Agenda item

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Joy Allen presented her Performance Report for Quarter Three, which covered the period October to December 2023 (for copy see file of minutes).

Councillor R Potts noted the reported decrease of around 20 percent in relation to anti-social behaviour (ASB), adding he would welcome that reduction, however, it did not seem to be the case in his experience out in our communities.  He noted around 30,000 missed calls to the 101 number and asked if that had any connection with the ASB decrease.  He noted that Neighbourhood Crime had increased by 24 percent and asked if there was any reason behind the increase, given there was not an increase in whole crime over the last nine months.  He also asked as regards a change in colour coding in relation to the traffic light system used within the HMICFRS police efficiency, effectiveness and legitimacy (PEEL) reporting.

The PCC noted that in terms of ASB, one would expect there to be an increase in calls from hotspot area and added that hotspot areas had been given further information on how to report ASB, including 24-hour line/chat and single online home.  She asked that Councillors help to encourage reporting as it was important to build up evidence of where issues were occurring, to target measures to tackle issues and support bids for additional funding.

The PCC noted that Neighbourhood Crime was one of the most preventable, adding that only six percent of people noted they had received information on prevention measures.  She explained that the Chief constable, R Bacon had noted two areas she would focus investment were neighbourhoods and prevention.  In respect of vehicle crime, the PCC explained that this was an increase issue nationally.  The PCC noted her office was supporting target hardening initiatives, especially to help the most vulnerable people.  She added that it was important to get information out to the public in respect of the simple measures they could take to help prevent those type of opportunistic crimes, such as not leaving doors unlocked, not leaving items on display within vehicles and the use of Faraday cages in order to prevent attempts to obtain keyless entry to vehicles. 

She noted that there was investment in hotspot areas via Neighbourhood Teams, to support local problem solving.  The Head of Business Services, OPCC, Sweety Sahani noted the change in colour coding in respect of HMIC FRS reporting and would respond in due course.

Councillor D Boyes noted that County Durham was being used as an asylum dispersal area and explained he had received anecdotal evidence of ASB increasing as a result.  He noted the issue was sensitive and asked if there was any evidence of the impact of the influx of asylum seekers. 

The PCC noted her previous role as a Councillor for DCC, where she had been the Portfolio Holder for Safer Communities, and reminded the Panel of the work the Council had taken at that time to ensure that the humanitarian support programme offered was the very best, at that time catering for Syrian refugees.  She added that it was later that government had mandated nationally in terms of asylum seekers.

The Chief of Staff, OPCC explained that she understood from her previous role at DCC as regards the Council’s humanitarian support programme, adding that around 18 months ago, all Local Authorities were mandated to take asylum seekers.  She noted that Mears, a private company had been awarded the Government contact in this regard, with Mears to provide information to the Police and Local Authority on placements, however, the Police and Local Authority could only advise, not have any say on placements.  She added there was a wider issue relating to houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and not just to those used to house asylum seekers.  She noted that the PCC, DCC and local MPs had met to discuss tensions within the east of the County, with the situation being monitored.  She added there was a DCC-led group, the County Durham Migration and Cohesion Multi-Agency Group, and that the Police were one of the partners involved.  She noted that in terms of HMOs, there was little the Council could do for those less housing fewer than six people, in terms of planning/licensing.  The Chair noted that for HMOs with five or more occupants there were further conditions and requirements in respect of planning.

Councillor D Boyes agreed that a lot of the issues had been taken out of Local Authorities’ hands and agreed that when the Council had been in control of where Syrian refugees were placed, the majority were placed within the larger towns where they could better integrate, however, currently asylum seekers were being placed within smaller villages, leading to a larger proportional change to the community’s make up, impacting upon community cohesion.

The Chair asked if the PCC could bring a report to the Panel, updating Members on the current position.  The PCC noted that it was more of a DCC-led issue, and while she had contacts at the Council, she felt it would be more a role for Overview and Scrutiny Committees to look at.  The Chair added she felt there was a failing within Policy 16 of the County Durham Plan, in relation to HMO applications.

Councillor G Lee noted the increase in the number of incidents in Darlington as recorded via CCTV over the last three quarters.  He asked what had changed, whether it was how incidents were counted, so that Members were able understand a true measure of the effectiveness of the CCTV.

The PCC noted she did not have the exact figures to hand, however, the CCTV at Darlington was proving to be an excellent investment, and she would provide the information at a future update.  She added she would love for Durham to have a similar CCTV resource, and explained the CCTV was not just a case of monitoring, it had a positive impact on issues, as evidenced at Darlington.  The Chief of Staff, OPCC noted that six months into operation following installation in September 2022, the CCTV at Darlington had recorded 526 incidents, with 47 arrests as a result.  She added more data could be brought forward within future reports.

