Agenda item

Report of the Director (Finance and Operations) sets out the draft Anti Social Behaviour and Crime Strategy and seeks approval to consult more widely with key stakeholders and residents.

Members received a report which informed them about the Anti-Social Behaviour and Crime Strategy and which sought approval to consult more widely on the document with key stakeholders and residents.

It was intended to take a victim focussed approach to enable victims to feel empowered.

There is an intention to provide a 3^rd Party Reporting Centre at the council offices with trained staff so that people would feel that they were in a safe environment where they could report issues such as domestic violence or hate crimes.

A case management system would be introduced and information would be shared with other agencies.

Members asked whether there was a system in place which alerted staff of potential trouble such as violence or abuse when making home visits.  They were informed that there was an alert on the Orchard system which advised about any special arrangements that were required, such as two officers visiting.

Members commented that there had been some problems in one of the areas of the town and they asked whether the Housing Trust used the threat of loss of tenancy as a lever to make parents more responsible for the actions of their children.  They were informed that efforts were made to support young people so that they did not re-offend, but parents were told that their tenancy could be at risk.

Officers advised that there was a magazine, issued to all young people over 11, which provided information on activities available.  Diversionary activities were available across the borough and efforts were made to ensure that it the activities were accessible.

Members questioned whether the targets that were being set were high enough.  Officers replied that the targets had been set at the level as there was nothing yet to compare.  These would be adjusted next year.

It was noted that the council would be able to take on work for other agencies, at a cost to the agencies, as the council had a statutory duty to deal with anti-social behaviour and therefore had more powers.

Members felt that the multi-agency community days were a good idea and beneficial to all.

It was noted that restorative justice was an option that could be used to tackle the problem and that the Police were best placed to employ this option.

Members commented that anti-social behaviour was not always carried out by young people and a lot of domestic violence was on young people not by young people.  They felt concerned that there could be a stigma associated with social housing as the Housing Trust was so actively involved in this work.

Members said that there had been in-house mediation some years ago and this had not worked.  They asked why it was thought it would work this time.  Officers replied that previously it had been undertaken by an external partner under a Service Level Agreement.  This time it would be done by trained internal staff.

Members asked how and where performance monitoring would be undertaken.

Members stated that some Housing Trust tenants were being affected by the behaviour of students at the university and they asked who this should be reported to.  Officers said that the tenants should report to their landlord, then the university and finally the Housing Trust who could act as a conduit to the other parties.

RESOLVED to approve the draft Anti-social Behaviour and Crime Strategy and Action Plan in advance of consultation with key stakeholders and community representatives.