Safer Arun Partnership meeting minutes 29 October 2024
Tuesday 29 October 2024 - 2.00pm
Pink Room, Arun Civic Centre
Attendees:
- AB Cllr. Alan Butcher (Chair)
- CMc Claire McNeils (WSCC)
- AOK Alex O'Keefe (WSCC Community Safety)
- AG Annabelle Goodenough (Crimestoppers)
- AC Adrian Carter (WSFRS)
- AL Abigail Lepine (WSCC Early Help)
- KT Katie Trusson (Probation)
- DO Dax O'Connor (Arun DC)
- MR Maria Redon (Public Health)
- LM Lee Matthews (Arun DC; joined for item 8)
Apologies received:
- Carrie Reynolds (Arun DC)
- CI Will Keating-Jones (Sussex Police)
- Insp. Ross Wickings (Sussex Police, Arun NPT)
Agenda item 1:
AB welcomed everyone to the meeting and facilitated introductions.
Agenda item 2:
Confirmation of apologies given.
Agenda item 3:
Declarations of interest
None given.
Agenda item 4:
It was noted that all actions completed by officers. Minutes agreed.
Agenda item 5:
Drug Demand report summary and analysis
Maria Redon Tardio (Public Health Analyst, WSCC) gave a detailed overview of draft report following completion of public and professionals survey. This project analysis the demand for illicit drugs in the Arun district, with a view to better planning responses and support for drug users, as well as understanding the impact drug use has on other criminal activity.
Summary included review of data sets collected during the survey, with responses from members of the public, those on drug treatment, and professionals working with drug users. Other data includes that from Sussex Police, hospitals, and other health agencies.
AOK asked whether anything particularly stood out amongst the finding for Arun when compared to other districts, because looking at trends and issues will be key to tackling the impact of drugs locally. MR did not have comparisons to hand but will highlight as necessary in final report.
This report is currently in draft form and awaiting sign-off from Public Health so is not publicly available at this stage. As a result, findings and data cannot be shared outwardly. If SAP members wish to view in more detail at this stage, please contact MR directly.
Agenda item 6:
West Sussex Fraud Prevention Working Group
AOK gave introduction to the fraud working group; a quarterly meeting of statutory agencies and community and voluntary organisations. Purpose is to raise awareness around fraud and sharing information about current frauds and trends. The group is particularly interested in engaging with those who work with vulnerable people and give support to residents.
Sussex Police create a monthly fraud report that looks at fraud reports made and analysis the trends across districts, and this report is reviewed by the working group. Some favourable reductions when compared to last year in West Sussex - 17% fewer Action Fraud reports made and 10% reduction in Op Signature referrals.
Data indicates that courier fraud, romance fraud, rogue traders, and investment fraud are the main categories in the district. Victim profiles highlight older people most at risk, although younger demographic vulnerable to romance fraud.
AC informed the meeting that fraud prevention work was raised at the Partnership Tactical and Tasking Co-ordination Group last week, and so is being raised at a high strategic level.
AOK reported that the working group is looking at how to improve communication and raising awareness of fraud types and prevention, to ensure that the right agencies and correct people receive information. There are new fraud types being raised almost weekly and it is important to share. Consultation will be undertaken to look at best way of improving communication so that messages aren't lost in email inboxes, whether a regular newsletter or mailshot.
Efforts also underway to understand what resources are available to deliver this work, and what areas are currently doing. Example given of Community Wardens in Arun delivering fraud awareness presentations, PCSOs doing similar in Crawley, and community safety staff elsewhere doing pieces of work. Need to avoid risk of duplicating work in areas and diluting messaging.
AOK also raised subject of sextortion, which is a high risk for young people and with boys disproportionately impacted. Victims both nationally and internationally linked to risk of suicide due to someone attempting to obtain indecent images of them and blackmail them. It is a really horrible offence with young people particularly vulnerable. Work in progress to provide guidance and advice and produce suitable resources.
DO noted that reducing the impact and financial loss from fraud is included in the partnership plan and so this working group is really beneficial to SAP. Question asked about what support would be available to people as agencies promote digital inclusion as people who don't use the internet begin to do so. AOK and his team aware of this and will be considering levels of support those people will need and the working group will be involved in this.
