Community Safety Responsibilities

Transcription

1 East Sussex County Council Community Safety Responsibilities A Guide for Staff Page 1 of 22

2 Contents: Page.3 - Introduction Page.4 - Section 1: National context 1.1 Definition of community safety 1.2 Crime and Disorder Act 1998 a) Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships b) Section 17: Mainstreaming Community Safety c) Youth Offending Teams d) Crime and Disorder Act Review 2006 Page.6 - Section 2: Local Context 2.1 East Sussex County Council Vision 2.2 Community Services Policy Steer Page.7 - Section 3: Local Delivery: Partnership Work 3.1 East Sussex Safer Communities Partnership 3.2 Drug and Alcohol Action Team 3.3 Youth Offending Team 3.4 East Sussex Local Safeguarding Children s Board 3.5 Children and Young People s Trust 3.6 Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults 3.7 Road Safety Partnership 3.8 Community Safety Partnership in East Sussex 3.9 The East Sussex Safer Communities Agreement 3.10 East Sussex Local Strategic Partnership Page.10 - Section 4: Local Delivery: Implementing Section Role of East Sussex County Council 4.2 Role of Officers and Elected Members Page.11 - Section 5: Section 17 in Practice 5.1 Community Safety Checklist 5.2 Case studies Children s Services Governance and Community Services Transport and Environment Adult Social Care 5.3 Directorate functions impacting on crime and actions Page.19 - More information and useful contacts Page.20 - Appendix 1 Drug and Alcohol Team Structure Chart Page.21 - Appendix 2 Safer Communities Partnership Structure Chart Page.22 - Appendix 3 East Sussex Community Safety Agreement Priorities for Partnership Working Page 2 of 22

3 Introduction Councillor Bob Tidy Lead Member for Community Services, Community Safety Community Safety remains one of the top priorities for the people of East Sussex. We will continue to work as part of the East Sussex Safer Communities Partnership to keep East Sussex a safe place for residents and visitors. The Safer Communities Team has produced this guide to help East Sussex County Council meet the requirements of the Crime and Disorder Act Some of this information will apply to you in your role and some may apply only to your manager. It fulfils the purpose of: introducing county council partnership work to deliver community safety introducing the Local Authority duty to consider community safety in all of its work; showing staff how they play a part in helping East Sussex County Council to fulfil that duty If you have any suggestions for future work or specific projects please let me know. My address is Cllr.Bob.Tidy@eastsussex.gov.uk (tel ) or contact the Safer Communities Team directly. Safer Communities Team safercommunities@eastsussex.gov.uk St Marys House 52 St Leonards Road ESCC web pages Eastbourne BN21 3UU Tel Councillor Bob Tidy Lead member for Community Services Page 3 of 22

4 Section 1: National context In this section: 1.1 Definition of community safety 1.2 Crime and Disorder Act 1998 a) Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships b) Section 17: Mainstreaming Community Safety c) Youth Offending Teams d) Crime and Disorder Act Review What do we mean by Community Safety? There are many different definitions used to describe what is meant by community safety. The following definition provides a good overview: preventing, reducing or containing the social, environmental and intimidation factors which affect people s right to live without fear of crime and which impact upon their quality of life. It includes preventative measures that contribute to crime reduction and tackle anti-social behaviour. (Northern Ireland Community Safety Unit Website) 1.2 Crime and Disorder Act 1998 The Crime and Disorder Act is the key piece of legislation for community safety because it brought both Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) and Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) into being. The purpose of the Act is to tackle crime, disorder, anti-social behaviour and substance misuse to help create safer communities. The principles reflected in the act that concern the County Council are: the police and the local authority - with the whole community - must establish a local partnership to cut crime AND develop a partnership plan based on analysis of local data setting out how the partnership will tackle crime, disorder, anti-social behaviour and substance misuse (Section 5); local authorities and other public bodies must consider the crime and disorder implications in all their decisions (Section 17); and local authorities with social services and educational responsibilities must establish Youth Offending Teams (Section 39). 1.2 a) Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships/ Community Safety Partnerships The Crime & Disorder Act 1998 established Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs). The Act placed a new obligation upon the Police and local authorities together with Police Authorities, Primary Care Trusts and the Fire and Rescue Service to work in partnership with other agencies, to develop and Page 4 of 22

