Steve Cox presented the report that updated Members on the increase of crime for the year 2016/17 when compared against the previous year with Thurrock having a lower crime rate per one thousand residents than our comparator community safety partnerships.

Members were referred to the three priorities that were identified by the partnership’s Strategy Assessment which would allow Thurrock to develop and plan the activities to address the priorities whilst providing value for money and intelligence led approach to community safety.

Councillor Jones stated that the Youth Offending Team was a fantastic group that concentrated on stopping youths from reoffending.

Councillor Collins asked Officers for the number of convictions of crime that had been reported. Officers would provide this information to Members.

Councillor Collins commented that the report could have provided Members with updated figures on the number of victims and who the perpetrators were.

Councillor Collins stated that the Safety Impact Assessment had made no provision to men and asked that this was looked into urgently.

Councillor Piccolo stated that as part of the safety partnership it was important to work with youth offenders on anti-social behaviour issues to prevent them becoming further involved in more serious crimes.

Steve Cox stated that the poor performance of the 101 telephone service had been raised with Essex Police and was confident that this issue was being addressed.

Councillor Jones asked that the Secretary of State be chased for a reply to a letter sent requesting an update on the poor 101 telephone service.

Councillor Piccolo stated that residents should be made aware and encouraged to use the on-line 101 service instead of the telephone service to report incidents. This would build up intelligence of events and residents would have an email receipt as proof of their incident being reported.

Steve Cox stated that residents should be encouraged to report any crime or anti-social behaviour so that intelligence of events could be formed and services being allocated appropriately.

Councillor Jones stated that elderly residents who had no on-line facilities would still be encouraged to use the 101 telephone service and not to be put off with the waiting times.

Councillor Jones commented that the crime performances need to be more accurate to include all information such as reported anti-social behaviour incidents.

RESOLVED

1.         That Overview and Scrutiny Committee note the performance of the Thurrock Community Safety Partnership for the year 2016/17.

2.         That Overview and Scrutiny committee support the three priorities of the Community Safety Partnership for the year 2017/18, which were:

i.          Reduce Youth offending and re-offending of adults and young people to address volume crimes of violent crime, both with and without injury and Domestic burglary.

ii.         To reduce harm to and safeguard vulnerable victims from: Domestic abuse, Sexual offences including rape, Child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSE), Gang related violence, Hate crime, Anti-social behaviour, Cyber bullying, Honour based abuse ie. forced marriage and female genital mutilation and Serious Organised Crime in relation to Modern day slavery & Human Trafficking.

iii.        Violent extremism (Prevent agenda).

3.         That Overview and Scrutiny committee note the links that have been made to support delivery of the PCC’s Priorities.