Agenda and minutes

The Chair, Councillor Michael Rye welcomed all attendees to the meeting.

Apologies had been received from Councillors Gina Needs who is substituted by Cllr Ergin Erbil.

Apologies has been received from Andrea Clemmons, Kaunchita Maudhub, John Prior.

Members of the Council are invited to identify any disclosable pecuniary, other pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests relevant to the items on the agenda.

Councillor Adrian Grumi declared a non-pecuniary interest as he runs the Enfield Crime Watch Facebook page.

The Chair to introduce the purpose of the meeting.

The Chair explained that the purpose of this meeting was to receive details of priorities for the coming Municipal Year including key issues and then for the members to discuss the work programme for the crime scrutiny panel.

To agree the minutes of the Crime Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 15 March 2022.

AGREED the minutes of the meeting held on 15 March 2022.

To note, for information, the attached Terms of Reference for the Crime Scrutiny Panel.

The terms of reference were noted.

The Scrutiny Panel will hear from the Cabinet Member, Officers and Superintendent Rhona Hunt, outlining priorities and areas

of challenge:

Cabinet Members and Officers will be asked to leave the meeting at this

point.

The Chair invited DCS Caroline Hainesto provide the priorities from a police perspective for the coming year. She highlighted the following suggestions:

·         A focus crime reduction & detection in relation to serious crimes including knife crime. A reduction in robbery, burglary, serious violence including firearms and homicide prevention. Our priorities also include tackling violence against women and girls. 

Anne Stocker (Director of Children’s & Family Services) and Ivana Price Head of Young People & Community Safety highlighted the following:

·         Our priorities include preventing violence, tackling violence against women and young girls linked with safeguarding. 

·         We are focusing on what we can do to prevent the route causes that lead to serious youth violence and the over representation of young black men and children with special needs in the justice system.

The previous Chair of the Committee has made a recommendation to consider the effectiveness and impact of the commissioned Police resource of 12 officers that Enfield Council funds.

Councillor Erbil highlighted the pledge the administration has made to deliver 50 additional officers to tackle crime and anti social behaviour. Confidence in the Met Police is at a low, which is an issue to tackle together.

Committee members raised the following comments and questions:

·         When working on violence against young girls, is work done alongside the schools, or awareness training for them? Members were advised the police are working with schools and the justice services to help build a picture of emerging issues and gain intelligence to help prevention. Officers explained the strategic partnership group leads on preventing violence against women and girls.

·         What work is done to support schools with children who experience domestic abuse at home? When officers attend or are made aware of a domestic abuse incident a report is completed which is reviewed with Enfield Council and the school to see the risk to the child and any safeguarding measures that need to be put in place. Our multi agency safeguarding hub screens all referrals and we have a dedicated social worker team that provides support to children who are victims of domestic abuse.

·         Concerns were raised on the how we compare with youth violence against other boroughs, as previously had one of the worst statistics. The finalised figures up to performance year ending 31 March 22 gave a 25% reduction across Haringey and Enfield. This is in comparison to the pre-pandemic year.

·         Concerns were raised on the effectiveness of delivery when there has a been a high turnover of Borough Commanders. It was explained that the high turnover is part of an organisational culture as officers rotate and develop. DCS Caroline Haines is committed to a 3-year tenure to provide consistency and stability.

·         Following the news today, officers confirmed that it is too early to clarify what the Met being placed into special measures would look like for Enfield.

·         Officers suggested looking at the 50 additional posts towards the end of the work programme to give a fuller picture as they are currently working on the plan for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To agree and prioritise items for the Work Programme 2022/23.

The Chair advised the items that the Panel had considered over the last couple of years and reminded members of the officer suggestions and earlier discussions.

The Chair confirmed topics will be circulated to panel members for comment. The topics are:

·         Crime Prevention & Detection

·         Success of 12 Enfield Funded Officers

·         Pledge for 50 Additional Officers

·         Violence Against Women & Young Girls

·         Streetlighting

·         Serious Youth Crime

·         Enfield Public Safety possible visit

To note the dates of future meetings as follows:

Tuesday 13 September 2022

Wednesday 7 December 2022

Wednesday 1 March 2023

These meetings will commence at 7:00pm and will be held in the Conference Room at the Civic Centre.

Tuesday 13 September

Wednesday 07 December

Wednesday 01 March

The date of the next meetings was noted.