SSP
61/13 | There were no declarations of interest. |
SSP
63/13 | Consideration was given to the draft minutes of the meeting held on 27 August 2013.
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SSP
64/13 | There were no matters arising. |
SSP
65/13 | There were no reports back. |
SSP
66/13 | The minutes of the Safeguarding Adults Committee were noted.
During consideration of the minutes members noted that:
• the Tees-wide safeguarding structure had been revamped.
• A regional seminar relating to the rules around coroners was being arranged.
• An LGA peer review of safeguarding would take place in February 2014. |
SSP
67/13 | Drugs and Alcohol re-commissioning picked up under DAAT Performance. |
SSP
68/13 | Chief Superintendent Gordon Lang provided a presentation relating to violence against the person. The presentation covered:
• Violence Classification - with and without injury
• Performance for the period to end of July 2013/14 and the comparable data for the same period 2012/13.
• Violence trends and distribution
• Data relating to Domestic Violence, Drugs and Alcohol, licensed premises, stranger violence, racially motivated violence.
The Partnership discussed the information provided and the following issues were raised
• Stockton had 150 violent incidents, 90 with injury and 60 without.
• The night time economy was reducing. Glam nightclub had closed.
• Areas of slippage tended to relate to crimes with low numbers
• There was a peak in violent crimes around Christmas, then a drop, with a steady rise toward summer.
• the night time economy in Norton North was increasing but violent incidents had decreased slightly.
• the extent of the role that drugs and alcohol played in incidents of Domestic Violence and the effects this may have on children. More focused data on this may be available and would be provided to the Partnership.
• issues relating to perpetrators would be considered as part of the commissioning of the Domestic Violence Service.
Domestic Violence
The Partnership was provided with a report informing members of activities that were contributing to the development of a Domestic Violence and Abuse Strategy for Stockton including the commissioning of a Domestic Abuse service. The Partnership was also provided with performance information relating to Domestic Violence.
Discussion included:
• there was a cohort of repeat victims.
• there was likely to be considerable unreported abuse and therefore hidden victims
• Gender profile - over 80% of victims were women. The commissioning of the new service would be gender neutral but in terms of capacity would have to be targeted at those with greatest need.
• It was important to highlight Domestic Abuse and let victims know that what they were going through was not normal, or acceptable, and they did have options
• The service would be more holistic and would include programmes for victims and perpetrators. |
SSP
69/13 | Members received a report that set out the recorded crime and anti-social behaviour figures for April 2013 to August 2013.
The increase of 13.6% in anti- social behaviour was noted and it was suggested that this increase had been a consequence of a reduction in tolerance levels and people were more willing to contact the authorities. Stockton still had the lowest rate across the Tees Valley.
Members asked for an update on acquisitive crime.
It was noted that retail crime was increasing but engaging with some of the large retailers had been difficult as they didn’t see it as a priority. Also sentencing for such offences was light.
The partnership noted that drugs related offenders who were referred to treatment programmes did not commit further offences whilst on the programme, however, once it ended they often returned to drugs and theft. |
SSP
70/13 | The Partnership was provided with DAAT Q1 2013/14 performance.
Members noted that selective testing and greater use of inspectors’ discretion, on arrest, had reduced the total number of tests, while improving the proportion of those that tested positive. Testing was therefore more focused.
It was explained that the problematic substances, for under 18s, were alcohol and cannabis.
Figures indicated that a significant number of those arrested for alcohol driven crimes also admitted that domestic violence was part of their behaviour. It was important that this issue was investigated further as it may reveal hidden victims.
It was noted that the Adult Drugs Recovery Service had been commissioned, as had the Alcohol Recovery Service including young person’s substance abuse. Members were informed of the successful providers. |
SSP
71/13 | The Partnership had previously discussed incidents of illegal money lending within the Borough. Members received a presentation from Tony Quigley and Denise Meek from the National Illegal Money Lending Team.
It was noted that although there was a National Team it still had staff operating throughout the Regions, liaising with various organisations.
Members were provided with profiles of Illegal Money Lenders (IML) and how they operated. Characteristics of their victims were also provided.
It was noted that money IMLs operated predominantly in the most deprived areas. Typically IMLs offered no credit agreements, or receipts/payments books. Payments were cash and weekly and violence and/or intimidation was used to obtain repayment. Interest rates were massive and placed victims in a spiral of debt.
Details of the service provided by the IML Team was given:
• A free National hotline 0300 555 2222 which was confidential and available 24 hours a day, every day. There was an Email and text service too.
• Raising awareness.
• Training - staff and Community.
• Victim and witness support.
• Developing Action plans with other organisations.
• Fact Sheets.
• Community Advocates.
• Train the trainer.
Members noted some of the success of the Team:
• over 260 prosecutions.
• over 2,000 more loan sharks identified.
• over 22,000 victims had been helped.
• over £40 million illegal debt wiped out.
• Prison sentences handed out totalling 171 years for IML and associated crimes.
During discussion the Partnership noted that:
• the IML Team worked locally with many organisations, including Five
Lamps.
• Tees Valley had a Credit Union
• Some individuals who were licensed to provide loans adopted loan shark tactics.
• Victims were reluctant to come forward but barriers were being broken down |
SSP
72/13 | The Partnership was provided with an overview on research that had been conducted on audit questionnaires returned between 7 August 2013 and 17 September 2013.
It was suggested that if the target was not reached then this may be an indication that the fear of crime may not be significant.
A meeting with distributors of the questionnaire had been arranged to discuss distribution issues raised by members. |
SSP
73/13 | Members received a report relating to the First Time Offender Research undertaken by the Council, Durham University, Cleveland Police and the Probation Service.
It was agreed that the low response rate meant it was impossible to analyse any results from the research and it was agreed that it should not be taken forward at this time. However, a number of recommendations and changes that could be made to the process were suggested should this type of research be considered in the future.
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SSP
74/13 | Members were provided with a report that included a schedule of the 43 recommendations from a joint project between the Association of North East Councils (ANEC) and the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) had been taking place on reducing reoffending. The schedule provided comment against all of the recommendations attributed to local authorities and against some of the others.
The Partnership noted that the sheer number of recommendations and the aspirations that released prisoners, as a group, should be prioritised, were challenging in the context of increasing reductions in resources in general and in management capacity in particular.
In general the Stockton Council position was that it was prepared to participate in this further attempt at regional co-ordination and it would be happy to pick up any good practice, which could be brought in at nil, or very low cost, but it was not in a position to take a leading role in significant pieces of new work |
SSP
75/13 | Members considered a report that provided a brief overview relating to detailed analysis that had been conducted.
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SSP
76/13 | Members were provided with a report that presented the proposals for updating the strategic document for the LSP, the partnership arrangements and infrastructure. The proposals took account of changes in statutory requirements associated with the current LSP infrastructure and discussions with stakeholders.
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SSP
77/13 | There were no reports back |