5 implement strategies for tackling crime and disorder at a local level. From the 1 st March 2010 the Government began using the term Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) to refer to CDRPs, across England and Wales. 1.2b) Section 17: Mainstreaming Community Safety The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 requires local authorities to consider crime and disorder reduction in the exercise of all their duties. According to Home Office guidance, Section 17 means that: each local authority (should) take account of the community safety dimension in all of its work. All policies, strategies, plans and budgets will need to be considered from the standpoint of their potential contribution to the reduction of crime, disorder, antisocial behaviour and substance misuse. The Review of the Crime and Disorder Act in 2006 widened Section 17 responsibilities to include the consideration of anti-social behaviour and substance misuse in addition to crime and disorder. The Policing and Crime Act 2009 extended Section 17 again to include reducing re-offending (from April 2010). 1.2c) Youth Offending Teams The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 requires local authorities with social services and educational responsibilities to form Youth Offending Teams in cooperation with the police, area probation committee and health authority. In East Sussex the Youth Offending Team brings together workers from Children s Services, Sussex Police, Sussex Probation Area, the NHS and voluntary sector to prevent children and young people aged years from offending. 1.2d) Crime and Disorder Act Review 2006 The Crime and Disorder Act review changed the structure of partnership working in East Sussex as it required the splitting of the strategic and operational decision making responsibilities of CDRPs with the former sitting at county level. In practice this will mean that the responsibility will sit with the LSP at the county level in two-tier areas. This is to allow appropriate strategic links to be made with all key players including the Local Criminal Justice Board, Drug and Alcohol Team, Youth Offending Team and relevant health service structures. As a result of this change the Safer Communities Steering Group was established (please see section 3.1 for further information) Page 5 of 22

6 Section 2: Local Context In this section: 2.1 East Sussex County Council Vision 2.2 Community Services Policy Steer 2.1 East Sussex County Council Vision Our Promise We will, in partnership, make the best use of resources to: help make East Sussex prosperous and safe support the most vulnerable people improve and develop roads and infrastructure encourage personal and community responsibility deliver the lowest possible council tax be a voice for East Sussex, listening and answering to local people. 2.2 Policy Steers One of East Sussex County Council Policy Steers is to: Provide the strategic leadership required across the county to ensure that continued improvements in the full range of the community safety agenda are maintained through the spending reductions and organisational changes over the next 3 years. Page 6 of 22

7 Section 3: Local Delivery: Partnership Work In this section: 3.1 East Sussex Safer Communities Partnership 3.2 East Sussex Drug and Alcohol Action Team 3.3 East Sussex Youth Offending Team 3.4 East Sussex Local Safeguarding Children s Board 3.5 East Sussex Children and Young People s Trust 3.6 Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults 3.7 The Road Safety Partnership 3.8 Crime Safety Partnerships 3.9 The East Sussex Safer Communities Agreement 3.10 East Sussex Local Strategic Partnership 3.1 The East Sussex Safer Communities Partnership The partnership involves a range of agencies that are all committed to making sure East Sussex remains safe for residents and visitors. The partners include: Sussex Police, Sussex and Surrey Probation Trust, East Sussex Downs and Weald, and Hastings and Rother Primary Care Trust, East Sussex County Council, District and Borough Councils, Community Safety Partnerships, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, Sussex Criminal Justice Board, Her Majesty s Court service. The partnership works at a strategic level and coordinates the delivery of county-wide initiatives to tackle crime, disorder, anti-social behaviour and substance misuse. The County Council is a key member of the partnership and currently chairs the East Sussex Safer Communities Partnership Steering Group. The Safer Communities Partnership has recently undergone a review process of its structure and purpose. As a result a number of changes to the way the structure and work of the partnership began to be implemented during 2011/ East Sussex Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) The East Sussex DAAT brings together representatives of all the local agencies involved in tackling the misuse of drugs and alcohol including Primary Care Trusts, Local Authorities, Police, Probation, Adult Social Care, Children s Services, Prison Services and the voluntary sector. It works closely with East Sussex County Council services to deliver their aims, especially relating to young people, treatment provision and re-integrating drug users into the community. Page 7 of 22

8 3.3 East Sussex Youth Offending Team The Youth Offending Team (YOT) sits within East Sussex County Council s Children s Services, Targeted Youth Support (TYS) Team. It undertakes targeted work to prevent children and young people aged from offending. It works closely with a range of statutory, voluntary and community bodies to deliver youth justice services, including suitable programmes that aim to prevent further offending. In East Sussex the YOT Partnership is made up of Sussex Probation Trust, Sussex Police, East Sussex County Council and the NHS. 3.4 The East Sussex Local Safeguarding Children s Board (LSCB) The East Sussex Local Safeguarding Children s Board works to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. The LSCB is responsible for monitoring and reporting on how well services and organisations keep children and young people safe in the county. 3.5 The Children and Young People s Trust (CYPT) The Children and Young People s Trust has the aim to improve the overall well-being of all children in the local area. It brings together a group of organisations who work closely together to improve the support available to children, young people and their families in East Sussex. 3.6 East Sussex Safeguarding Adults Board The East Sussex Safeguarding Adults Board aims to achieve effective and consistent multi-agency working to ensure that all safeguarding adults work is effective, responsive and co-ordinated. 3.7 The Road Safety Partnerships There are two strategic groups that work to improve road safety in East Sussex, the pan-sussex Safer Roads Partnership and the East Sussex Causality Reduction Board. 3.8 Community Safety Partnerships in East Sussex East Sussex has five Community Safety Partnerships that help deliver initiatives to tackle crime, disorder, anti-social behaviour and substance misuse at a district and borough level. Page 8 of 22

