Agenda item

Presentation by Head of Community Safety

 The Head of Community Safety gave a PowerPoint presentation (previously circulated) updating Members on the Community Safety Performance 2020/21.

The Cabinet Member with the Stronger Communities Portfolio introduced the presentation and in doing highlighted the strong partnership working in Darlington; that positive results had been seen over the last twelve months as a result of the work of the Community Safety Team; and that community safety was a priority area for continued investment.

Reference was made to the Council’s vision and Council Plan priorities 2020-2023; the Stronger Communities Portfolio vision and priorities 2020-2023; and the service objectives were outlined.

Members were advised of the role of the Community Safety team during the COVID-19 pandemic; and details were provided of the key headlines and figures for the Community Safety service areas.

In relation to civic enforcement, Members were advised that the Council had successfully completed the re-accreditation process for Purple Flag status and Darlington was identified as a national area of best practice; the Council along with Police and partner organisations continued to meet during the during pandemic to provide signposting for vulnerable people to various pathways for relevant support; and as a result of the work around begging and homelessness, the number of people on the streets had reduced from 20 people to five in a two year period.

Members were informed of the progress in relation to the Action Plan that had been developed as part of the Back Lanes Project, with 28 of the 48 actions completed; that enforcement officers were key in identifying areas of concern and reporting to street scene for swift action; and that a working group had been established to identify a number of actions to address dog fouling and to promote a safer and cleaner environment.

In relation to CCTV it was reported that the six deployable cameras in the town had resulted in a noticeable reduction in crime in their vicinity; that four additional CCTV units would be placed in Northgate and North Road following receipt of Home Office Funding; and a review of CCTV provision had commenced.

Members were advised of the key headlines in respect to Licensing; Trading Standards; and in relation to Private Sector Housing Members were informed of government funding received to introduce Warmer Homes 4 Programme; that £59k had been secured to undertake a Housing Stock Condition Survey; and funding had been secured to convert empty homes in the Northgate ward with eight units identified.

It was reported that a key focus area for Community Resilience and Engagement was CONTEST; in light of the transfer of statutory responsibilities from the Police to Local Authorities improved training would be provided to Members; and in relation to the Safer Streets Initiative, 32 properties in the Northgate and North Road wards had been target hardened, with 48 properties part completed. 

Details were provided of the crime and disorder figures for Darlington and the Town Centre. Between April to January 2021 all crime had decreased by 18 per cent in Darlington when compared to the same period in the previous year which equated to reduction of 1911 incidents; incidents were down 10 per cent, whilst antisocial behaviour had increased by 1 per cent; and for Darlington Town Centre all crime had reduced.

The Chief Inspector outlined the values and visions of Durham Constabulary; made reference to strong partnership working in Darlington; informed Members of the spike in dwelling burglaries seen at the beginning of the pandemic and detailed the actions taken to address this, resulting in a projected 12 per cent decrease when compared to the previous year. Details were also provided of police operations in place to respond to crime, antisocial behaviour, brothels and off-road motorcycles; and it was reported that 240 fixed penalty notices were issued in Darlington for breaches of covid restrictions.

Following questions in relation to fly tipping in back lanes and dog fouling, Members were advised that various preventative measures were in place to deliver on the Back Lanes Project Action Plan; a number of streets had been issued with Section 46 legal notices; additional dog waste bins had been introduced; and any reported incidents of dog fouling were investigated. Members requested figures for dog fouling prosecutions in Darlington.

Discussion ensued regarding reporting of incidents by residents; residents may be reluctant to report any issues via 101 due to the call queues, perceived lack of response to reports and unclear online reporting mechanism. The Chief Inspector advised Members that control room staffing levels had been affected by the pandemic; assured Members that every 101 call was logged; andPolice respond as quickly as possible to reported incidents where resources allow. Members and residents were encouraged to engage with Neighbourhood police teams; were assured that PCSO’s had been tasked to engage regularly with their Ward Councillors; and PCSO’s would continue to engage with young people through school visits and youth projects when restrictions allow.

Discussion ensued on drones, of which there were two trained officers in place to operate Darlington’s drone; the increase in dwelling burglaries in Darlington; and following a question in relation to empty properties, Members were assured that the Housing Stock Condition Survey would help to identify empty homes.

Following a question, Members were advised that there had been 19 reported dog thefts across County Durham and Darlington in the last year, with 8 of those in Darlington; that this was a pandemic crime resulting from an increase in demand and price of dogs; and details were provided of the actions in place to address dog theft in the town.

RESOLVED – (a) That the thanks of this Scrutiny Committee be extended to the Head of Community Safety for his informative and interesting presentation.

(b) That the Community Safety Performance 2020/21 presentation be shared with all Members.

(c) That Members be provided with figures for dog fouling prosecutions in Darlington.

(d) That Members be provided with figures for empty properties in Darlington