Agenda item

To receive the report of Dudu Sher-Arami, Director of Public Health, Ivana Price, Head of Early Help, Youth & Community Safety and Suzy Francis, Principal Educational Psychologist & Strategic Lead for Children’s Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health.

RECEIVED the report of Dudu Sher-Arami (Director of Public Health), Ivana Price (Head of Early Help, Youth & Community Safety), Andrea Clemons (Head of Community Safety), and Suzy Francis (Principal Educational Psychologist & Strategic Lead for Children’s Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health).

Main parts of the report were highlighted, and that there was positivity in some of the latest data. Having had the highest levels of victims in London, Enfield was now one of only six boroughs showing a reduction in serious youth violence. The majority of the offences were recorded in the eastern part of the borough, although Southgate also had a high rate. The range of prevention work by the Council, Police and wider partnership was set out. Analysis of the local youth offending cohort of young people for 2021/22 showed that the majority of offences were committed by young men and that black young men were overrepresented within youth justice services.

Questions and comments were invited from Panel members.

The Chair raised the constant over-representation of black young men, their disadvantages, and a lack of youth centres in the Southbury area. Officers highlighted work done in training and diversifying judiciaries. There was also a promising programme with a youth worker employed at Wood Green custody facility. An action plan with partners showed the serious consideration of issues and how to tackle and prevent inequality and reduce disadvantage. It was recognised that the borough’s five youth centres were not necessarily where they were needed, but the Council had recently launched mobile youth provision to offer support at hot spots, and a detached youth work offer in neutral spaces in the community. It was confirmed that there was black inspirational mentoring and professional family coaches who worked with parents, carers and siblings of an offending young person to help overcome family issues.

Cllr Mahmut Aksanoglu had concerns as a Southbury ward councillor, including about transported crime from outside the borough. Officers highlighted the partnership work and use of resources to maximise the youth offer, and proactive work in relation to privately-run children’s homes in the borough to prevent criminalisation of children in care. Supt Rhona Hunt also emphasized the strands of pursue and protect, and that Police worked across the Enfield / Haringey boundary and put resources into hot spot places.

Cllr Kate Anolue raised the need to address the social inequalities, employment, earnings and housing disadvantages and the institutional racism faced by young black men, and that there would be no improvement until all were treated equitably.

Cllr Stefanos Ioannou raised the historical issue that Southgate College imported crime, and of transported crime linked to the Piccadilly tube line. Supt Rhona Hunt confirmed the work with British Transport Police and with after school patrols and schools officers. A London-wide campaign to ‘look up, look out’ was also currently running. The CHiPS community help point scheme was also in place and included the Alan Pullinger Centre.

Cllr Mustafa Cetinkaya asked about use of libraries for youth clubs. It was confirmed that libraries did offer late opening hours and activities and outreach, but that any expanded use would require more funding.

In response to Cllr Adrian Grumi’s queries regarding young people’s support being representative of an area’s ethnicity, this was confirmed and that officers visiting youth centres were satisfied with the diversity observed. Activities were co-produced with young people and included sports, boxing, and gym, and that young leaders were developed to become qualified and paid.

Cllr Ahmet Oykener would wish to see the third sector involved more for engagement with communities, and opportunities at Meridian Water site explored. Tim Fellows also raised that the voluntary sector was often more trusted than the Police or Council and could achieve great things with a small amount of money. Officers highlighted a successful voluntary sector bid to the Young Londoners Fund, and training that was provided to groups by the Council, and support given to Enfield Voluntary Action. Apprenticeship offers tended to focus on those 18+, but planning gain monies at Meridian Water should be able to fund temporary facilities there and the Chair asked that this be taken forward by officers.