Issue - meetings

To note the actions of the Spelthorne Safer Stronger Partnership in 2021/22 and future plans for 2021/22.

The Committee will also be pleased to hear from the Borough Commander on community safety matters.

The Chair advised that the Borough Commander, Maxine Cilia, was unable to attend the meeting and gave apologies for her absence.

The Community Safety Officers presented the report on a review of Community Safety.

The Community Safety Officer outlined the priorities and obligations for the Safer Stronger Partnership and highlighted multi-agency partnerships it participates in, the significant issues they focus on, and how those issues were being addressed. He explained the challenges the police had faced in the past year, particularly due to staffing issues and the pandemic. They acknowledged community engagement had been an issue during the pandemic, but through the use of social media and work with local community groups, they had been able to help residents.

The Committee requested more information as to how councillors could help members of the public report concerns in their area, to which the Community Safety Officer provided options for reporting and providing substantial evidence. He further explained the actions used to address instances related to social landlords and fly tipping, clarified the information regarding instances of domestic violence, and acknowledged the work of the Neighbourhood Watch and how councillors could access reports to specific incidents in their wards. The Committee noted the rise in instances of anti-social behaviour and the Community Safety officer explained that lockdown breaches were included in this number. The Chairman noted a request for more detail around domestic abuse to be included in the Community Safety report in future.

The Committee thanked the Community Safety Officers for the report.

The Committee resolved to note the actions of the Spelthorne Safer Stronger Partnership in 2021/22 and future plans for 2021/22.