PAPER B
FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY SELECT COMMITTEE – 16 FEBRUARY 2004
HAMPSHIRE
CONSTABULARY - ISLE OF WIGHT DIVISION SERVICE PLAN
ALISTAIR DRAIN - HEAD OF SELECT COMMITTEE AND BEST VALUE SUPPORT
REASON FOR SELECT COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
At a meeting on 8 December 2003
the Select Committee held a scrutiny session during which the Chief Executive
Officer, the Director of Environment Services, Chief
Fire Officer, and the Crime and Disorder Manager were asked how the Council was
fulfilling its obligations under Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act. As a
result of the debate the Select Committee resolved to invite
representatives of the Police and other relevant stakeholders to a future
meeting to assist with the Committee’s ongoing scrutiny of crime and disorder.
Superintendent Kilbride of the
Isle of Wight Division of Hampshire Constabulary has agreed to attend this
meeting to present the Division’s Service Plan for 2003/04 and to answer any
questions the Select Committee may have. In addition, Mrs Judy Griffin and Mr.
David Knowles have been invited to attend the meeting in their capacity as
members of Hampshire Police Authority. A copy of the Service Plan is attached
as Appendix 1.
ACTION REQUIRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE
To receive information on the Isle of Wight Division’s aims and
objectives for policing on the Island during the coming year in order to inform
the Select Committee’s ongoing investigations into crime and disorder.
Members are reminded that the Council, Hampshire Constabulary and Hampshire Police Authority are, along with a number of other organisations, members of the Island’s Crime and Disorder Partnership. The Partnership meets quarterly to review work being undertaken on the Island to reduce crime and disorder and holds an annual conference to consider shared priorities for the coming year. These priorities are setout in the Crime and Disorder Strategy and should form the basis of the Council’s own key strategic objectives in this area.
The Service Plan for the Isle of Wight Division of Hampshire Constabulary sets-out the Division’s objectives for 2003-04 and indicates how resources will be utilised to achieve these. By scrutinising the performance of the police in delivering these objectives Members should be able to determine how effectively the Division’s priority aims of reducing crime and the fear of crime and increasing detection rates are being achieved.
CRIME AND DETECTION
RATES
Members will note that the Service Plan also contains information on crime statistics for the Island between April 2002 and March 2003. This information is also produced, along with detection rates, on a monthly basis for six geographical sections on the Island, these being
Cowes, Yarmouth, Newport, Ryde, Shanklin and Ventnor. Information is also supplied separately for Cowes, Yarmouth and Ventnor which are grouped together to form a distinct Rural Section.
To assist the Select Committee with this scrutiny session, the police have supplied the latest figures for Total Crime on the Island and these are attached as Appendix 2. In addition, figures for Violent Crime and Criminal Damage across the whole Island, which have been showing a generally upward trend, are attached as Appendix 3 and Appendix 4 respectively. Full details of all crimes and detections for both the Island as a whole and across the geographical sectors have been supplied separately to the Select Committee.
RELEVANT PLANS, POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND PERFORMANCE
INDICATORS
Crime and Disorder is a priority area in the Community Strategy and is featured within the theme entitled Guaranteeing the Quality of Life and Sustainability
The Council’s Corporate Plan identifies the need to create a safe and crime free environment for all Islanders and visitors.
The Crime and Disorder Strategy 2002-05 outlines the aims of the Island’s Crime and Disorder Partnership.
The Hampshire Constabulary Strategic Plan 2001-2006 sets-out the priorities that will be addressed by the Constabulary and identifies the activities required to implement these.
The Police Reform Act received Royal Assent in July 2002 and introduced a number of measures aimed at improving performance and ensuring the implementation of good practice throughout the country.
CONSULTATION PROCESS
No consultation has been required as a result of this report
FINANCIAL, LEGAL, CRIME AND DISORDER IMPLICATIONS
There are no financial implications in writing this report.
Under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 the Council has a statutory duty to work with the police and other statutory partners to tackle crime and disorder
Under Section 17 of that Act the Council has a statutory duty to consider the crime and disorder implications in all its decision-making.
APPENDICES ATTACHED
Appendix 1 – Hampshire Constabulary – Isle of Wight Division Service Plan 2003/04
Appendix 2 – Total Crime figures for the Isle of Wight, April 2002 – December 2003
Appendix 3 – Violent Crime figures for the Isle of Wight, April 2002 – December 2003
Appendix 4 – Criminal Damage figures for the Isle of Wight, April 2002 – December 2003
BACKGROUND PAPERS USED IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT
Isle of Wight Division Service Plan 2003/4
The Isle of Wight Crime and Disorder Strategy 2002-2005
Report dated 8 December 2003 to the Fire and Public Safety Select Committee on Mainstreaming Crime and Disorder Within the Council
Sector Profile figures for the Island between April 2003 and December 2003
Contact Point: Saskia Kiernan, Select Committee and Best Value Support, F823805; [email protected]
ALISTAIR DRAIN
Head of Select Committee and Best Value Support