AG advised AOK that she sits on the Brighton Fraud Prevention Group, and they are doing similar work. Will link in with AOK to share relevant learning and actions around how messages are promoted there.
Agenda item 7:
Office of the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner (OSPCC) Key Performance Indicators and CSP monitoring
No representation from OSPCC.
DOC noted that a meeting was held by the OSPCC last week where they discussed expectations of CSPs, how monitoring would be carried out, and possible KPIs to be set. Possibly linked to upcoming Criminal Justice Bill.
Unfortunately, unable to proceed with this item as no-one from the OSPCC in attendance.
However, as mention of KPIs made, DOC gave advance mention that a review of data sets in relation to the SAP partnership plan would be looked at for January 2025 meeting. This will be the start of the final 12 months of the 3 year plan and so it is important that we start to assess outcomes in relation to the strategic priorities. Discussion has been had with the Partnership Analyst at WSCC and they will attend January meeting to run through the data they have available.
ACTION: DOC to share details of strategic priorities and types of data to be collated and discussed.
Agenda item 8:
Tackling ASB in hotspot locations
Lee Matthews (ASB Enforcement Team Leader, ADC) joined the meeting for this item.
Having given his apologies, Insp. Wickings (Arun NPT) will give an update on Police response to local ASB at next meeting.
LM gave update on work undertaken by his team in relation to Littlehampton town centre and Station Square, Bognor Regis. In both locations, partnership working is key, and officers use their delegated powers alongside those of other agencies, such as police, to try and provide a holistic approach to intervention and enforcement. Will try and look at the whole situation, such as what are the causes behind someone street drinking, and engage with relevant support organisations, understand the attraction to an area and identify ways to make is less appealing for such behaviour.
In relation to Littlehampton town centre, team has identified large number of temporary housing accommodation, predominantly HMOs, with occupiers often from out of area. Officers working with landlords and managing agents to identify individuals and whether nuisance behaviour breaches terms of licences. Street drinking warning letters being issued to individuals, and engagement with off-licences and licensing teams about the selling of alcohol to those already intoxicated. All focused on early intervention and to disrupt and deter poor behaviour before it escalates. Layout of street furniture has also been considered, with removal of one bench outside Sainsbury's helping to limit spaces for sitting and drinking. Working closely with police, Turning Tides, CGL, and Homelessness team.
Station Square, Bognor Regis, is an area that has received regular comment about street drinking and intimidating behaviour. Multi-agency response initiated by team; land is owned and managed by the rail network, so it is vital that all agencies co-ordinate actions. ADC Licensing team are conducting regular proactive visits to off-licences in area - one premises found to be serving higher strength alcohol than permitted. ASB Caseworker carrying out regular patrols. Review of furniture has led to reduction in height of vegetation to open sightlines across the square. BR BID has secured funding to install railings to the top of the planters to deter loitering.
AB reiterated issue with large number of HMOs in Littlehampton. LM noted this is a problem and reconfirmed work his team are doing with managing agents.
AOK referenced the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) and the street drinking warning letters being issued and asked about how effective this is. LM advised that officers have the authority to intervene where street drinking occurs and require the surrender of alcohol and to leave an area. Police also have these powers. DOC advised meeting that the Council has erected new PSPO signage in both towns which make the stipulations much clearer - reminder that it is not a blanket ban on drinking alcohol in public but is intended to be linked with poor behaviour. Brief discussion about viability and reasonableness of enforcing a complete alcohol ban.
Agenda item 9:
Partnership funding statement
Agenda item 10:
AOB
CMc raised an issue seen during day of action at Littlehampton train station yesterday - fencing insecure around building site in Surrey Street, and poor state of communal bins at blocks of flats nearby. DOC advised that he would enquire with Community Warden who accompanied CMc as to what steps he has taken i.e. been in contact with Building Control, spoken with RSL of flats.
DOC asked question to KT about behaviour of individuals attending probation office; whether they attend under the influence of alcohol as some attendees will be same as officers see drinking in the town centre. KT advised that individuals are not allowed to bring alcohol into the premises, so they may leave cans outside. Very few incidents where people come in drunk. DOC commented that question was out of curiosity as to individuals managing their alcohol use when attending probation but then drinking heavily in the High Street.