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.
Minutes:
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 the posts, including the priorities, job descriptions and where they would be managed.
· Councillors asked what plans were for creating strong safer neighbourhoods. The work of the Enfield Public Safety Centre was highlighted as an area of interest.
· Councillors explained residents continuously raise concerns on street lighting issues. Officers provided a detailed report last year which can be brought back this year to re-evaluate.
· Operation Boxster has been fairly successful over the past few years, will this be carried on? DCS Caroline Haines explained the next level of the operation is tackling the organisers, which is a long-term challenging project.
· Have the boundary changes caused any issues for the police and are they working towards the new ward boundaries yet? The new wards mean the police need 2 more DWO’s per new wards. Some wards are high harm so need double the number of DWO’s. Superintendent Rhona Hunt will clarify which ward boundaries the police are working to.