9 3.9 The East Sussex Community Safety Agreement Purpose of the Community Safety Agreement The Community Safety Agreement sets out how partners in East Sussex will work together to address Crime, Disorder, Anti-Social Behaviour and Substance Misuse. The purpose of the Agreement is to develop a more joined-up approach to public service delivery and to ensure sustainable and lasting improvements in delivering outcomes The Community Safety Agreement is informed by a Countywide Strategic Assessment of the long term Crime, Disorder, Anti-Social Behaviour and Substance Misuse issues facing East Sussex. This includes the findings of local community safety consultation It identifies both the priorities for East Sussex and for individual district and borough Community Safety Partnerships. It also identifies: i) ways of coordinating across the county to address priorities; and ii) how the responsible authorities contribute to reducing crime disorder and substance misuse through closer joint working across the county The Community Safety Agreement also identifies links to other local partnerships which can assist with the delivery of partnership targets to reduce crime, disorder, re-offending, anti-social behaviour, substance misuse and the fear of crime across East Sussex Further detail of the work of the partners of the Safer Communities Steering Group is outlined in the action plans of the East Sussex Safer Communities Agreement In East Sussex local drug and alcohol strategies form part of the Safer Communities Agreement and Action Plans The Agreement will be refreshed in consultation with partners on an annual basis following the production of the East Sussex Strategic Assessment East Sussex Local Strategic Partnership East Sussex developed a sustainable community strategy in June It was agreed between the six local strategic partnerships (LSPs) and outlines a description of East Sussex, the place, as it is now and a vision of how we would want to see it in 20 years time. The key priorities evidenced as important to the people of East Sussex and needing to be improved or maintained are tackled through a shared action plan The strategic priority for 2026 relating to community safety is to build safe communities through targeted activity, particularly in high crime areas. The key tasks identified in the community strategy are updated following the Safer Communities Partnership s annual Strategic Intelligence Assessment. Page 9 of 22

10 Section 4: Local Delivery: Implementing Section 17 In this section: 4.1 Role of East Sussex County Council 4.2 Role of Officers 4.1 Role of the County Council The Council is committed to fulfilling our Section 17 responsibility to consider the reduction of crime, disorder, anti-social behaviour and substance misuse in all its work. Section 17 Champions have been identified in each Directorate to work together to raise awareness and address community safety with the support of the Safer Communities Team across East Sussex County Council. The County Council has undertaken a range of other initiatives to mainstream Community Safety: establishing a Safer Communities Team to ensure the County Council meets its responsibilities under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998; leading the development of the Safer Communities Agreement; working with Sussex Police and Community Safety Partnerships on the Partnership Strategic Assessment 4.2 The role of ESCC Officers Community Safety touches the work of most departments and service areas. Officers have a responsibility to consider how each service area can contribute to reducing crime, disorder, re-offending, anti-social behaviour and substance misuse addressing the social, community and physical drivers of crime and so enhancing quality of life for local communities. More information about what officers can do and the impact services have on community safety can be found in Section 5. Page 10 of 22

11 Section 5: Section 17 in Practice In this section: 5.1 Community Safety Checklist 5.2 Case studies Children s Services Governance and Community Services Transport and Environment Adult Social Care 5.3 Directorate functions impacting on crime and actions 5.1 Community Safety checklist: What you can do Key aim: Make community safety a key result area for all departments, managers and staff. Some of this information will apply to you in your role and some may apply only to your section manager. The following list is neither prescriptive nor exhaustive and will help you and your department to understand more clearly how you can fulfil the requirements of Section 17. Consider The fact that colleagues, members of staff and members of the public could be: Living with domestic abuse Affected by substance misuse issues Victims of bullying Experiencing hate crime (any incident perceived by the victim or any other as being motivated by prejudice or hate e.g. racist, homophobic, transphobic, faith related or disability) Suffering the affects of anti-social behaviour Report criminal activity Record incidents of vandalism, damage and graffiti on council property Report incidents of hate crime, domestic violence and substance misuse and refer victims for appropriate support Limit criminal opportunity Secure our premises and property against arson, burglary and vandalism Take steps to ensure personal safety of staff and clients Refer to Key ESCC Policies - Anti-fraud and Corruption - Dignity at work Page 11 of 22

