Agenda item

* O&S 95       

The Committee considered a report that provided Members with the opportunity to scrutinise the work of the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) as defined by Sections 19 and 20 of the Police and Justice Act 2006 and the Crime and Disorder (Overview and Scrutiny) Regulations 2009.

In the ensuing debate, reference was made to:-

(a)   performance measuring.  When questioned, the Chair of the CSP confirmed that it was incredibly difficult to quantify the success of the Partnership.  However, the Chair proceeded to cite a number of qualitative examples of good practice and successes that had been achieved by the CSP;

(b)   levels of resources being allocated to the CSP.  When questioned, the representatives advised that the levels of resources that were allocated to the South Devon and Dartmoor CSP were comparable with the other CSP’s across Devon.  In addition, the Committee was assured that all of the CSP’s in the county worked collaboratively to maximise their effectiveness;

(c)    the County Lines practice.  By way of an update, the representatives informed that County Lines remained a significant challenge to all CSP’s and the importance of working in a multi-agency partnership approach was emphasised.  Some Members expressed the view that there was an increasing need for Central Government to be lobbied in an attempt to obtain additional funding to address County Lines.  In terms of the most appropriate means of lobbying, it was felt that a Member should be encouraged to submit a Motion to a future meeting of the Full Council.  In light of the extent of the concerns raised, the Committee requested that a Member Briefing on County Lines be held in the upcoming months.  Furthermore, the request was also made for a link to be circulated to all Members that signposted them to the ‘bite size training sessions on the implications of County Lines and Cuckooing’ that were referred to in the published agenda report;

(d)   the re-introduction of ‘Tavistock Matters’ meetings.  A local Ward Member asked for her thanks to be formally recorded at the decision to re-introduce the ‘Tavistock Matters’ meetings;

(e)   relationships with secondary schools.  The Committee was advised that the CSP had developed excellent working relationships with the secondary schools in the area.  As a result, these relationships were widely recognised throughout Devon as being examples of best practice;

(f)     CSP meetings. The Council’s appointed Member Representative on the CSP highlighted the vast number of activities that were covered by the Partnership.  In extending praise to the representatives, the Member also emphasised that the meetings of the CSP were both effective and very well attended;

(g)   the importance of local Ward Members.  In stressing the importance of grass roots intelligence, Members were also encouraged to report any potentially untoward incidents via the online form on the Police website.  Members also requested that they be in receipt of regular intelligence updates from the CSP.

It was then:

RESOLVED

That the contents of the report be supported and the comments expressed in the recorded minutes (above) be taken forward.