Issue details

Community Safety / Refresh of City Safety Strategy

 

 

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Communities and Safer City seeking approval for the Safe City Partnership.  The local Community Safety Partnership, ‘Southampton Safe City Partnership’ (SSCP) has a strategy to prevent and reduce crime, as required by Sections 5-7 Crime and Disorder Act 1998, for 22-27.

The opportunity to conduct a mid-term strategy review has coincided with the election of a new Chair of the SSCP (Rob Henderson). Over the life cycle of a 5-year strategy, key partner representatives change, as do crime and disorder trends, so, whilst the core priorities of the strategy remain, the focus of tactical and operational activities need to be reviewed.

The overarching SCCP priorities remain:
1. Keeping People safe from harm
2. Preventing and Reducing Reoffending
3. Creating Safe and Strong Communities

The key crime issues to respond to for 24-28, identified by the annual SSCP ‘Safe City’ assessment are:
• Tackling Violent Crime including serious youth violence, domestic abuse and rape
• Tackling Theft especially burglary, retail theft and car theft
• Tackling anti-social behaviour through rapid and effective partnership responses

Decision type: Non-key

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Wards affected: (All Wards);

Notice of proposed decision first published: 06/08/2024

Decision due: 17 Sep 2024 by Cabinet

Decision due: 18 Sep 2024 by Council

Lead member: Cabinet Member for Communities and Safer City

Lead director: Executive Director for Wellbeing and Housing (DASS)

Department: Communities and Safer City

Contact: Chris Brown Email: chris.brown@southampton.gov.uk.

Consultation process

The SSCP is managed by the Council’s Stronger Communities team on behalf of the following statutory partners:
• Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary.
• Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service.
• Hampshire, Southampton, and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board
• National Probation Service (Southampton).

Under section 5-7 of the Crime and Disorder Act the SSCP (of which Southampton City Council is a statutory member) has a legal obligation to formulate and implement:
(a) a strategy for the reduction of crime and disorder in the area (including anti-social and other behaviour adversely affecting the local environment); and
(b) a strategy for combatting the misuse of drugs, alcohol, and other substances in the area; and
(c) a strategy for the reduction of re-offending in the area

A high-quality, annual Safe City Assessment allows a data-led approach to fulfilling both the statutory duties of the CSP (Community Safety Partnership), but also the key crime and disorder issues affecting communities, and published on the Southampton Data Observatory website: data.southampton.gov.uk/media/m20a2aoj/safe-city-strategic-assessment-report-2022-23.pdf

After publication of the report in late 2023, the SSCP strategic board met on 29th January 2024 in a workshop format to discuss and agree the key tactical areas (‘Obsessions’) for action in the remaining years of the Strategy.

The result is a refocused tactical plan, achieving the SCCP priorities by focussing on the key crime issues identified by data analysis and public survey. (App A)

The SSCP work to prevent and reduce crime fits with the Corporate Priority for ‘A Proud and Resilient City’ and is specifically mentioned as part of ‘Help communities feel safer within their neighbourhoods with a sense of belonging’.

The strategy refresh builds on the existing partnership working and now includes for each tactical ‘obsession’:
• Summary of data
• What need to be done
• How we will do it
• Measures of success

The board includes non-statutory partners, for example:
• No Limits
• Saints Foundation
• OPCC (Office of Police and Crime Commissioner) Violence Reduction Unit
• Southampton Voluntary Services
• Victim Support

which helps shared focus and working on the key issues across the City.

The revised strategy was reviewed and agreed at the SSCP strategic board, 1st July. The progress and review of key performance indicators will then be managed by the Strategic Board. Preparation for a full review of the strategy will commence in 26/27.

Consultees

The lead member is Councillor Christie Lambert. In addition to the stakeholders outlined above, there will be consultation with the City Council’s Democratic, Legal and Finance Service departments, and Property Services.

Public Comments may be sent to: Chris Brown, Head of Stronger Communities chris.brown@southampton.gov.uk

Decisions

Agenda items

Documents