Agenda item

To receive the report of Martin Rattigan, Head of Environmental Protection & Bereavement Services.

Cllr Gina Needs, Cabinet Member for Community Safety & Cohesion introduced the report and extended thanks to the panel for the invitation to attend as it was important for this report to come to Scrutiny to inform the panel and discuss the introduction of the new Community Law Enforcement Team. Feedback and questions were welcomed.

Martin Rattigan, Head of Environmental Protection & Bereavement Services highlighted the key messages including the vision for the service which will help to enhance a strong healthy community with a new team of officers to help tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, whilst working closely with the police to engage with the community. The work will support the priorities of the Safer and Stronger Communities Board (SSCB). This is a direct response to the ASB, crime and local environmental issues that matter most to residents. The visible presence of the team will provide a reassuring presence during the day and support night-time economies as the team grows. It will also enhance the feeling of safety so that all residents enjoy living in the borough, with flexible, intelligence driven resources deployed to hot spot areas.

Superintendent Rhona Hunt, Neighbourhood Policing, BCU North Area, commented from a police perspective and said that this is something that the police and council colleagues have been working on for some time, and that the introduction of the new Community Law Enforcement Team links into the Met’s Turnaround Plan, which is about strengthening policing to achieve its mission of more trust, less crime, and higher standards. Rhona provided further information on the proposed powers, remit, and interface with the police, and she emphasised that the aim throughout the process is to make it clear what the role of the Community Enforcement Team will be, versus the role of a PCSO in terms of engagement, visibility, reassurance, building relationships, intelligence gathering and sign posting residents, and then Police Officers in terms of enforcement and prevention.

In response members commented as follows:

1.     The Chair raised concerns about the potential of duplication with regards to enforcement powers and felt this this needed to be unpacked and explained. Doug Wilkinson, Director of Environment & Operational Services acknowledged this point but said that it is difficult to be explicit with regards to the different roles, and whether the new team are enforcement or engagement officers as it will be dependent on the situation but added that there will need to be powers to enforce in certain situations. However, the team’s influence within the community will be their visibility, engagement and gaining intelligence. In conclusion, Doug said that the aim is to observe and review the team and develop it as it progresses.

2.     In response to Members’ questions about the operating model of the team it was advised that the team will consist of 50 and will be introduced in three phases with 17 posts being filled in 2023/24. The uniformed officers will be patrolling streets and housing estates in the borough and intelligence gathered will be channelled to other services that the Enforcement Officers will work closely with, including the Enviro Crime Team, Highway Officers, Community Enforcement, Planning Enforcement and the ASB Team. Initially Officers might be deployed to a group of Wards together, but once the team expands and is fully resourced operational officers will then be individually Ward based. The specific role and focus for each patch will be determined when the team is established based on intelligence and data. Operational hubs are still to be determined but these will include full kits and bikes/electric bikes so that the teams can be mobile and most importantly, visible on the streets in their wards. One of the benefits is that the team will be tasked by Enfield Council who will look at the data and decide where the resource/teams are focused.

3.     In response to a question regarding how the team will link in with the CAPEs, officers confirmed that discussions were ongoing to decide how the new team will best fit with the current Police Ward Teams to ensure the most effective use of resources so that duplication does not take place.

4.     Superintendent Hunt added that it will be very important for the public to be able to recognise the difference between the council officers and police officers and the difference in their roles, and this should not be confusing in any way for residents. Hammersmith and Fulham have learning on this which includes the name of the teams, their uniforms, branding etc, and this learning will be used by Enfield along with a proper communication plan so that all residents and council staff have a clear understanding of the new teams, how to identify them and their role in the community.

5.     The Chair, Cllr Rye said that the clear identification of the team is crucial and therefore suggested to officers that any proposal regarding uniform, team name, branding etc be circulated to the Crime Scrutiny Panel for their comments and view. Action: Doug Wilkinson/Martin Rattigan

6.     In response to a question from Cllr Anolue regarding how the team is working in Hammersmith and Fulham, Cllr Needs advised that quite a few boroughs have the model but some work in slightly different ways. Therefore, Enfield officers have visited these different boroughs to see how they work, look at their good practice and pick out the best bits from each to enable the most effective model going forward for Enfield and ensure its success.

7.     In response to the Chair’s question regarding training, officers advised that a whole training programme will be provided. The Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS) is specific training to deal with specific escalating issues. Superintendent Hunt added that the CSAS training is externally delivered and is specifically to do with the extra enforcement powers that may be designated. Any such powers are delegated by the Police Borough Commander.

8.     The Chair thanked officers and Superintendent Hunt for their updates, and it was agreed that the Panel would welcome a further report once the finer details of the model had been thrashed out. Action: Doug Wilkinson/Martin Rattigan/Superintendent Rhona Hunt