Agenda item

Community Safety related matters

To receive a report from the Director of Environment and Housing covering particular areas of community safety policy/activity as requested by the Scrutiny Board.

Minutes:

The Director of Environment and Housing submitted a report which provided a brief overview of community safety related themes / services that had been identified by the Board.

 

The following were in attendance:

 

-  Councillor Debra Coupar, Executive Member for Communities

-  Councillor Alison Lowe, Chair of the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel

-  Councillor Josie Jarosz, Leeds Member of the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel

-  Councillor Amanda Carter, Leeds Member of the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel

-  Superintendent Sam Millar, Chief Officer (Community Safety)

-  Chief Inspector Alisa Newman, West Yorkshire Police

-  Harvinder Saimbhi, Head of Anti-Social Behaviour

-  Jayne Russell, Leedswatch Service Manager.

 

The key areas of discussion were:

 

The future provision of CCTV

 

·  The need to develop a flexible and responsive approach to CCTV that makes best use of modern technologies. 

·  A request that Members be provided with a breakdown of CCTV provision across Wards.

·  The need to ensure that Elected Members are provided with up to date performance information.

·  Planned engagement with Community Committees to help inform future provision.

·  The potential benefits of exploring other planned works around the installation of Wi-Fi, for example, reference was made to a Wi-Fi installation scheme by Wetherby Town Council.

·  The Board requested to be kept informed of progress and it was also suggested that details of the Business Case is brought back to Scrutiny once available.

 

Addressing anti-social behaviour

 

·  Acknowledgement regarding the positive contribution of LASBT.

·  Particular reference was made to LASBT South and the need to ensure that this resource is not disproportionally dealing with issues within the city centre when there are other dedicated city centre resources available.

·  Clarification was provided regarding the customer survey approach that is undertaken in relation to LASBT.

 

Addressing youth offending

 

·  The importance of early intervention and work with schools and families.

·  The role of the new NHS England Liaison and Diversion team at Elland Road in terms of identifying, assessing and referring people of all ages with a wide range of mental health, learning disability, substance misuse and social vulnerabilities when they first come into contact with the criminal justice system.

·  Plans for Leeds Youth Offending Service to further develop the Skill Mill programme in Leeds, providing training, support and employment for young offenders in Leeds.

·  The changing nature of crime, particularly cyber-crime.

·  The transition from child to adulthood and the role of Safeguarding Boards.

 

Tackling begging across the city

 

·  The important distinction to be made regarding begging and homelessness.

·  The appropriate use of enforcement action, with reference to Criminal Behaviour Orders.

·  The challenges in tackling persistent begging.

·  Housing related support options and the suggestion that the Scrutiny Board receives a more detailed briefing surrounding the re-provision of housing related support as part of its next housing themed meeting. 

·  The need to raise public awareness and tackling misconceptions as well as advertising how the general public can support people begging in alternative ways i.e. offering food instead of money and supporting local charities and organisations, along with a clearly publicised contact number for people to use if concerned about the welfare or behaviour of someone begging in the city.  This was linked to the Think Before You Give campaign that was expected to be refreshed and launched in the Spring.

·  The Board requested to be kept informed of progress, particularly in relation to the public campaign work.

 

Pub Watch

 

·  The Board identified a need for greater co-ordination between the different Pub Watch schemes, especially in terms of information sharing and identifying hotspot areas, and therefore identified this as a possible area to undertake more detailed Scrutiny in the new municipal year.

 

RESOLVED – That the requests for information be provided.

 

(Councillor A Khan left the meeting at 10.30am during the consideration of this item.)

 

(Councillor A Blackburn joined the meeting at 10.35am during the consideration of this item.)

 

(Councillor A Gabriel left the meeting at 11.50am during the consideration of this item.)

 

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