Agenda item

Councillor Andy Hull, Executive Member Finance, Performance and Community Safety was present, together with Keith Stanger, Service Manager Community Safety and Crime Reduction, and Catherine Briody, Head of Youth and Community Services

During consideration of the report the following main points were made –

·         The Safer Islington Partnership has led on 5 priority areas – Crimes involving young people, Hate Crime and ASB, Drugs and Adult Offending, VAWG, Domestic Abuse, and Exploitation and Extremism

·         Overall crime reduction of 5%, while crime across London rose 4% in the same period. There has been a small increase in violent crime of 0.4%

·         Significant reduction of over 60% in theft snatch offences, as a result of the co-ordinated partnership response. Continued reductions in serious youth violence, youth violence, gun crime, knife crime, and knife crime victims under 25

·         27% reduction in robbery offences in the past year, following a peak in 2017/18. The Police have robbery cars available, allowing for faster identification of perpetrators

·         Domestic violence offences continue to rise by 7%, in line with a London wide increase, and positive outcomes for victims remains a challenging area

·         There has been a small increase of 6% in racist hate crime, but there have been reductions in all other forms of hate crime

·         Action Plan from the scrutiny on school exclusions is being overseen by a Task and Finish Group, to address the connection between exclusions, offending and exploitation

·         Despite a reduction in violent crime types, the challenges remain with serious incidents in Islington, and continued fatalities across London. There is increased complexity of the issues that young people are presenting with, including trauma, due to abuse and neglect, and early childhood experiences, inability to self-regulate, and risk of criminal exploitation. There has been a further reduction in first time entrants, and improved custody and reoffending rates amongst YOS people

·         Work has been taking place re: violence against women and young people, and there has been a recent improvement in the DA crime sanction and detections rate, but work to hold more perpetrators to account remains a priority for the VAWG Strategy Board

·         Anti-social behaviour and hate crime – Islington Community MARAC 2018/19 review is now complete, achieving excellent results on supporting 46 high risk vulnerable victims of crime. Now considered one of best CRM’s in England, with Islington Learning Disability Partnership now referring victims of Hate Crime

·         Creation of a wide ranging action plan, following a multi-agency workshop on dealing with the complex street population issues in Stroud Green Road, to be rolled out borough-wide

·         Plan in place to continue to increase the number of young people undertaking Hate Crime training, and delivery of a successful Hate Crime Awareness week – 13-20 October

·         Over 80 confirmed Safe Haven locations, with many more venues that are interested in becoming safe havens

·         There has been ongoing multi-agency work around hot spots across the borough that are recording higher rates of crime, and ASB, compared to the borough average. This includes the Finsbury Park Area, Archway/New Orleans, and Cally, amongst others

·         Adult Offending and Drugs - Camden and Islington Drugs Strategy 2018/21 aims to deliver response to rising drug issues. Co-ordinating a range of activities to tackle crime and ASB in the Finsbury Park tri-borough hotspot, mainly linked to drug dealing and use. Islington’s integrated Offender Management scheme supported 119 service users with 49 prolific offenders, successfully exiting the scheme, due to reducing the risk of reoffending and taking up education, training and employment opportunities. MOPAC have recognised Islington’s approach as one of the best in London. Community Rehabilitation Company contract ending in March 2020, with migration into the National Probation Service

·         Community Safety – Exploitation and Extremism – established a multi-agency board and action plan, working closely with the Human Trafficking Foundation to produce materials for communities in Islington, identifying good practice from across London, through the pan London MDS Board. A Council web page is under development, extended training roll-out to front line staff, etc.

·         Prevent – funding now confirmed for 2019/20, but has been cut considerably with only the Brave (gangs), and Small Steps (Far Right) projects remaining. Prevent training delivered to Islington Grand Mentors, where grandparents mentor young people leaving care, and 180 caretakers have been upskilled in Far Right awareness. It was noted that far right stickers/leaflets have appeared across the borough. Planning is underway for post March 2020 to source new funding streams, or products. Increasing the knowledge of, and how to report Far Right activities for both front-line staff, and members of the Public will be taking place

·         Public Protection – Trading Standards – Letting agent fees are now banned, and they now have to be a member of a client money protection scheme. Test purchasing is continuing, usually leading to licence reviews, where sale of alcohol occurs, or prosecution, where it is a knife

·         Public Protection – Environmental Health -  the total number of food businesses as of May 2019 is 2,339, with 88% of all types currently broadly compliant, an increase on last year from 84%. Programmed inspections resulting in 62 hygiene improvement notices have been served on 36 businesses and there have been 4 voluntary closures of businesses

·         Members stated that the next PI report should contain detailed information in relation to Domestic Violence and Hate Crime

·         Reference was made to the improved situation with regard to Pentonville Prison and relationships with the new Governor

·         A Member expressed the view that the quoted small 6% in racist hate crime was not a small increase in her view

·         It was noted that safeguarding work is taking place and a lot of work is taking place with community groups to capacity build

·         Reference was made to the recent prosecutions of County Lines gangs in Islington, and that discussions were needed with the Police on sharing of information

·         Work is taking place on DV to raise awareness

·         It was stated that details of the Youth Safety would be circulated when available

·         Discussion took place as to the Archway/New Orleans gangs and that Councillor Hull should provide further information on this toCouncillors

Chapman, Poyser and appropriate ward Councillors

·         A Member also referred to the problems with delivery drivers committing traffic offences, urinating in the street in the Nags Head area, and these issues needed to be addressed. It was stated that an updated report would be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee

·         Discussion also took place as to the street population in the Finsbury Park area and that the minutes of the Finsbury Park workshopshould be circulated to the Committee

·         A Member referred to the problems caused by the Deliveroo, etc. drivers in relation to road noise and lack of toilets for use. She added that this issues is prevalent across London and should be raised with London Councils

RESOLVED:

(a)  That the presentation be noted

(b)That minutes of the Finsbury Park Workshop be circulated to  Members of the Committee

(c) That the issue referred to above in relation to Deliveroo etc. be referred to London Councils for discussion

(d) That a report be submitted to a future meeting relation to the issue raised above, in relation to delivery drivers in the Nags Head area

(e) That the next report to the Committee on Crime statistics include more details on Hate Crime transgender crimes, and Domestic Violence

(f) That information be provided to Councillors Chapman, Poyser and relevant Ward Councillors on the Archway/New Orleans gang

(g) That details of the location of Safe Havens and Youth Safety bulletin be circulated to Members

The Chair thanked Councillor Hull, Keith Stanger and Catherine Briody for   attending