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About Scrutiny Panel Meetings.

Scrutiny Panel meetings are usually held in public. They give elected members not on the Cabinet an opportunity to examine, discuss and make recommendations about significant issues and decisions.

1.      Purpose/Objectives of the Review

·        To investigate, as a benchmark, Northampton's crime statistics in relation to serious acquisitive and violent crime

·        To identify `hotspots' in relation to serious acquisitive and violent crime

·        To identify the impact that serious acquisitive crime and violent crime has on the residents of Northampton

·        To identify the serious acquisitive crime and violent crime issues that Northampton Borough Council, in partnership with other Agencies, can have an impact upon

2.    Outcomes Required

·        To provide a research paper for 2013/2014 to the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) detailing outcomes and the Council’s priorities

·        To investigate what Northampton Borough Council services can do to add further value to effectively addressing serious acquisitive crime across the borough

·        To identify which services within the Council that could contribute to the reduction in serious acquisitive crime

·        To make recommendations for improvement, as appropriate

3.    Information Required

·        Context:

Local statistics

Demographics – local and national

Benchmarking data from comparable Local Authorities

·        Baseline data:

National crime statistics

Local crime statistics

·        Synopsis of various research documents and other published documents

·        Evidence from expert internal witnesses

·        Evidence from expert external witnesses

·        Evidence from ward Councillors

·        Best practice data

·        Site visits

·        Desktop research

4.    Format of Information

• Officer reports/presentations
• Baseline data such as:

Ø       Performance data  - National and Local Crime Statistics

 Identified `hotspots’

• Published reports (précis’s) such as:

Ø      Environmental audits

Ø      SAC Evaluation documents

Ø      Strategic Assessment 2011/2012

Ø      Community Safety Partnership Strategy 2012/2013

• NBC – Leader of the Council evidence
• Evidence from Julie Seddon, the Chair of Community Safety Partnership
• Evidence from Mark Evans, Laura Mayor, Crime Prevention Manager, Chief Inspector Fay Tennet, Northants Police
• Evidence from Deborah Presbury, IOM Team, Northants Probation
• Evidence from Neighbourhood Wardens
• Evidence from the Head of Offender Management Services, Northampton Prisons
  Evidence from Dawn Wintle, Accident and Emergency, Northampton General Hospital
• Evidence from Victim Support
• Evidence from the Northampton Youth Forum
• Evidence from the Police and Crime Commissioner
• Evidence from Housing Services, Northampton Borough Council
• Evidence from Neighbourhood Management, Northampton Borough Council
• Evidence from Lynn Chapman, Sunflower Centre
• Evidence from  ward Councillors
• Expert advice – Internal and external
• Best practice
• Witness interviews/evidence

5.    Methods Used to Gather Information

• Minutes of meetings
• Desktop research
• Site Visits (if applicable)
• Officer reports
• Presentations
• Examples of best practice
• Witness Evidence:-

Ø      Key witnesses  as detailed in section 4 of this scope

6.    Co-Options to the Review

·        Sharon Henley, Architectural Liaison Officer, Northants Police, to be approached suggesting that she is co opted to this Review for its life.

·        Neil Bartholomey, Chair, Northampton PubWatch, to be approached suggesting that he is co opted to this Review for its life.

7   Equality Impact Screening Assessment

• An Equality Impact Screening Assessment to be undertaken on the scope of the Review

8   Evidence gathering Timetable

May 2012 to April 2013

Various site visits will be programmed during this period if required.

Meetings to commence at 6.00 pm

7.    Responsible Officers

Lead Officer               Steve Elsey, Head of Public Protection

Co-ordinator              Tracy Tiff, Scrutiny Officer

8.         Resources and Budgets

Steve Elsey, Head of Public Protection, to provide internal advice.

9     Final report presented by:

Completed by 8 April 2013.  Presented by the Chair of the Panel to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and then to Cabinet.

10  Monitoring procedure:

Review the impact of the report after six months (December 2013)