about unpaid work projects and seeking their views.

8.2 Katie shared current and future placements in Dorset, including ongoing projects and potential expansions, and gave feedback from an individual who had benefitted from undertaking unpaid work.

8.3 Cllr. Beddow acknowledged the positive impact of unpaid work on individuals and the community, and also shared some examples of this.

8.4 It was suggested that while a full presentation may not be necessary at every meeting, periodic updates would be beneficial. Andy Frost emphasised the importance of meaningful engagement.

No 9. 

9. Forward Plan

9.1 Following a request from Paul Dempsey, it was agreed to add an update from Children’s Services and work linking to the Community Safety Partnership to the forward plan.

No 10. 

10. Any Other Business

10.1 Simon Hester expressed interest in discussing public access trauma packs. He highlighted the unique challenge in Dorset due to the absence of a trauma hospital, leading to a proposal of pushing trauma response earlier into the prehospital space.

10.2 The ambulance service is supportive but not in a position to orchestrate it as are the NHS. It also helps to raise knife awareness. Simon asked if anyone was aware of any funds or charitable organisations that may be interested in supporting this.

10.3 Cllr. Laura Beddow suggested Simon linked in with John Sloper of Help and Kindness.

10.4 John Newcombe felt that trauma packs could potentially link to the Safer Streets 5 project ‘Licensing SAVI’ and asked Simon to share a brief explanation of the initiative.

Action - Simon Hester

10.5 Lewis Gool provided an update on the Safer Streets project and shared disappointing news about a significant reduction in funding for Year 2 (£180,000 reduction across the 3 Dorset bids from a proposed budget of £499,000). He emphasised the need for tough decisions and prioritisation of projects within the new allocated budgets. John Newcombe expressed confidence in still achieving impactful work despite the reduction in funding.

10.6 Lewis also gave an update on the Immediate Justice Scheme, noting there had only been two referrals to date and confirming continued funding for the pilot areas in the coming year.

Future Meeting Dates:

10am on 14th March 2023