Meeting documents

The Chairman welcomed Superintendent Kevin Brown, Local Police Area Commander and Sarah McBrearty, Community Safety Team Leader, WDC.

The Commission was provided with an update on the Wycombe Community Safety Partnership priorities and actions for 2018/19. The priorities and key actions for 2018/19 were as follows:

·       Tackling anti-social behaviour and crime – Work would be undertaken in partnership to deal with street drinkers and aggressive beggars.  A multi-agency communications campaign would be delivered to educate and raise awareness with members of the public in relation to begging.  To reduce repeat victims of burglary support would be provided with advice, home surveys and property marking schemes.   Also crime reduction advice would be provided to residents via various methods of communication such as a Pop-Up Police Station.

• Safeguarding our communities – It was explained that there were different forms of exploitation in communities, and crime statistics in the district and county indicate this as a key priority.  Further work would be undertaken to support the victims of domestic abuse and to provide information to signpost victims to support agencies.  There would be training with staff from bars, pubs and late night eateries on safeguarding issues.  Also initiatives and campaigns, such as taxi and private hire checks, and monitoring and enforcement of alcohol licensing conditions.   Multi agency work with The Willow Project, who support victims of exploitation in Buckinghamshire, would be undertaken to raise awareness and tackle modern slavery.

• Working together to address Child Sexual Exploitation – Raising awareness of child sexual exploitation locally including a campaign and training materials provided to late night eateries and taxi driver training.  Thames Valley Police would lead on a multi-agency safeguarding meeting. Also test purchase operations would be carried out on hotels/licensing premises within the town centre.

• Building community resilience – There would be promotion of the Safe Place scheme.  Also support and work with Neighbourhood Watch and raise awareness of scams particularly with the elderly and vulnerable.

Partnership work so far had included Operation Goat dealing with anti-social behaviour issues, a two day licensee event, a campaign around spring crime and garden security, taxi safeguarding training package and schools safeguarding work. 

Referring to a power point presentation Superintendent Kevin Brown outlined the key crime statistics for the District, picking out the major reductions and the major increases in 2017/18 from below:

It was reported that anti-social behaviour in the District had decreased in comparison to the previous year.  However there had been an increase in the Marlow area and it was expected that this was due to the World Cup celebrations.  It was noted that crime across the country was rising with an increase in the demand for policing.  In the Wycombe area burglary dwelling had increased but the low starting point was noted and some burglaries were due to offenders being released from prison.  Personal robbery had increased due, in some part to perpetrators on mopeds, however six people had been arrested.  The robbery of businesses had increased but the small numbers were noted.  It was also noted that crime recording had been reviewed and this had led to domestic violence being recorded differently hence the increased figures. Regarding modern slavery only two people had been referred via the National Referral Mechanism. It was noted that many victims did not want to be referred.

Members made a number of points and received clarification on a number of queries as follows:

·       The training for taxi drivers would be delivered by a trainer and was in relation to children in the vehicles.

·       Regarding burglars reoffending it was noted that there were mechanisms in prisons to educate offenders, however it was reported that this was dependent on the availability of courses.  Notification of the release of prisoners had improved so that police could visit and check on offenders after their release. 

·       It was noted that police resources had reduced significantly and that only 20% of policing was dealing with criminal acts.

·       The Public Spaces Protection Order in the town centre was now in force and new signs were being updated.  Work was being undertaken on a clear plan for enforcement.  It was noted that the town centre was now a no drinking zone.

·       The Sensible Change Text Giving scheme would again be promoted to help encourage members of the public not to give money to beggars.  The scheme enabled a text donation to a local charity rather than giving change directly to a beggar.

·       It was requested that HWBIDCo be included in the joint communications work.

·       Regarding deception of vulnerable individuals it was noted that this was not robbery which required an element of violence but classed as theft from vulnerable adults or sometimes reported as fraud crime. 

The Chairman thanked Sarah and Superintendent Brown for the presentation.

RESOLVED: That the Wycombe Community Safety Partnership priorities and actions for 2018/19 be noted and supported.