Agenda item

To receive a report from Superintendent (Neighbourhoods) Nigel Brookes.

RECEIVED a report from Superintendent Nigel Brookes on the Serious Youth Violence Action Plan.

NOTED:

i)             The report summarises the background and implementation of consistent knife crime and serious youth violence action plans across London and how this work is being developed and delivered in Enfield and Haringey Boroughs.

ii)            A 2018 review of knife crime and serious youth violence plans in place in each London borough revealed a variety of format, content and detail leading to difficulties in identifying good practice and the effectiveness of differing approaches.

iii)           In June 2018 MOPAC, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and London Councils collaboratively developed a new action plan template drawing on the expertise of senior police officers, Chief Executives, Directors of Children’s Services, Director’s of Public Health and Heads of Community Safety across London.

iv)           Each Community Safety Partnership was required to develop a plan based on this template and agreement was reached with Enfield and Haringey councils to form a single collaborative cross-border action plan coterminous with the new North Area Basis Unit (NA BCU) local policing structure which brings together the policing of both boroughs into a single unit.

v)            Every London Community Safety Partnership’s (CSP) action plan, including the plan developed for Enfield and Haringey is structured around six consistent themes. These are: keeping deadly weapons off the streets, protecting and educating young people, targeting lawbreakers, offering ways out of crime, standing with communities, neighbourhoods and families against knife crime and supporting victims of violence crime.

vi)           To ensure continued and effective development, coordination and delivery of the action plan the North Area Violence Reduction Group (NAVRG) has been created. Details of this group and the representatives that sit on it are detailed in Minute No: 3 above.

vii)          NAVRG is responsible for coordination and reporting of this work to the Community Safety Partnerships and Safeguarding Boards/arrangements in respective areas. The project will provide an opportunity for increased effectiveness through the development of analytical products to evidence need and from sharing examples of good practice and outcomes.

viii)        Whilst there are now positive signs of stabilisation, knife crime and youth violence remain a significant challenge for London as a whole and locally and tackling violent crime remains the number one priority for the MPS.

ix)           The MPS is funding provision of analytical and project co-ordination support to NAVRDG to drive targeted and focussed intervention in the areas most affected by violent crime. Additionally, a funding bid for £4,600 has been successful for the Edmonton Eagles Boxing Club to deliver additional coaching sessions to young people in a part of the borough most affected by violent crime.

x)            As NAVRDG progresses towards delivery against the action plan, further opportunities for funding bids are being explored and assessed to ensure that interventions are driven effectively and sustainable for the longer term.

Following Superintendent Brookes update in-depth discussions took place which include the following comments/questions:

·         The NAVRG meets every six weeks and to date attendance has been very good. Future meeting dates have been scheduled to the end of the summer at which point the frequency of the meetings will be reviewed. The group is very focused and has a clear recognition of the importance and severity of the issues faced and are therefore keen to implement very sustainable pieces of work which will have a positive impact moving forward.

·         Other intervention groups other than the Edmonton Eagles are being looked at and a communication plan around this piece of work is currently being put together.

·         Effective communication is key especially when attempting to engage with the most vulnerable and ‘hard to reach’ communities as well as local Faith Groups. Work on this is ongoing and includes looking at more effective ways to engage with young people.

·         Enfield need to take some drastic action to change the current situation. Other boroughs such as Islington do some really great work for their young people with Arsenal football Club. Could Enfield replicate this type of project? Can more work be done with church groups, uniformed groups (Scouts/Brownies), Theatres etc to provide extra activities.

·         More outreach work needs to take place and engagement with the local community is essential to find out what is happening, what is going wrong and what is needed.

·         Parents need help to support their children but are not aware what support is available. There is not enough sign posting in the community on where parents can go to access support.

·         Enfield Council has compiled a whole brochure detailing the relevant services available. This can be accessed through the council website at www.enfield.gov.uk. The Chair requested that a copy of this brochure be included in the agenda pack for the next Crime Scrutiny meeting in March 2019. He also asked that arrangements be made for this brochure to be sent out to all schools in the borough.

Action: Susan O’Connell    

·         Parents need to be accountable for where their children are aswell as ensuring that they are attending school as is required by law. Do Enfield Council still employ Education Welfare Officers to deal with school attendance issues?

·         Members of the public called on the Council to ensure people were made aware of funding opportunities available for community groups looking to engage with youngsters. It was pointed out that many ‘hard to reach’ communities would be unaware of funding opportunities as they would not look at the Council website.

·         Enfield Voluntary Action (EVA) lists all funding pots available on its website, which is free to join and can be accessed through the following link  http://www.enfieldva.org.uk/

·         Members of the public were encouraged to attend their local CAPE meetings. These were a great way to engage with the community.

·         With regards to CCTV monitoring it was noted that there are 355 Community Safety Cameras in the borough all of which are high definition and of a high specification. The Monitoring Centre works directly with the police 24/7 and the police radio in the centre is of the highest standard.

·         Gang activity appears to be growing in the borough. Do the Police have a handle on exactly what is happening in terms of the numbers of gangs, recruitment processes etc.

·         There is a huge focus on gang activity both from the police and its partners. This is an absolute priority as it is recognised that there is a link between gang activity and very violent crime. The work of Operation Trident also continues within the MPS.

The Chair thanked Superintendent Brookes for his update and also thanked the members of the public for their valuable contribution to the discussions.