Councillor L Hovvels noted ASB hotspots within her Electoral Division, with a number of arson incidents at Trimdon Station.  She noted a case in her area where asylum seekers had been left outside of a property, with no one to meet or support them, and subsequently they then left the community.  She added there were concerns, as raised by Councillor D Boyes, of the impact upon small villages, adding that vulnerable asylum seekers could become targets themselves and asked how the Police, alongside other agencies, were managing the issues.  The Chief of Staff, OPCC noted that the Council’s Corporate Director of Neighbourhoods and Climate Change, Alan Patrickson, was Chair of the County Durham Migration and Cohesion Multi-Agency Group, and the Chair, Councillor L Brown suggested Members report issues to the Corporate Director accordingly.  The PCC added that while issues of community tension were being reported quickly in the east of the county, the Police and Local Authority did not have oversight as previously explained.  She noted around three to five years ago, the Council had a toolkit to use in this regard, however, the Government had contracted-out the matter to Mears.

Councillor J Charlton noted there appeared to be serious issues developing in her Electoral Division in relation to asylum seekers.  She explained that she had spoken with the Police, and they had not been informed of the numbers or ages of those being placed within the community. 

She agreed with the comments from Councillor D Boyes and added that it appeared to be the areas with cheap housing within County Durham that were being targeted.  She noted that the asylum seekers were simply being dumped, with the Police and Local Authority not being given the details they needed in order to help support those asylum seekers and our local communities.  In relation to the numbers of ‘children missing from home’ reported, Councillor J Charlton asked whether they represented individual children, or whether they the total number of incidents, including repeated incidents from the same child.  She added she felt it would be useful to understand both the number of children and the number of incidents.

The PCC reiterated that the County Durham Migration and Cohesion Multi-Agency Group was the correct forum for those issues.  She agreed in terms of the links to cheap housing, as was also the case in terms of the increase in children’s homes being established within the county.  The PCC noted that one child had resulted in 101 incidents alone and explained that the issue of children’s home was one of increasing demand for the Police.  She explained she had written to the Chairs of the Council’s Planning Committees to explain it was felt that the county was at saturation point in respect of children’s homes, and that it was an issue that the Council and the OPCC would need to monitor.

Councillor D Nicholls noted the Panel’s previous visit to the CCTV Control Room at Darlington and the positive impact of the technology.  He asked if there were any funding pots that could be targeted to help roll out further CCTV coverage, especially to protect the most vulnerable within our towns when out enjoying the nighttime economy.  He added the figures in relation to the number of drink and drug drivers was terrifying and welcomed any work to tackle the issue.  He welcomed youth provision within the east of the County, and asked if there were any Government schemes to help young people as he felt often in our communities young people were bored and, as many families struggled with cost of living impact, young people were congregating on the streets which in turn could lead to ASB.

Councillor J Charlton noted that in her area, Town and Villages regeneration money had been used in respect of CCTV provision.

The PCC noted Safer Streets funding had helped fund mobile cameras, however, noted issues in terms of permission to locate cameras.  She noted a recent success in relation to off-road bikes, with a drone being used to follow an offender back to their property, leading to an arrest.  She added that if each Neighbourhood Policing area were able to have a drone, that would help in terms of pro-active control in hotspot areas, including in helping to identify vulnerable people at risk, and that such drone provision may be preferable in some cases to fixed CCTV.

The Chair noted the impact of Operation Snap, whereby members of the public could upload dashcam, home/business CCTV, and mobile camera footage to Durham Constabulary, with 75 prosecutions as a result. 

Councillor J Charlton noted the importance of ensuring any drone would be fit for purpose, including being able to operate in inclement weather.  The PCC noted that the newer technology coming through was very impressive.  In respect of youth ASB hotspots, the PCC noted it was important to try and engage with those young people who may be on the cusp of offending.  She added that it was important that any provision needed to be local and affordable, and that investment should be in activities that helped coach and mentor young people.  She noted nationally around £1 billion worth of funding had been lost in terms of youth workers, and she championed activities within the county such as football schemes at Seaham and Spennymoor and boxing provision at Stanley.

Councillor L Hovvels noted the use of drones and asked as regards the resources to cover the County, and whether a team could be established in that regard.  The PCC noted that it was recognised that drones were now a lot more usable, however, there were training issues and she highlighted that operators required a pilot licence.  She noted other successes of drone use included looking of heat signatures for cannabis farms, and work with the Road Policing Unit.  She added that the use of drones was something on the agenda for the OPCC and Constabulary.

Councillor G Lee appealed to Councillors to look what they could provide locally for young people.  He gave examples of work carried out in his area, a more rural location, where there were few shops and amenities.  He noted the funding of three football teams, around £25,000, support for another eight sporting teams, the installation of a multi-use games areas (MUGA), skatepark and improvements to the village hall.  He reiterated that both Durham and Darlington Councillors, along with local Town and Parish Councillors, should look to work together to see what can be offered locally for young people, noting that the cost per person in terms supporting such activities were ‘pennies’, however, they often proved to have a great positive impact.

The PCC noted she had met with the Chief Constable the previous day as regards hotspot funding, and what would happen once funding came to an end.  She noted that it was acknowledged that there was a lot of work Town and Parish Councils carried out at the local level, and that case studies of positive work could be presented to give examples of where such investment can pay off, to encourage those Town and Parish Councils to take up hotspot funding and to help kickstart activities.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.