PAPER C
Committee
: FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY
SELECT COMMITTEE
Date
: 18 MARCH 2002
Title
: CRIME AND DISORDER BEST
VALUE REVIEW
REPORT
OF THE HEAD OF PAID SERVICE
SUMMARY/PURPOSE
To ask the Committee to
consider and approve the draft Crime and Disorder Strategy
BACKGROUND
The
Isle of Wight Crime and Disorder Partnership is a multi-agency partnership
responsible for the implementation of the Crime and disorder Act 1998. This includes carrying out a crime audit
every three years and the production of a strategy to reduce crime and
disorder, including the fear of crime in the local area. Other requirements of the Act includes
Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBO's), Local Child Curfew Orders, information
exchange and mainstreaming Section 17.
The Crime and Disorder Team deliver the above requirements as well as
being responsible for the strategic development of CCTV on the Island and the
requirements for 24 hour the reporting and recording of racists incidents
following the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry.
The
review looked at the following:
The
new Isle of Wight Crime and Disorder Strategy 2002/5 will be launched at the
end of March 2002.
The
review has not looked at the emerging issues from the strategy in any detail,
but some elements of it have featured within the Improvement Plan. This is important to remember, as the
Improvement Plan will be used not only in respect of the Best Value review but
also in the context of service delivery
The
Best Value Review has recognised the weaknesses of the Partnership and the Team
and has seeked to address them within the comprehensive Improvement Plan.
1.
Improve the role
of the Crime and Disorder Partnership
Prior
to the Community Safety Steering Group met on a 6 weekly basis and although
action to reduce crime and disorder on the Island was being taken forward, it
was felt that the meetings were not always productive.
The
whole Partnership was reviewed in October 2001 and the structures changed so
that there would be an annual conference to inform stakeholders and the
community, and there would be a Strategy Group to implement the strategy. This group would meet less often and would
have task groups who would be the operational arm of the strategy. The Strategy Group which is made up of
senior level Officers will inspire and support the Task Groups whilst ensuring
a sense of ownership within their own organisation.
2.
Improve the role
of the Crime and Disorder Team
The
Crime and Disorder Team will co-ordinate the work of the Strategy Group and
ensure that all the requirements under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 are
met. The Team will be responsible for
raising the profile of the Partnership and ensuring that the appropriate
arrangements are in place to monitor, evaluate and review performance. The Team will seek to involve stakeholders
and the wider community in reducing crime and disorder.
The Improvement Plan strengthens the role of both the Strategy Group and the Crime and Disorder Team.
3.
Mainstreaming
Section 17
The
Crime and Disorder Act 1998 recognised that the Police on there own could not
significantly reduce crime and disorder.
It places a duty on the Council, including Town and Parish Councils to
consider the crime and disorder implications in carrying out its various
functions and in it decision making process.
Therefore to have the greatest impact in reducing crime and disorder,
Section 17 must be mainstreamed. The
lead Officer for this will be the Community Safety Manager, and the lead Member
will be the crime and disorder portfolio holder.
The
Improvement Plan outlines appropriate action for both tiers of Local Authority.
4.
Process in
obtaining an ASBO
The
Crime and Disorder Partnership have successfully used alternative means to
stopping anti-social behaviour in all but one individual, the latter having
medical reasons preventing one being obtained.
However, it is only a matter of time before one may need to be applied
for although there is no funding currently in place to do this.
The ASBO Co-ordinator, the Crime and Disorder Team, the YOT and the Legal Department of the Council have undertaken a significant amount of good work. The Improvement Plan builds on this good work.
5.
Strategic
Development of CCTV
CCTV has to some degree occurred where requested. As the demand grows and the control room becomes more stretched there is a real need to ensure that any future development is done in a strategic way. This must be informed by the crime and disorder audit and be in the context of most appropriate crime prevention tool. The Improvement Plan provides a route forward in this development.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
|
Cost Centre 0614 |
Crime
and Disorder Council Budget |
Budget 2001-02 £ |
Budget 2002-03 £ |
|
Employees |
Gross pay, NI, Superannuation, Training, Expenses, Travel |
33,832 |
43,681 |
|
Premises |
One-off building works, renovation |
10,550 |
3,850 |
|
Supplies/Services |
Equipment, Stationery, Photocopying, Phones |
21,367 |
11,335 |
|
CCTV |
One-off expenditure |
18,000 |
0 |
|
Projects |
Grants, Community |
11,122 |
6,660 |
|
|
Total
controllable budget |
94,871 |
65,526 |
|
Cost Centre 0617:
Partnership Development Fund |
Amount £ |
|
|
Community Safety Development Day |
3,000 |
|
|
Mainstreaming Section 17 Training Day |
3,000 |
|
|
Refurbishment of new office accommodation |
8,200 |
|
|
Registering Domain name for the new crime and disorder web site |
100 |
|
|
Provide rural use of computers/information link |
4,800 |
|
|
Crime and Disorder Strategy 2002/5 document costs |
4,000 |
|
|
Publicity campaigns etc. |
5,691 |
|
|
|
Total budget |
28,791 |
|
Cost Centre 0619:
Communities Against Drugs |
Amount £ |
|
|
Disruption to drugs initiative |
42,054 |
|
|
Test purchase initiative |
10,000 |
|
|
Neighbourhood/Community Warden Scheme |
18,000 |
|
|
Anti-Social Behaviour Administration Support |
8,000 |
|
|
Shopwatch |
5,346 |
|
|
|
Total budget |
83,400 |
Funding under cost centre 0617 - Partnership Development Funding and under cost centre 0619 – Communities Against Drugs is from the Government Office for the South East and has strict criteria for what it can be used for. Each year, submissions are made to the Government Office for the South East detailing what the funding will be used for and if appropriate funding is given.
As detailed above no funding has been identified to enable the Council to apply for an Anti-Social Behaviour Order. Cost vary around the country form £20,000 per Order to £4,000 per Order. It is likely that the costs on the Island will be approximately £4,000 each. This cost will primarily be Court costs and legal fees. The evidence gathering costs, which tend to make up the bulk costs is being met through existing resources within the Police.
LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
The Local Authority has a statutory duty to work with the Police to reduce crime and disorder under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. The Local Authority under Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act must also consider the crime and disorder implications in carrying out its various functions and when making decisions. This Best Value Review outlines ways in which the Council can deliver this duty.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1.
That the Select Committee approve the Crime and Disorder Best Value
Review
2.
That the Select Committee endorse the Improvement Plan.
3.
That the Select Committee consider the resources required to obtaining
Anti-Social Behaviours Orders and recommend that the Resources Select Committee
identify a sum of £8,000 to enable the Council to instigate two Orders during
the next financial year.
Crime and Disorder Act 1998
Best Value Review File
Best Value Review Toolkit
Contact Point : , F
Niki Haytack, Community Safety Manager
Tel. No. 01983
822696
A KAYE
Head of Paid Service