Safer Gateshead Strategic Priorities (Reducing Crime & ASB to Improve Confidence)

1. Sustainable Communities and PeopleOverview and Scrutiny Committee Safer Gateshead Strategic Priorities(Reducing Crime & ASB to Improve Confidence) Adam LindridgeSafer Communities Co-ordinator

2. Purpose • Background to Community Safety Partnership • Neighbourhood Tasking Groups • Safer Neighbourhood Groups • Case Studies • Draft Strategic Priorities for 2012/13

3. Just to Remind You… • Crime and Disorder Act 1998 • Community Safety Board – Themed Partnership • Reports directly into the GSP • Responsible for the delivery of effective and sustainable solutions to tackle community safety throughout the borough.

4. Key Statistics… • 13% reduction in all recorded crime compared to last year. • Sustained yearly reductions in recorded crime – with the level almost halving since 2002. • Gateshead is one of the best performing Community Safety Partnerships in its MSFG – making Gateshead one of the safest places to live, work and visit throughout Tyne and Wear. • 15% reduction in ASB incidents. • 30% downturn in youth-related ASB incidents. • 25% fall in alcohol-related ASB; • Decrease in deliberate primary and secondary fires • Reduction in fly tipping recorded by LES.

5. Partnership Strategic Assessment • Statutory Duty – Annual Needs Assessment • Analytical overview of key crime, anti-social behaviour and substance misuse issues • Structured around: offending behaviour, victimisation and place-based considerations to provide a cross-cutting assessment of key strategic issues • Identifies draft strategic priorities for Gateshead for following 12months.

6. Current Strategic Priorities – 2011/12 • Minimising the Impact of Alcohol-related Harm • Reducing Re-offending • Protecting and Supporting Vulnerable Victims and Communities • Addressing Crime and Community Safety Issues to Improve Confidence…..

7. Addressing Crime and Community Safety Issues to Improve Confidence….. • Safer Neighbourhoods Process • Revised approach implemented in April 2011 • Replaced outdated Problem Solving model • Neighbourhood Tasking / Safer Neighbourhood Groups • Evidence-driven intelligence-led actions

8. Safer Neighbourhoods Approach to Improving Confidence… • Draws upon multi-agency intelligence to identify problem areas. • Harness partnership resources to target activity. • Monitor levels of public confidence using the Safer Communities Perception Survey. • Promoting positive Community Safety news stories. • Increased engagement with communities.

9. Neighbourhood Tasking Groups • Convene on a fortnightly basis • Attended by operational officers from key partner agencies • Tackles issues relating to vulnerable and target locations, individuals and properties • Operational arm of Safer Neighbourhoods process.

10. Role of Safer Neighbourhoods Groups • Ensure that local neighbourhood activity is tackling the key strategic priorities of Safer Gateshead • Devise intelligence-led evidence-based Action Plans • Implement interventions bespoke to each NMA • Coordinate and plan engagement work with communities to build confidence.

11. Membership Ad-hoc: Housing Associations - The Cyrennians - Aquila Way - ISOS Gateshead Council - Housing Options - Local Environmental Services - Trading Standards - Transport and Highways Core: Northumbria Police Gateshead Council Safer Communities Team - Neighbourhood Management - Children and Young People - Regulatory Services - The Gateshead Housing Company Northumbria Probation Trust Fire and Rescue Service

12. Case Studies Two approaches currently used within the Central Safer Neighbourhood Group to help improving confidence and reduce the fear of crime/ASB: (1) Intelligence-based, use of data and statistics (2) Evidence-led from anecdotal sources

13. Case Study 1 (Intelligence-based) • Identified a ‘problem’ using partnership information: Perception Survey Results • Northumbria Police: Crime/ASB • Gateshead Council (Safer Communities, Private Rented Sector and Local Environmental Services) • Accident and Emergency Data • Bespoke Actions/Activities – Op Ways

15. Case Study 1 (Intelligence-based) Outcomes… • 6% reduction in crime/ASB within designated area. • 105 investigations and 26 FPN’s issued – waste/littering offences. • Numerous joint visits between NPT and Tenancy Relations • Decrease in primary and secondary fires. • 73% felt local council and Police were aware of crime/ASB issues that matter in their local neighbourhood; • 26% thought that local problems were being very effectively tackled (up 17%) Next steps… • Continue to monitor trends – confidence/perceptions • Consider displacement activity – further data interrogation

16. Case Study 2 (Anecdotal Evidence) • Homelessness issues in Gateshead Town Centre • Initial concerns raised by Ward Councillors and Residents regarding a new facility offering services . • Groups of people gathering near a block of flats behaving in a manner which caused alarm and distress to residents. • Increased fear of potential rise in ASB (particularly alcohol/drug-related disorder). • Actions taken to improve confidence and to help allay any negative community perceptions.

17. Case Study 2 (Anecdotal Evidence) • Aquila Way and Housing Options Involvement • Surgery scheme piloted in the Basis366 facility • New Referral Process Implemented – expanded… • Increased Patrols from Central NPT • Increased Awareness at Tasking – Greater Intelligence • Secured Funding – 16wk Engagement Project • Reduction in complaints from residents/councillors • Positive engagement from service users • Awaiting Confidence Results?

18. Feedback • Six-weekly updates regarding issues discussed in Safer Neighbourhoods/Neighbourhood Tasking • Z-card Examples - Ward Councillors • Report into Safer Neighbourhoods/Neighbourhood Tasking, please contact: Adam Lindridge Safer Communities Co-ordinator Ext: 3243

19. Draft Strategic Priorities 2012/13 • Reduce Harm Caused by Substance Misuse • Reducing Re-offending • Protecting and Supporting Vulnerable Victims and Communities • Lower the Fear of Crime and ASB Consultation – ends 31st January 2012