Agenda item

To consider the report on a review of Community Safety issues for Spelthorne Borough Council during the period 2018-2019.

The Committee will also be pleased to hear from Surrey Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) on community safety matters.

The Group Head for Neighbourhood Services presented her review of community safety report for the year April 2018 to March 2019 which looked at key issues and performance for that period. 

Councillor Barratt acknowledged the work of the officers and partners of the Spelthorne Safer Stronger Partnership who are working with limited resources to make the borough a safer place and reduce the instances of anti-social behaviour.

Sergeant Grinter, on behalf of Surrey Police, reported that it had been a busy year. The number of unauthorised encampments had made a huge demand on police resources.  He also explained some of the factors that should be taken into account when considering the crime rate for Spelthorne, including changes made in the recording of crime and the location of a custody centre in Staines which was fed from Elmbridge and Runnymede area.  A significant number of drugs related and violent crime was committed in the custody centre.  Sergeant Grinter stressed that the police were always open to any suggestions that may reduce crime. Although the number of violent crimes had increased, the police had been striving to encourage domestic abuse victims to report crimes resulting in a positive outcome.

Mr Munro and Sergeant Grinter responded to a number of questions including

the theft of high value cars, the crime statistics, work being done at schools to prevent drug abuse and how councillors can assist residents with anti-social behaviour.

In response to a question about what can be done to combat the use of nitrous oxide canisters, Mr Munro advised that the police were doing their best to disrupt the use of these and he continued to campaign for it to become an offence to use them.

Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner David Munro gave a presentation (attached to these minutes) detailing the role of the PCC, the Police and Crime Plan priorities, the number and structure of police officers in Spelthorne and details of the increase of 104 police officers across Surrey as a result of the precept raised .

Mr Munro believed that real crime was fairly static now, as opposed to recorded crime.  An area of focus had been burglaries and he felt that they were now on top of that. 

The increase of 20,000 police officers announced by the government would start from next year; once scaled down Surrey’s share was likely to be an extra 100 per year for 3 years.  There had been no indication of how the increase would be funded.

Members raised concerns about the 101 service and in particular how to improve community engagement.  Mr Munro was confident that the 101 service had improved considerably and offered a good service when the call was answered.  He advised that the best way to report non-urgent crime was online but there were other options including Crimestoppers which guaranteed anonymity. Both Mr Munro and Sergeant Grinter expressed willingness to meet councillors to discuss this issue and welcomed suggestions on how to reach out to those who felt disengaged. 

Sergeant Grinter also stressed the importance of notifying housing associations as well as the police of anti-social behaviour if it was occurring on their estates as evidence was required to support potential evictions.

Resolved to note the report on the review of community safety.

The Chairman thanked David Munro and Sergeant Grinter for attending the meeting.