Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Civic Office, Waterdale, Doncaster DN1 3BU. View directions

Items
No. Item

12.

Apologies for absence.

13.

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

Minutes:

None.

14.

Declarations of Interest, if any.

Minutes:

Councillor Mark Houlbrook declared an interest in agenda item 6 specifically relating to the Crime in Prisons element and stood down from the Chair during discussion.

15.

Minutes of the Community and Environment Crime and Disorder Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on the 13th February 2019 pdf icon PDF 93 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 13th February, 2019 were agreed as a correct record.

16.

Public Statements

Minutes:

There were no public statements made.

17.

Crime and Community Safety Performance Report pdf icon PDF 822 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a presentation from South Yorkshire Police, the Heads of Community Service and Localities and Town Centre and Public Health relating to the following areas, with questions being posed by the Committee following each section:

 

·                Safer Stronger Doncaster Partnership priorities and performance overview;

·                Complex Lives;

·                Tackling Knife Crime;

·                Crime in Prisons;  and

·                Child Criminal Exploitation.

The following areas were addressed:

 

SAFER STRONGER DONCASTER PARTNERSHIP PRIORITIES AND PERFORMANCE OVERVIEW

 

Off Road Bikes – following a question relating to safeguarding parks and open space areas in Doncaster from damage caused by illegal off road bike activity, it was explained that area teams had undertaken a problem solving approach regularly addressing such issues in hot spot areas.  For example, using design features including siting large boulders to stop access to particular areas, however, such solutions must not obstruct public rights of way.

 

It was noted that gathering evidence was key to resolving the situation in problematic areas with local communities being essential in providing the information.  In addition Members of the National trail riders association had been trained to identify possible illegal bikers and report this information to the local police force, who in turn provide resources in hot spot areas.  Publicity was also used at key locations stating that if bikes were used illegally they would be ceased by the Police.

 

4 x 4 vehicle nuisance – Follow the above discussion, it was reported that reports of anti-social use of vehicles was much lower than for off road bikes however, they were responded to in the same way. It was noted that links had been made with car cruise organisations to assist the local Police with investigations.

 

Organised crime – following concern expressed that Doncaster had a larger problem than larger cities in the area, it was outlined that some Members of communities were more prevalent in this type of activity. It was not a result of mismanagement but more about the people who wished to be involved with such crimes and where they chose to live.

 

Organised crime was being mapped against the prison population in Doncaster which attributed to the high percentage due to their location.  It was noted however, that when prisoners were released it would be wrong to suggest they remained in the local area and start/contribute to further organised criminality.

 

It was stressed that whilst organised crime had increased it was worth noting that overall crime in Doncaster had reduced compared to other areas in South Yorkshire.

 

Domestic Abuse – Members recognised and were disappointed that South Yorkshire Women’s Aid Doncaster had recently ceased operation.  It was stressed that they had been a key partner for the Local Authority and the partnership was now ensuring that all referrals and victims were being supported and transferred to other groups in the area.  It was hoped that funding for future provision could be sought.

 

Reporting crime – It was confirmed that Atlas Court in Sheffield centrally recorded the crime for South Yorkshire, and acknowledged that the reduction  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

18.

Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan and the Council's Forward Plan and Key Decisions pdf icon PDF 641 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair outlined the areas covered by the Panel this year and asked that any issues for in-depth reviews for the 2020/21 period be forwarded to him for consideration.

 

RESOLVED that: 

a)            the discussion be noted;  and

b)            the possibility of a visit to the 101 call centre at Atlas Court in Sheffield, be investigated.