Agenda item

1.

Introductions and Apologies for absence

Apologies were received from: Councillor C Wyatt-Lowe, Cllr Imarni, Cllr Guest, Cllr Taylor and Julie Still.

2.

Minutes of previous meeting 18 May 2015 (previously circulated)

The minutes of the meeting on 18 May 2015 were agreed and signed by the Chairman.

3.

Performance Update

·                    Community Safety Partnership

D Moore gave a brief update on the crime summary quarter 2 - 2015/16 and highlighted the following points;

Ø  This included all crime, then a breakdown of burglary dwelling, vehicle crime, violent crime, criminal damage and anti-social behaviour.

Ø  There are 10 districts/borough Councils in Hertfordshire

Ø  D Moore presented a table with the breakdowns and where Dacorum is rank out of the 10 Districts/Boroughs.

Ø  Dacorum shows a slight improvement upon the period last year remaining 5^th in the county for all crime and also for ASB which is not included in the all crime figures because these are incidents rather than crimes.

Questions and Answers

B Worrell asked if there was any attempt to differentiate between rural and borough figures and secondly e-crime the national figures are going to shoot up and for the first time they are going to be included in crime impact. Will you be looking at e-crime solely or will it be included in your figures.

D Gibson said up to yet the figures haven’t been recorded but yes it’s something that they are looking at. There is a national focus but the biggest focus is looking at preventing e-crime and becoming victim focused.

P Bramley added to that saying how see was a victim of crime recently.

D Gibson said its good experience to talk out about it as we learn from other experiences.

D Gibson also stated that district and rural figures aren’t separated, there is a rural section that works for the constabulary so they might be able to be more specific on figures. D Gibson also added to that saying rural areas aren’t a major issue it’s more around fly tipping and plant crime which is a long standing issue.

D Black will take that away as an action to try and get figures.

M Wallace asked if the figures included Domestic Violence.

D Gibson said yes.

D Black added to that, there is a 50% increase however it covers a wide spread of violence from a minor push to something more serious, now that the variety has widen this has caused an increase, the safety hasn’t changed only the way its recorded.

Frank questioned how safe we are on the streets. Particularly with the violence figures those and the injured party/domestic violence can we differentiate between the two in crime figures.

D Black said yes we can.

N Harden added to that saying maybe next time if we could have a breakdown, for example if it was criminal damage could we have a breakdown of what it actually is.

S Ferguson asked if the ‘think safe’ dvd is only taken out as part of the presentation.

J Daw said the dvd is part of a 4 week course it will also be going to the lunching club tomorrow and will potentially be taken out widely.

S Ferguson asked if you were open to suggestions to promote it?

J Daw said he is happy for details to be passed on to do this.

·                    HERTS CONSTABULARY

Chief Inspector Doug Black gave an update to the group, highlighting the following points:

Ø  That there’s a drop in figures however we are 1^st in national figures for confidence and doing an excellent job.

Ø  Provided information of where we are at in terms of crime nationally and as a force.

Ø  Information on new updates coming soon for racism.

Ø  Crime survey England to Whales has dropped, we are 82.3% nationally we are 1^st.

Ø  Crime ASB has dropped nationally we are 2^nd, reliability had dropped and we are 2^nd, fair treatment has gone up and we are 3^rd.

Ø  There has been a raise in National Crime which they are currently looking at.

Ø  Decrease in burglaries.

Ø  There is a dedicated team in place to look at crime and they are working with cash converters as part of the Christmas operation

Ø  We are looking at defining vehicle crime and the way it is recorded, as car damage for example a car prang or broken wing mirror is being recorded as criminal damage and has increased figures.

Ø  What with Halloween approaching and Fireworks Night it becomes very busy and the ASB teams will be out to help and deal with things efficiently.

Questions and Answers

Frank asked what types of weapons were being reported.

D Black said he doesn’t have a break down with him but he can provide that information at the next meeting if residents would like to know that. Stop and search is a very successful and they do go into school to teach children about knife crime.

B Worrell asked what the clear up rate was in terms of performances as he presumes these are just the recordings.

D Black stated the figures , in terms of crime this year’s its 42037 as of date to last Thursday compared to last year it was 3910 27.2% this years and last year 21% and puts us 4^th in the whole force. Information is clear on Herts Constabulary website.

Cllr Harden questioned what a Pin and how is it recorded.

D Black explained in detail that its only used for harassment and it not a criminal record but is formally recorded and is currently only used for harassment.

Frank finished off by asking if there are 4/5 vehicles on the street at any one time in the division and now with Watford closing is the fall back Hatfield.

D Black explained the process of Watford being the fall back then Hatfield then Stevenage and then county custody suite. D Black also explained the process from when someone is arrested and the process that follows that.

Frank also asked how depleted can the division be

D Black stated that Dacorum is twin with St Albans so they are allocated resources from around there; it’s only a frequency if it’s a major issue.

