Agenda item

(i)              Report of the Director of Transformation and Partnerships.

(ii)             Presentation by DCI Dave Ashton, Durham Constabulary.

The Chairman introduced the Detective Chief Inspector Dave Ashton, Durham Constabulary who was in attendance to give an update presentation in respect progress of recommendations following the Overview and Scrutiny Review of Organised Crime (for copy see file of minutes).

DCI D Ashton thanked Members for the opportunity to speak to the Committee and reminded Councillors of the definition of serious and organised crime, namely: serious crime was planned, co-ordinated, conducted by people working together on a continuing basis, with the motivation being often, but not always, financial gain.  It was added that since a national strategy was launched in 2013, the estimated cost nationally of organised crime was £24 Billion annually.  Councillors noted that the Police worked in partnership with other agencies to look to be able to affect organised crime groups (OCGs) in their many areas of activity to help provide many benefits.  It was explained that these benefits were not only in human terms by ending misery for those exploited by OCGs, such as drug addicts, those being defrauded and those subject to sexual exploitation, but also in terms of financial benefits in terms of early intervention in cases such as waste management fraud, the Committee being aware of the recent examples in our area from the Scrutiny Review.

Members were reminded of the national tools used to capture data and to score and map OCGs based upon their intent and capability and linked to their level of criminality to give an overall threat assessment score.  DCI D Ashton referred Members to a graph showing 39 OCGs within Durham, and that the threat assessment determined that 44% of the OCGs had low-level or infrequent criminality and that their impact was primarily local.  Councillors noted the types of activities included: drugs; violence; money laundering; theft; economic crime; environmental crime; and child sexual exploitation.

DCI D Ashton noted the disruption tactics used to target OCGs, under the Police branding of “Sledgehammer” and successes had included: significant seizures of Class A drugs; tackling animal cruelty linking to environmental offences; environmental crimes, including the examples of the site in Darlington Members were familiar with from the Review; and dwelling burglary, with a gang operating in our area recently imprisoned for 10 years.

Members noted that areas for development included the stolen goods and counterfeit markets and the rise in the use of psychoactive substances, and there was a need to be vigilant in terms of the signs of activities such as human trafficking, modern day slavery and child sexual exploitation. 

DCI D Ashton reminded Members that this was tackled by working in partnership to disrupt OCGs’ activities with the Partnership Disruption and Intervention Panel coordinating activities.  Councillors were reminded of the 4 Ps in terms of the Action Plan to tackle OCGs, Pursue, Prevent, Protect and Prepare and that a lead for areas could come from the Police or a partner as appropriate.  Members learned of the national Government Agency Intelligence Network (GAIN) as a tool to be able to share information and make referrals to other agencies as required.

Members were reminded that intelligence was vital in terms of being able to tackle OCGs, with the smallest piece of information sometimes being the key to unlocking a larger picture.  It was added that an important aspect for partners was to look to say “does my work take me behind closed doors” and if so and signs of child sexual exploitation, drugs, slavery, or any form of criminality then this should be shared with the Police and relevant agencies for further consideration.

Councillor N Martin noted that economic crime was a concern, with more frequent attempts by telephone and e-mail by fraudsters to try and trick people out of their personal information and asked how people could forward information to the Police and also should a fraudster be successful, what support was available.  DCI D Ashton noted that these types of OCGs were typically national or international and there was information contained within an Action Fraud leaflet as regards what to look out for, and what you can do if you are subject to such fraud.

Councillor T Nearney noted during the Scrutiny Review, Police had spoken in terms of Proceeds of Crime (PoC) monies that could be fed back into local communities and also of the links between anti-social behaviour and OCGs.  Councillor T Nearney asked had the community Trigger and Community Remedy been used, and if so how effective had they been, and also asked as regards any issues in terms of the Memorandum of Understanding where the Council worked with the Environment Agency.  DCI D Ashton noted that there were links between ASB and OCGs, and highlighted initiatives such as the Haggrid project to engage with young people with high risk factors and to divert them away from criminal activities.  Members noted horticultural schemes where the activities provided an opportunity to engage with the young people in order to help them look at attitudes and it was added that Home Office funds meant this scheme could be rolled out more widely.  Councillors were reminded of another scheme that looked to try and change perceptions of authority, including the Police, included the “Mini Police” project.  DCI D Ashton added that Durham Constabulary worked very well with the Environment Agency  and noted that the strategic “Gold Group” that included the Chief Constable, met to discuss at a strategic and tactical level and noted there was good agreement from all those involved.

The Chairman referred to the recommendations from the Scrutiny Review, set out as Appendix 2 to the report with DCI D Ashton noting recommendations 1 to 4 having been touched upon and with enhanced awareness raising as set out in recommendation 6 including presentations at the Area Action Partnerships (AAPs) and Partnership Forums as well as the roll out of an associated online training package, by the end of the year.

Councillor J Allen explained that intelligence was key and that Councillors could help to feed in information, though the successful “In the Know” tool, and through Crimestoppers and their local Police Teams. 

It was added that cybercrime had been identified by the SDP as an increasing risk and that within the Authority, the Director of Transformation and Partnership would be looking to appoint cyber-champions within departments to raise awareness of potential issues. Councillor J Allen added that as Portfolio Holder for Safer Communities, she was a Member of the Gold Group which looked at the issues of disruption and reiterated that partners all worked hard together to ensure that all avenues were pursued in order to catch out OCGs and put a stop to their activities.

The Chief Fire Officer, S Errington noted that the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) would be keen to see what they could do to help, with FRS now falling within the remit of the Home Office and with OCGs having been identified as a strategic priority.  Members were reminded of the CDDFRS’s Safe and Wellbeing Visits (SWVs), a topic also being looked at by a Working Group of the Committee, and that while this presented a “foot in the door” and an opportunity to alert agencies should safeguarding issues be noted, there was also a need to ensure that the good reputation of the CDDFRS was maintained.  DCI D Ashton noted that there were different way of reporting information, and reinforced that if there was a safeguarding issue then this would be something to be passed to the Police as a priority.  It was added that there were various sophisticated methods by which the Police could protect sources of information and also should a member of the public wish they could utilise the anonymous Crimestoppers service.

Councillor F Tinsley noted that there were very low levels of immigration into County Durham and noted that some people were of the opinion that OCGs were as a consequence of such immigration and asked whether there was any evidence of this or whether it was simply a misconception.  DCI D Ashton noted there were OCGs operating across all types of communities and at all levels of society from those working on the streets, to accountants and solicitors, so indeed there was no one particular group OCGs were limited to.  Chief Superintendent A Green added that it was also to be understood that in fact some of those in immigrant communities were in fact amongst the most vulnerable to exploitation by OCGs and cited examples nationally where some immigrants had been trafficked to Norway to work as slave labour.

Councillor C Wilson noted the example that had been given in terms of the waste management fraud and asked if there had been and further progress.  DCI D Ashton noted that this was being led by the Environment Agency, however, feedback and discussion with local people would likely be best served via the relevant local Police and Communities Together (PACT) meeting.

Resolved:

(i)              That the report be noted.

(ii)             That a progress update be received by the Safer and Stronger Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee in 12 months.