Agenda item

Report by Executive Director for Place Service and Acting Director of Communities.

The Committee is asked to look at the current partnership approach to serious violence in West Sussex in order to obtain a more coherent and detailed picture of the threats, harms, risks and vulnerability that impact our communities and residents.

19.1   The Committee considered a report by the Executive Director of Place Services and the Acting Director of Communities (copy appended to the signed minutes).

19.2   The Committee received presentations from Jim Bartlett, Acting Head of Community Safety & Wellbeing and Emma Fawell, Violence Reduction Unit Lead; Nick Bowman, Chief Inspector, Sussex Police; Mark Burden, Head of LDU, National Probation Service, and Sophie Whitehouse, Lead for Early Help and Wellbeing at Adur & Worthing Councils.  The presentations outlined the key points in the report, noted issues specific to individual agencies and the details of operations and initiatives to address serious violence in West Sussex.

19.3   The Committee made a number of comments including those that follow. It:

·        Noted:

-     That the report was comprehensive and valuable.

-     The issues around easy access to knives and was supportive of campaigns for the production of kitchen knives and pen-knives to be blunt ended and campaigns to stop the sale of single kitchen knives.

-     Concerns about the disproportionate numbers of children looked after and children with additional needs who end up in trouble with the police.

-     That there is an ongoing need for training and information to be provided in schools about the risks and consequences of knife crime to children at risk of being involved in or becoming victims of serious violence.

·        Sought clarification and information on:

-     The impacts of Covid-19 on serious violence.

-     Targeted work being undertaken in Arun district.

-     Actions taken in relation to minimising the number of children and young people being excluded from school.

-     Serious violence involving migrant workers and crime within these communities and what help and support is available.

-     How success is measured.

·        Raised concerns that sentencing is often inadequate to act as a deterrent and sought clarification on sentencing.

·        Was supportive of the Youth Violence Commission’s report on the root causes of and solutions to serious youth violence.  The Committee echoed the Commission’s concerns about the impacts of short-term funding and lack of youth services including youth clubs.

·        Raised concern about public confidence in police action being taken following intelligence and crimes being reported to them, but noted that the Police must maximise resources based on threat, harm and risk, and suggested that positive news stories and social media would help to address public confidence.

19.4     The Cabinet Member for Communities and Fire thanked the Safer West Sussex Partnership and Violence Reduction Units for the work they do.  He noted that funding is an issue and guaranteed funding for future years would be helpful for planning ahead.  And, that the requirement for partnership working will continue.

19.5     The Committee resolved that it:-

1.   Regrets the demise of youth clubs and youth provision and would lobby the government for funding for these services.

2.   Agrees that there is a need for a greater police presence following intelligence-led reports from the public and it would like to see more resources being made available.  The Chairman will write to the Police and Crime Commissioner on these points.

3.   Will receive a report from the Acting Director of Communities regarding the measures of success, including high level criteria provided to the Violence Reduction Units – to illustrate what would constitute success.

4.   Supports the intention of the Safer West Sussex Partnership to increase publicity on the good work of the partnership and partnership members.

5.   Supports continued education and advice to children and young people on dangers of knives and will look to the Safer West Sussex Partnership regarding ways of getting these messages across.

6.   Agrees that exclusion from school is one of the causes of serious violence and agrees that The Chairman will write to the Cabinet Member for Education about how limiting school exclusions can be explored further.

7.   Agrees that the Chairman will write to chairman of Corporate Parenting Panel and the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People to highlight that the issue of serious youth violence and disproportionate numbers of children looked after and children with additional needs who end up in trouble with the police.

19.6     The Committee recessed at 12.48 p.m. and reconvened at 12.55 p.m.