Agenda and minutes

Members to note any apologies and substitutions.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Brendan Glynane and  Dennis Meredith and Chief Inspector Max Williams, co-optee to the Panel.

The Chairman welcomed the two co-optees, Sharon Henley and Neil Bartholomey to the Panel and thanked them for their participation in the review.

Members to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 2^nd May 2012 (Copy attached).

The minutes of the meeting held on 2^nd May 2012 were approved and signed by the Chairman.

The Chair to note public address requests.

The public can speak on any agenda item for a maximum of three minutes per speaker per item. You are not required to register your intention to speak in advance but should arrive at the meeting a few minutes early, complete a Public Address Protocol and notify the Scrutiny Officer of your intention to speak.

                            There were none.

Members to state any interests.

There were none.

The Scrutiny Panel to consider data on:

        Context:

Local statistics

Demographics – local

Benchmarking data from comparable Local Authorities

·        Baseline data:

National crime statistics

Local crime statistics

The Panel considered a series of data based on: -

·        Performance Data by Crime Group

·        2011/12 Performance Data by crime type

·        2011/12 Performance Data by sector

·        2011/12 Hotspot location performance data by priority wards

·        Most similar CSP Comparative Performance

·        Cross County Comparative Performance.

The Panel were reminded that they needed to focus their attention on what Northampton Borough Council has influence over and what they have done or can do to improve the crime statistics.

The main points of discussion were as follows: -

Performance Data by Crime Group

There are 4 main types of serious acquisitive crime. These are: -

·        Burglary from Dwelling

·        Theft from vehicles

·        Theft of vehicles

·        Robbery

Since 2008/9 there has been a decline for all four types of crime. In 2011/12 however, there are increases in all categories apart from burglary of a dwelling.

Theft from vehicles has increased the largest amount; there had been a particular spike in October/ November 2012. There would be further work done to see if there were any correlations in where a car was parked, type of car etc. There are obviously many factors that could influence this.

Statistics on a year by year basis are on the old ward basis. Obviously these were no longer the existing boundaries.

Members of the Panel were eager to learn whether there had been any initiatives or campaigns in areas where there had been improvements.

In all areas of crime the statistics can obviously only be based on reported crime.

Cross County Comparative Performance.

Community Safety Partnerships are placed in groups of fifteen .The groupings are defined by the Home Office as having enough similar characteristics to allow reasonable comparison of their performance, this is known as the most similar Group.

For serious acquisitive crime then Northampton is very much on the average of the Group. The number of crimes per thousand population at March 2012 Northampton was 16.447 against the group figure of 16.451.

Northampton was below in numbers of domestic burglary at 12.739 as opposed to 14.707 and theft from vehicle at 7 rather than 7.108. It was higher in robbery at 1.772 as opposed to 1.631 and theft of vehicle 2.343 as opposed to 1.856.

Theft from vehicles had been decreasing but has been showing a steady increase since March 2011.

Members were keen to emphasise that even small increases meant that more people had been victims of crime and suffered as a result.

Members questioned whether there was any evidence that the switching off of streetlights had had an effect on the amount of street crime committed. It was thought that there had been some work done by the County Council, which was not in the public domain, but which had been inconclusive.

It was generally agreed that it would be useful if there could be further detailed analysis on the data, for example what time of day crimes occurred.

Violent Crime

 Figures for violence resulting in injury have remained consistent whereas violence without injury has increased. Numbers  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Scrutiny Panel to consider a briefing note suggesting potential site visits.

The Panel considered a report on potential site visits.

It was considered that it would be useful to make a visit to an area where there were currently problems and also where work had been carried out to try and make improvements. The visits would concentrate on “hotspots” and be focusing on environmental improvements.

It was agreed that a visit be made to Spencer ward, where there are current issues and Spring Boroughs and Belling. Sharon Henley was involved in the improvement works when they were carried out in Bellinge.

AGREED:

1 That the Scrutiny Officer, in consultation with the Crime Prevention Manager, Northants Police and Panel members arrange site visits in Spencer, Bellinge and Spring Boroughs wards.

2. A report back on the findings of the site visits be presented to a future meeting of the Panel.

The Scrutiny Panel to approve the Equality Impact Assessment for this Review.

The Panel considered the draft Equality Impact Assessment for this Scrutiny Review.

AGREED:

A full impact assessment is not required as any changes proposed as a result of the review will be impact assessed before implementation.