The Assistant Director for Counter Fraud, Enforcement and Community Safety presented the Annual Report of Thurrock’s Community Safety Partnership.   The committee were provided with a summary of the statutory assessment produced annually to highlight areas of risk and vulnerabilities, the rationale of determining the priorities for the year 24/25 and summarised TCSP’s plans for the year to respond to these priorities.

Members were invited to attend the Prevent Training and were encouraged to contact the Community Safety Partnership Manager to obtain details of the Training Programme.

The following key points were highlighted by members:

• Members noted there was no mention of drug dealing in the performance data, which it was believed was a widespread problem across the Borough and queried why this was not in the top 5 priorities. It was highlighted that the data regarding drug dealing was included on page 56 of the report, but the priorities were set by Essex Police and could not be amended.

• Members noted within the report it detailed Operation Sacred carried out regular visits to all faith groups.  Members enquired whether they should be more aware of this Operation in order to embed the message into the community to help reduce hate crime.

Action Point the Assistant Director would liaise with the community safety manager who would arrange for the details of any ward visits to be communicated to ward members.

• Members noted from the data provided, theft of a motor vehicle had increased significantly, and it was felt this should be a focus for the police as it was a growing concern.  The Assistant Director noted the concerns, however, advised that the partnership does not have too much involvement with this level of crime and therefore advised that councillors and residents alike should report all incidents to Essex Police in order that they could be included in data statistics.  

• Members noted that the data showed that there had been a decrease in the level of crime within the Borough but also noted there had been a decrease in residents who had confidence in the police.  Does the Assistant Director think there was a link, whereby due to lack of confidence, residents were not reporting crimes.  The Assistant Director urged councillors and residents to report all crimes in order that data could be officially recorded and collated.  It was acknowledged the CSP does attend a large number of events throughout the Borough and promotes reporting crime.

• Members raised concerns around increased crime at lakeside. 

Action Point the Assistant Director would raise the concerns of the Members at the next meeting of the CSP, which lakeside management attend.

• Members noted in the Report that CCTV improvements were unable to be made due to funding and insufficient data to support.  It was queried why was there insufficient data.

Action Point the Assistant Director will take this point away and will provide further information regarding funding of CCTV and will obtain and provide the members with detailed statistics and data.

RESOLVED:

1.               Members commented on the Annual Report of Thurrock’s Community Safety Partnership.

2.              Members confirmed they were satisfied that the Local Authority is discharging their functions in relation to their statutory duties that the Community Safety Partnership takes a lead on.