Agenda and draft minutes

Items
No. Item

26.

Apologies for absence.

27.

To consider the extent, if any, to which the public and press are to be excluded from the meeting.

Minutes:

There were no items where the public and press would be excluded from the meeting.

28.

Declarations of Interest, if any.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

29.

Minutes of the Community and Environment Crime and Disorder Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on 10th February 2021 and Communities and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on 25th November 2021 pdf icon PDF 247 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was outlined by the Senior Governance Officer that no-one at this meeting, with the exception the Chair, had been in attendance at the meeting held on 10th February 2021, therefore the minutes be noted.  The Cabinet Member for Sustainability and Waste and previous Chair of the Community and Environment Scrutiny Panel was in attendance at this meeting and the 10th February 2021 meeting, and indicated that this was the case and the minutes were an accurate reflection of the meeting.

 

RESOLVED  That the minutes, be noted.

30.

Public Statements

Minutes:

There were no public statements made.

31.

Crime and Community Safety Performance Report pdf icon PDF 450 KB

Minutes:

The Head of Service for Communities Safer Stronger provided the Panel with a presentation outlining:

 

·         The Safer Stronger Doncaster Partnership (SSDP) priorities and performance overview, including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic:

 

-       Priority One – Tackling Domestic and Sexual Abuse

-       Priority Two - Reducing Anti-Social Behaviour

-       Priority Three – Tackling Serious and Organised Crime

-       Priority Four – Reducing Crime and Re-offending

-       Priority Five – Reducing substance and alcohol misuse

-       Priority Six – Reducing Violence and Violent Crime

 

§  Police Resources and demands including:

Anti-social Behaviour and the Localities Model;

Serious and Organised Crime (SOC);  and

Communication / Reporting (101) system.

 

§  Anticipate funding – update and results

 

The Panel thanked the Officers and South Yorkshire Police for the information provided and discussed the following areas:

Protection Orders – in response to a question relating to the process for these Orders, it was explained that when a case does not meet the evidence threshold to present to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) this type of Order could be sought.  Protection Orders help victims undertake a normal life with what can be classed as harsh prohibitions on the perpetrator, and noted that there had been success in imposing the Orders.

It was noted that Doncaster Police had the most Order breaches however this was thought to be following the proactive work undertaken by a Team who undertake regular checks with victims.

It was noted that new Stalking Protection Orders were available to the Police to protect girls and women providing additional protection if there were no solid grounds for prosecution.

Domestic Violence (DV) – in relation to the percentage increase in referrals it was outlined that this was following a combination of issues.  For example:-

·         Covid had caused a number of relationship issues;

·         Increase in reporting confidence following proactive information messages;

·         Domestic Violence Hub where victims were able to talk to professionals;

·         Investment in resources, including Domestic Violence case workers;

·         Close partnership working;

·         Continuous high quality staff training;

·         Trained staff wear a specific pin badge so a victim could identify who they were able to speak to;  and

·         Domestic Violence Charter that hospitals, doctors and partners  had signed up to.

 

It was noted that the Authority worked closely with neighbouring authorities to share good practice however being able to recruit experts in the Domestic Violence field had been advantageous.  The Domestic Violence Hub had an appointed Strategic Lead, mirrored by other authorities.  In Doncaster the rates were monitored daily and were not dissimilar to neighbouring authorities however, the number of Domestic Violence notices were higher, which was a positive, providing support to a victim and in turn providing evidence to take Court action if required.

Anti-social Behaviour (ASB) – Actions from the Community Safety Strategy with regard to this issue were questioned.  It was explained that one of the key areas / questions from the Strategy and consultation was “how badly affected were communities by anti-social behaviour?”  It was acknowledged that ASB figures may had fallen  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

32.

Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan and the Council's Forward Plan of Key Decisions pdf icon PDF 624 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Senior Governance Officer presented the report and outlined to the Panel that it would soon be developing its work plan for the following year.  Bearing this in mind she asked Members for any issues they may wish to consider be emailed to her and the Vice-Chair.

 

RESOLVED that the report, be noted.