Meeting documents

 

Agenda Item No: 6

19th February, 2015

                  

 

 

Corporate Report Format

 

 

 

To the Chair and Members of the

 

COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT (CRIME AND DISORDER COMMITTEE) OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY PANEL

 

 

CRIME & COMMUNITY SAFETY PERFORMANCE REPORT Q3

 

Relevant Cabinet Member(s)	Wards Affected	Key Decision
Cllr Joe Blackham	All	No

 

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 

1.      This report provides the high level information regarding the level of crime and anti-social behaviour in Doncaster, mostly based upon the previous 12 month period. The overall level of crime in Doncaster is 4% higher compared to the previous 12 months, but this is similar to the overall South Yorkshire trend. Within the overall level of crime a number of crime of crime categories have increased and number have deceased and these are detailed within the body of this report.

 

EXEMPT REPORT

 

2.      This is not an exempt report.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

3.      The Crime and Disorder Committee Members are asked to comment on and note the information contained within the performance report.

 

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE CITIZENS OF DONCASTER?

 

4.      The level of crime and anti-social behaviour incidents will impact on residents feeling of safety and their quality of life. This report provides information on these levels and the current trends in Doncaster.

 

BACKGROUND

 

5.      The Crime and Disorder committee receive regular performance updates relating to crime and disorder. The Q3 picture indicates performance has deteriorated compared to crime levels compared to the previous 12 months although exceptions remain in a number of areas where offences have shown a reduction in incidents in the same time period.

 

Overall crime

 

·      We recorded a total of 1808 reports of Crime in December 2014; this represents a decrease of 3% (-65 offences) in offences compared with December 2013.

·      The table below highlights the changes in crime for Doncaster and the Force and highlights that Doncaster has seen a greater increase than the force as a whole when comparing figures to the same period last year.

·      Over a three year period[1] overall crime has reduced from 26,129 incidents to 23,414 Incidents a reduction of 10%.

 

Overall Crime: Total Number of Incidents
	Rolling 12 months			Monthly
	Jan 2013 - Dec 2013	Jan 2014 – Dec 2014	% change	December 13	December 14	% change
Doncaster	22,536	23,414	+4%	1,873	1’808	-3%
Force Average	91,066	93,559	+3%	7,327	7’298	0%

 

 

Anti-Social Behaviour

 

·      There were a total of 1,153 recorded incidents of ASB in December 2014. This represents an increase of 6% (70 offences) when compared to the same period last year where there were 1,083 incidents.

·      Over a three year period overall ASB has reduced from 21,452 incidents to 17,052 Incidents a reduction of 20.5%.

 

Rolling 12 Months Jan 2014-Dec 2014
	Doncaster			Force
	Doncaster Jan 13 - Dec 13	Doncaster Jan 14 - Dec 14	Doncaster % Change	Force Jan 13 - Dec 13	Force Jan 14 - Dec 14	Force % Change
Total ASB Incidents	16,400	17,052	+4%	83,929	82,124	-2%
Environmental	1,083	1,018	-6%	5,502	5,277	-4%
Nuisance	8,715	9,165	+5%	46,001	45,816	0
Personal	6,602	6,869	+4%	32,426	31,036	-4%
Criminal Damage	3,392	3,352	-1%	14,905	14,751	-1%
Prostitution Related Activity	409	263	-36%	583	395	-32%
Primary Arson	218	163	-25%	*	*	*
Secondary Arson	727	593	-18%	*	*	*

 

6.      Performance in relation to anti-social behaviour remains above target, with the previous 12 months figures show a 4% increase when compared to the same period last year.  The month-on-month comparisons suggest the increase is slowing. Whilst it is the case the overall ASB is above target, there are individual examples of encouraging developments in specific areas. For example, ASB in Hexthorpe during December 14 was 36% lower compared with December 13.

 

Domestic Abuse

 

Rolling 12 Months Jan 2014-Dec 2014 Total Incidents
	DONCASTER			FORCE
	Jan 13 - Dec 13	Jan 14 - Dec 14	% Change	Jan 13 - Dec 13	Jan 14 - Dec 14	% Change
Total Domestic Abuse Incidents	9,003	8,947	-1%	32,331	33,612	+4%
Crime	1,869	2,310	+24%	5,626	7,562	+34%
Non-Crime	7,134	6,637	-7%	26,705	26,050	-2%
High Risk Cases at MARAC**	641	722	12.6%	*	*	*
Repeat Cases at MARAC**	216	274	26.9%	*	*	*

** December 12-November 13 and December 13-November 14 only

 

7.    Domestic Abuse referrals seem to have plateaued but of particular note the number of, ‘crimed’, incidents have increased by 24% over the past 12 months and are slightly less than the force area trend, although in the past 6 months these offences have dropped significantly. There have been services commissioned incorporating refuge provision, dispersed housing, floating support and a Domestic Abuse helpline.

