Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

 

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

 

In accordance with the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011, no declarations of Whipped Votes or Party Whips were declared.

 

Questions must relate to matters on the open part of the Agenda of the meeting and will be dealt with in a 10 minute period.

 

There were no public questions.

Questions to Co-Chairs:

·         Chief Superintendent Martin Jones (South Wales Police)

·         Chris Sivers (Director – People)

Chief Superintendent Martin Jones (South Wales Police) and Chris Sivers, (Director of People) attended to provide a progress report on Safer Swansea Partnership Performance and answer questions. 

 

A joint presentation was provided which provided information on:

 

·                     Statutory Partnership:

o    Partnership Vision

o    Partnership Purpose

·                     Headlines

·                     Existing and Emerging Challenges

·                     Strategic Priorities

·                     Key Activities and Achievements in:

o    Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV)

o    Substance Misuse

o    Safe, Cohesive and Resilient Communities

o    Evening & Night Time Economy

o    Hate Crime and Community Tension Monitoring

·                     Effectiveness of Partnership Working

·                     Performance and Crime Statistics

·                     Challenges

 

A new Safer Swansea Strategy had been developed and they advised the public consultation opened in February 2018 on the new Strategy.

 

The Strategic Priorities were:

·                    VAWDASV

·                    Substance Misuse

·                    Safe, Confident and Resilient Communities

·                    Evening and Night Time Economy

·                    Hate Crime and Community Tension Monitoring

 

The Director of People highlighted that more joint training had taken place in respect of VAWDASV and had been very effective.

 

The Chief Superintendent reported that drug related deaths were a significant concern, with Swansea in the top 10 areas of highest rate for drug-related deaths in England and Wales. Work was underway to understand the issues locally and develop an action plan. This could involve tackling substance mis-use differently and trying to link with Third Sector organisations and schools to identify those communities more at risk. The Single Assessment Centre was working well, but the waiting time to receive treatment following the assessment could be improved.

 

There had been some excellent work in respect of Safe, Cohesive and Resilient Communities especially in respect of Bonfire Night, Halloween and Purple Flag providing an example of good practice.  

 

Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) had been established in February 2018 for street vulnerability. This approach had worked well for Domestic Abuse but is a new approach in respect of Street Vulnerability.

 

A Hate Crime Action Plan had been developed as well as a calendar of events to support Hate Crime Awareness Week (14 – 22^nd October).There had been an excellent response to the recent incident in the Quadrant and the way that staff dealt with the situation. South Wales Police along with their partners had developed a new tension reporting and monitoring form.

 

Overall recorded crime increased by 7.9% in 2017 across all Community Safety Partnerships across South Wales compared to 2016.

 

There had been an increase in rape by almost 40% as well as an increase in sexual offences. This was largely attributed to raised awareness.

 

Two Officers were being assigned to manage the Night-time Economy in Uplands.

 

There was significant work to be done in respect of Cyber Crime and trying to get the key messages across in a hard hitting way.

 

Members asked a variety of questions which centred around the following topics:

 

·         How Psycho Active Substances/Legal Highs are being dealt with

·         Possibility of Vulnerability Suites to help have a multi-agency / combined approach of dealing with mental health and substance misuse.

·         Effectiveness of PACT meetings and other ways of community engagement

·         The availability of Police Officers and effectiveness of policing with less Officers on the streets

·         Ways of breaking the cycle of demand and addressing core issues such as vulnerability to minimise reoffending

·         Priorities in respect of Women and Prostitution as well as issues surrounding the High Street

·         Continuity of Local Police Officers and commitment to build effective two-way relationships with Ward Members

·         Dealing with Anti-Social Behaviour, e.g. off road bikes

·         Effect of the rising student population, and Safer Swansea Partnership links with the Universities

·         Raising Awareness of Scams and Cyber Awareness Training

·         Ways of reaching vulnerable people at risk of grooming

·         Community policing in the Uplands area

·         Forced Marriage Protection Orders

·         Female Genital Mutilation – training was being organised in schools but had to be delivered sensitively

·         Homelessness –looking at improving help provided in the daytime and what could be done differently

 

The Chair thanked Chief Superintendent Martin Jones and Chris Sivers for the informative presentation and looked forward to meeting again to discuss the performance of the Safer Swansea Partnership.