• HERTS FITE AND RESCUE SERVICES

S Holton gave an update on the service, highlighting the following points :

Ø  The 6 monthly performance figures

Ø  The types of fires there are, primary and secondary and accidental and deliberate.

Ø  There is a 12% increase in Hertfordshire and 37% in DBC.

Ø  The increased crime comes from The Mount Prison and what they are doing to now reduce this.

Questions and Answers

Frank said, what with the government reducing more money is there likely hood of foreseeing a reduction in staff.

S Holton said they fall under Hertfordshire’s County Council it depends how the politicians decide to use the money. Government services will still be covered though.

S Riddick added to that by saying he is concern about the number of staff and vehicles attending to Bovingdon’s Prison.

S Holton said they are working on a practical to reduce people/staff attending at they mount they are working closely with the Prison and hopefully we will see a reduction soon.

S Riddick also said are there a lot of deliberate fires in DBC as there seems to be some sort of trend in April, May, July and August.

S Holton said yes its to do with the weather and the school holidays, we do see an increase then. They do further analyse figures so they do look into trends.

4.         NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH AND OWL

P Beynon introduced the initiative, highlighting the following points:

Ø  How residents go out with PCSO’s and encourage others to sign up to neighbourhood watch.

Ø  Ways of promoting neighbourhood watch and OWL. Online tool for people to access giving information about scams and scandals and newsletters for those who don’t have email.

Ø  Explained a story where a resident had seen OWL and this alerted them.

Ø  Explained how they make people aware and how neighbourhood watch get involved.

Ø  The success on more people signing up to neighbourhood watch and more volunteers are getting involved.

You can join the Online Watch Link (OWL) online by visiting www.owl.co.uk.

Questions and Answers

P Bramley said we are being pushed towards computers its moving too fast for the elderly, especially when it comes to online banking.

P Beynon explained that online banking is safe it’s the phone calls and scam emails that you get from people pretending to be banks, end explained never to give personal details out by phone or email.

 M Wallis said he has noticed suspicious looking people fishing nearby him that don’t have professionalism that fisherman have, and asked if there is an issue around here regarding that?

D Black said there is an issue with pheasants but he doesn’t recall any current issues with fishing. D Black said this needs to be recorded so it can be dealt with and encourages people to call 101 to report things like this.

5.       DBC CCTV

J Guiton gave a presentation to the group, highlighting the following points:

Ø  The new CCTV system in and around Hemel and the location of the new cameras and how they are linked.

Ø  Explained the CCTV process from 1991 then from 2001 where they got bids to expand and to where we are today with CCTV.

Ø  The cost for each instillation of CCTV and BT lines.

Ø  Explained in detail the new CCTV system and base in Cupid Green and the process from start to finish and how it works, what areas it covers and how they are the first to be wireless in the County.

Ø  There are 171 CCTV cameras in the area and explanation of the Protection of Freedom Act 2012.

Ø   How the Control room is a service provider and not just a CCTV control room.

Questions and Answers

M Wallis said Berkhamstead residents/team have asked if CCTV can cover a specific area of the high street as CCTV seems to stop at that point and crime in that area is high and they feel it would be beneficial.

J Guiton said he would need to speak to licensing and the police as it’s not just a case of installing a camera there are policies and procedures that need to be followed.

Police need to be the first point of call they would need to have a valid reason to request an instillation.

D Black said he is happy to look into this issue for the resident.

C Simpson asked how many staff they have covering the CCTV service.

J Guiton said there are 8 and explained what they do.

D Gray left the meeting at 21:14

B Worrell asked if we had portable cameras that we could use temporarily to solve issues as he believes there are 2 key fly tipping points.

J Guiton said yes they have 2 deployable cameras. With regards to fly tipping cameras are used and people are successfully prosecuted.

Cllr Harden asked if it is correct that there is no legislation for drones and asked if body cameras were coved with the same legislation.

J Guiton said they are both covered in this legislation and technology is moving forward.

6.       POLICE & CRIME COMMISSIONER UPDATE

D Gibson  gave a presentation to the group, highlighting the following points:

Ø  Maintaining quality assurance.

Ø  Commissioning road safety fund.

Ø  Crucial savings

Ø  The HMIC report looks positive

Ø  Pilot scheme for operation acorn in Stevenage won a National Award.

Ø  Stop and search was a National Issue and an annual report is coming soon.

Ø  A reduction in number of people attending hospital in police cars

Ø  Information of how to get figures of stop and search in your area.

Questions and Answers

M Wallis said they have triage nurses at the courts in London do we have that here.

D Gibson said as of yet no.

M Wallis added to say that saying how useful it was.

D Gibson said the mental health services are engaging it.

8.         AOB

 None

The meeting ended at 9.32 pm.

Next meeting will be

Issued by Kayley Johnston

Democratic Services Support Officer

01442 222226

kayley.johnston@dacorum.gov.uk