Issue - meetings

That the Community Safety Partnership Annual Report be noted and the progress made supported.

The Chief Executive introduced the report and gave an overview for the Committee to be confident of fulfilling its role as the statutory crime & disorder scrutiny committee for Flintshire.

            The Community & Business Protection Manager, presented the Flintshire Community Safety Partnership Annual Report. She reported that a range of strategies were in place to address crime & disorder, substance misuse and reoffending issues.

            Councillor Paul Cunningham referred to a recent North Wales Police Awards Ceremony which he had attended. This event had highlighted the successes within communities involving young and older residents who had come together to eliminate for example anti-social behaviour, alcohol misuse, trafficking problems.  Flintshire had entered two projects for consideration.

            Councillor Paul Johnson referred to the reporting of hate crime and asked whether there had been an increase. In responding, the Chief Inspector provided an overview of hate crime incidence within Flintshire.     

            In response to a question from Councillor Cunningham, the Community & Business Protection Manager referred to the regional plans for migration and commented whilst other counties had seen an impact from migration, Flintshire had not.  Flintshire was part of the CDRP Group which met monthly and the co-ordinator for Wrexham, Denbighshire and Flintshire shared information with North Wales Police.

            Councillor Richard Jones referred to problems of organised crime gangs targeting the homes of vulnerable people with learning difficulties area to deal in drugs. This was known as ‘cuckooing’ and the Chief Inspector confirmed that this was a problem across the UK with gangs moving out of inner cities.  The PSPO and Safety Officers needed to identify vulnerable people and seek the support of local residents.  Under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act, Orders had been issued to stop people going to these houses.  This could only work with all public service agencies and public working together. The Partnership members present committed to consider further action on this emerging challenge.

            The Anti-social Behaviour Co-ordinator referred to the monthly meetings which he attended where hotspot areas in social housing were highlighted.  These meetings also included neighbourhood wardens. Councillor Haydn Bateman commented on concerns about problems happening in his ward at night

            Rhiannon Edwards commented on the implementation of national training.  This has been a massive undertaking with a pilot scheme already rolled out.  With regard to victims of sexual violence, in April 2018, it was planned that all people working with vulnerable people would have the enhanced training as they were the first points of contact for victims. Councillor Paul Johnson suggested it would be useful for Members to attend training.

The Chair thanked the colleagues from the Community Safety Partnership for attending the meeting.

RESOLVED:

That the Community Safety Partnership Annual Report be noted and the progress made supported.