Agenda item

6.1

The Committee received a presentation on the Safer and Sustainable Communities Partnership which was given by Maxine Stavrianakos (Head of Neighbourhood Intervention and Tenant Support), with additional comments from Chief Superintendent Shaun Morley (South Yorkshire Police). 

6.2

Also in attendance for this item was Councillor Jayne Dunn (Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety).

6.3

The presentation explained what the Sheffield Safer and Sustainable Communities Partnership (the Partnership) was and included performance comparisons, priorities, additional issues, information on the work of the Police and Crime Commissioner, the budget for Community Safety 2017/18, communications and the composition of the Anti-social Behaviour and Community Safety Team, as well as providing contact details.  Particular reference was made to reduction in re-offending, with offender management being seen as critical, and it was emphasised that, if the small cohort who committed crime could be effectively managed, then this would have a substantial effect on crime reduction.

6.4

Members made various comments and asked a number of questions, to which responses were provided as follows:-

·                Chief Superintendent Morley indicated that he would provide what information he could in terms of the ethnicity mix of offenders in the local neighbouring authorities and equivalent cities referred to in the presentation. 

·                If Members heard anecdotal evidence of criminality they should inform the Police.

·                There was not necessarily a link between gangs and youth, with the gangs in Sheffield being concerned with creating drug supply networks.  The Police were endeavouring to dismantle these networks and focus on the individuals involved.  The age profile of males involved in criminality was predominantly between 13 and 25 years.

·                It was acknowledged that more could be done in relation to hate crime and the appointment of a co-ordinator should improve this, but communications needed to be better.  Bids could be made to the Community Safety pot by groups involved in combating hate crime and details of any such applications would be circulated.

·                It was recognised that there was a group of males in the City that had grown up and become embedded in drug supply.  There was therefore a need to educate young people and gain the trust of the community to address these issues, and it was felt that neighbourhood working should assist in this process.  It would also assist in dealing with the link between drugs and slavery.

·                Hate crime was to be included on the agenda for the Committee’s next meeting.

·                Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) were not supplying the Police with relevant information in relation to offenders who were engaged in criminality and living in their properties.  Whilst the Partnership had only limited influence on RSLs, work was being undertaken on an approach to anti-social behaviour in Sheffield in conjunction with the Police.  It was also felt that RSLs needed to provide finance to fund the legal work with regard to the provision of the required information.

·                Good communications between the Police, Council Members and communities was imperative, and there was now a need to look at bespoke engagement strategies in communities and involve Council Members in any consultation on this.

·                There had been a South Yorkshire wide meeting with the Police and Crime Commissioner on reoffending and officers wanted to repeat this in relation to Sheffield.  There was a need to look at partnership working and scope out how reoffending rates could be affected, with consideration being given to such issues as the provision of rehousing for those coming out of prison.  It was known that the Probation Service were keen to get involved with the Council in acquiring properties for this purpose.

·                The South Yorkshire Police lead on offender management was Superintendent Paul McCurry.

6.5

RESOLVED: That the Committee:-

(a)       thanks Councillor Jayne Dunn (Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety), Chief Superintendent Shaun Morley (South Yorkshire Police) and Maxine Stavrianakos (Head of Neighbourhood Intervention and Tenant Support), for their contribution to the meeting;

(b)       notes the contents of the presentation, comments made and responses to questions;

(c)        supports Councillor Tony Downing (Cabinet Adviser for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety) in his examination of bespoke engagement strategies and requests that he involves the Committee in this process; and

(d)       requests that:-

(i)        Registered Social Landlords be encouraged to sign up to co-operating with the South Yorkshire Police and the Council in relation to the obtaining of Closure Orders where individuals living in their properties are engaged in criminality;

(ii)       Chief Superintendent Shaun Morley checks on the status of the Sport FX initiative and informs Maxine Stavrianakos of his findings; and

(iii)      the Safer and Sustainable Communities Partnership gives some consideration to the issue of reoffending.