 

SEXUAL ABUSE

 

Rolling 12 Months Jan 2014-Dec 2014 Total Incidents
	DONCASTER			FORCE
	Jan 13 - Dec 13	Jan 14 - Dec 14	% Change	Jan 13 - Dec 13	Jan 14 - Dec 14	% Change
Total Sexual Abuse Incidents	424	687	+62%	1,269	2,134	+68%
Rape Incidents	140	180	+29%	422	664	+57%
Other Sexual Violence	284	507	+79%	847	1,470	+74%
Child Sexual Exploitation	*	97	*	*	287	*

 

8.      Figures above show increases on December last year of 62% overall which is slightly lower than the Force average but still represents a significant increase across the year. Given the very low reporting (15%) of sexual abuse nationally and locally, this is likely to be a positive indication of rising public awareness through media coverage rather than an indication of increasing occurrence. One deviation from the Force average is the increase in the number of Rape Incidents which is not as high in Doncaster as elsewhere in the Force.

Serious Acquisitive Crime

 

Rolling 12 Months Jan 2014-Dec 2014 Total Incidents
	DONCASTER			FORCE
	Jan 13 - Dec 13	Jan 14 - Dec 14	% Change	Jan 13 - Dec 13	Jan 14 - Dec 14	% Change
Domestic Burglary	1,664	1,847	+11%	7,658	7,349	-4%
Vehicle Crime	2,478	2,445	-1%	11,944	10,148	-15%
Robbery	162	183	+13%	1,009	1,048	+4%
Metal Theft	861	481	-44%	3,574	1,917	-46%

 

 

9.      The focus of policing activity this year in relation to serious acquisitive crime continues to be around domestic burglary and auto-crime, in particular domestic burglary which is showing an increase of 11% over the past 12 months. With regard to domestic burglary the main areas of concern continue to be in the North and East of the borough both of which has seen an increase of over 30% in the previous 12 months. Some key neighbourhoods show rises including Bentley, Armthorpe, Hatfield and Stainforth and Thorne. A comparison made to the same period in 2012 shows a 7% decrease highlighting the good performance achieved in 2013.

 

Performance Arrangements and Assurance

 

10.    The performance information highlighted is part of a wider governance process set out by the Safer Stronger Communities Partnership. There is a specific Performance group that meet monthly to discuss the latest trends and issues arising from the data and local meetings held in the community. This performance group draws on a wide range partners and there are regular in depth reports received from each of the theme groups[2]. Robust action plans are produced and considered at each meeting to ensure accountability and progress.

 

11.    Furthermore a monthly performance report is received by the Safer Stronger Executive board which gives the performance information and key issues in Doncaster. This allows the board to act appropriately to address issues as they arise and hold the theme boards accountable for delivery and improving performance.

 

OPTIONS CONSIDERED

 

12.       NA

 

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDED OPTION

 

13.       NA

 

 

 

IMPACT ON THE COUNCIL’S KEY PRIORITIES

 

14.      

 

RISKS AND ASSUMPTIONS

 

15.       Good quality performance management arrangements ensure that priorities are achieved and good quality services are delivered to the residents of Doncaster

 

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

 

16.       NA

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

17.       NA

 

EQUALITY IMPLICATIONS

 

18.       There is a wide range of information concerning the victims and perpetrators of crimes in Doncaster that underpin the data presented in this report. Specific groups and characteristics are more prevalent with regards to specific crime types and some of the information we know is;

 

·      More women are victims of crime than men apart from in some key minority groups.

·      More women are victims of domestic abuse than men

·      More young people experience violent crime than older people

·      Significantly more men are accused of a crime than women.

 

19.         This information is mainly held on age, gender and ethnicity and although some of this information is sensitive in nature the detail is available to members of the partnership. It is used by theme groups to inform decisions and approaches to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.

 

CONSULTATION

 

20.       This report has significant implications in terms of the following:

 

Procurement		Crime & Disorder	x
Human Resources		Human Rights & Equalities
Buildings, Land and Occupiers		Environment & Sustainability
ICT		Capital Programme

 

BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

21.       NA

 

REPORT AUTHOR & CONTRIBUTORS

 

Allan Wiltshire, Policy and Performance Manager

01302 862307         

allan.wiltshire@doncaster.gov.uk

 

 

 

David Hamilton

Director Adults, Health and Wellbeing