Safer Arun Partnership meeting minutes 30 July 2024
Tuesday 30 July 2024 – 2.00pm
Pink Room, Arun Civic Centre
Attendees:
- AB Cllr. Alan Butcher (Chair)
- CR Carrie Reynolds (Arun DC)
- AL Amy Loaring (OSPCC)
- AC Adrian Carter (WSFRS)
- NP Nichola Povey (WSCC)
- AOK Alex O’Keefe (WSCC)
- DOC Dax O’Connor (Arun DC)
- AG Annabelle Goodenough (Crimestoppers)
- SM Simon Morris (OSPCC)
- LB Sgt. Baileff (Sussex Police, Arun NPT)
- CMc Claire McNelis (WSCC)
- ALE Abigail Lepine (WSCC Early Help)
Apologies received:
- Insp. Ross Wickings (Sussex Police)
- Alistair Sherlock (Probation)
- Supt. Jo Grantham (Sussex Police)
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:
Minutes and matters arising from previous meeting on 25 May 2024.
It was noted that the previous meeting took the form of a dedicated workshop regarding the rise in youth related anti-social behaviour and crime. The details of the work undertaken on 25 May have been recorded by way of a report that will be discussed at item 5.
Agenda item 5:
Tackling youth related crime and ASB
CR referred to the partnership workshop on 25 May 2024 and noted the useful contributions from all attendees, which included youth service providers, schools, and community groups. Confirmed that the Council’s ASB team are devising a pathway to allow earlier ‘multi-agency meetings’ to go ahead in response to youths coming to notice.
CMc saw discussions held as positive and that by taken the approach the partnership had clearly set out its stall in tackling an issue that residents are concerned about.
AOK noted that the feedback from statutory partners and others was positive, had been helpful in fostering relationships, and open up lines of communication between agencies. Such and approach helped to understand what local resources are available and who the key stakeholders were.
The report compiled as a result of the workshop was then presented and partners invited to comment. Unanimously, all partners endorsed the report and it being made available publicly via the Councils webpage Safer Arun Partnership and Joint Action Group | Arun District Council. AL and SM commented that the report was an example of good practice and gave a clear indication of the joint approach taken by SAP. AL referenced the ASB Working Group, led by Sussex Police, and whether that work was reflected to SAP’s approach. There was some confusion about who was attending the working group from within Arun.
ACTION: AL to review ASB Working Group invite list.
ACTION: DO to upload ‘Reducing youth anti-social behaviour and crime in Arun’ report to relevant webpage.
ALE referred to a review of the government’s youth strategy guidance being undertaken by Public Health and Early Help, which includes reference to increased youth provision. Outcomes from this may be relevant to any updates to the SAP report.
CR presented a revision to the plan for the detached youth outreach and engagement programme – partnership funding previously agreed for £65,880 total. The revision sought to allow for an element of funding to be utilised for a project manager to oversee implementation of the programme. It was felt necessary due to limited resources and capacity elsewhere, and that a dedicated officer would be able to provide dedicated focus. Proposal for a 5 hours per week post.
AOK commented that the limited number of youth service providers in the area are at stretching point, and so it makes sense to have someone who can help with the co-ordination of delivery of the programme, and to support providers to access additional funding or resources.
Proposal unanimously agreed.
Agenda item 6:
Police and Crime Commissioners strategic priorities 2024/2028
AL gave an overview of the headings to the PCC’s strategic priorities for 2024 – 2028:
- Providing visible policing
- Tackling serious Violence and organised crime groups
- Supporting victims and communities
These have been informed by the public and will form a basis of the updated Police and Crime Plan.
Partners agreed that many aspects of the above are incorporated with the current SAP partnership plan, and all are keen to consider them as the plan is updated.
Agenda item 7:
Partnership funding statement
DO presented the latest funding statement – unallocated balance of £1,723.00 as at meeting date noted by partners.
Agenda item 8:
Community Safety Survey 2024
DO reminded the partnership that resident’s community safety surveys had been undertaken in 2022 and 2023 and sought the views of partners as to whether another should be run this year. The consensus was that doing so again so soon would not allow time to have acted on the outcomes from the last survey. AOK pointed out that his team completed the 2024 version on behalf of all districts and would be willing to do so again in 2025, due to how resource intensive it is in running and compiling the responses.
AOK proposed that SAP agrees to running bi-annual surveys.
Proposal to host bi-annual community safety surveys (next in 2025) unanimously agreed.
Agenda item 9:
AOB
AL gave an update on the Safer in Sussex community fund; applications from 2 organisations in Arun being considered.
CR advised that Sussex Police have been invited to attend the Council’s Housing & Wellbeing Committee on 10 September 2024. This committee acts as the local Crime and Disorder Committee and will scrutinise the police’s contributions to the partnership plan.
AC updated on WSFRS activity in Arun over the summer – no clear spikes in ASB involving fires this year, and although aware of regular unauthorised encampments in the district no rise in fire service attendance as a result.
AG keen for CrimeStoppers to support CSPs activities. There may be data available at a county-wide level to include Operation Fearless reports, and to help identify trends. AOK to link in with AG to see how this data may be supportive to wider works across the county.