12 - Drugs and alcohol in the workplace - Fire Safety Management - Reporting and Investigation of Incidents - Violence at work - Child/vulnerable adult protection - CRB policy statement - Government secure policy - Lone working policy - Violence at work corporate policy Key East Sussex strategic documents - Strategic Intelligence Assessment - Safer Communities Agreement - Children and Young Peoples Plan Inform staff and clients Incorporate Section 17 awareness into induction training Ensure staff are aware how their role contributes to safer communities Provide crime prevention training and advice to staff and vulnerable clients Disseminate Strategic Intelligence Assessment for use in service planning Keep up to date with current developments and initiatives* Local: ESCC Community Safety web pages Safer Communities Partnership Website East Sussex in Figures National: Home Office Website *see More Information Engage Represent your department at community safety forums when invited (e.g. Prevent and Deter Group, Joint Action Groups, Anti-Social Behaviour Groups) Develop knowledge through community safety and substance misuse training Participate in Community safety related consultations and events Promote crime prevention initiatives Consider the potential impact on crime, disorder, anti-social behaviour and substance misuse at each stage of the policy making cycle: Identifying issues Making decisions Allocating resources Developing and implementing strategies and plans Page 12 of 22

13 5.2 Case Studies On the following pages are some case studies of Community Safety initiatives that some of our county council departments are delivering. Children s Services: Equalities and Engagement The Equalities and Engagement Team in Children s Services recently investigated and evaluated racist incidents in schools: Children who had reported incidents were asked how they felt about the reporting process they went through, and about the follow up support they received. The team also interviewed parents and the schools who were involved, so that they could understand the bigger picture. The information collected will help to improve the service available to residents and helps to make sure that everybody has fair access to opportunities and services so that they can live safely. Action How to report Hate Crime? Hate crime can easily be reported and individuals and agencies should use the Hate Incident Reporting Form if: You are the victim You have witnessed an incident You know someone who was the victim of an incident (Link to Hate Crime Incident reporting form): If it s an emergency always call the Police on 999. What contribution could other directorates make? Transport and Environment: Joint working to address the issue of bullying/ hate crime on public transport Adult Social Care: Knowledge of referral pathways and reporting procedures for clients who have children experiencing bullying/ hate crime at school Governance and Community Services: Help develop strategic links between the Anti-bullying Strategy, Hate Crime reporting processes and other strategies/plans. Page 13 of 22

14 Governance and Community Services Trading Standards: Cold Calling The latest development to combat cold calling by rogue traders is the setting up of No Cold Calling Zones across East Sussex. Working with representatives of local communities such as Parish Councils these zones are promoted by local people with the support and guidance of Trading Standards. The feedback received has shown a decline in cold calling incidents in those areas and, more importantly, has empowered local residents to refuse to deal with cold calling traders. On-going programmes are in place with the Police to deal proactively with known offenders travelling through the region. What contributions could other directorates make? Transport and Environment: Road signage for No Cold Calling Zones Adult Social Care: Promotion of the service offered by Trading Standards to clients and social workers, particularly the Rapid Action Team, Buy With Confidence scheme and Scamnesty. Page 14 of 22

15 Chief Executive s: Promotion of the Buy With Confidence scheme and the services offered by Trading Transport Standards on the and website. Environment: Road Safety Team Our Road Safety Team in T&E is busy helping young people to stay safe by delivering local, fun activities that also teach some important road safety messages. Here s just a taster of what s been going on Young drivers from Rother and Hastings have had special driving education days, which taught them such things as: the consequences of going too fast; how attitude can affect driving behaviour; how to recognise and deal with hazards; and how to deal with peer pressure. Our cycle and pedestrian training has extended to include to secondary schools (previously we could only run the scheme in primary schools). And of course there s the Walking Bus : a line of children walking to school together in the morning, along an approved route, escorted by at least two, ESCC-trained, police-checked volunteer adults acting as 'driver' and 'conductor'. Pre-registered children join the 'bus' at set places along the way. Around 30 schools across the county have taken advantage of this initiative, which helps to reduce the number of school car journeys by providing a safe, supervised walking alternative. What contribution could other directorates make? Governance and Community Services: Work through the Safer Communities Partnership to co-ordinate Road Safety activity with a range of partners in East Sussex. Raise awareness of key road safety advice through relevant publicity. Children s Services: Raise awareness of road safety through PHSE within schools. Undertake joint work with the East Sussex County Council road safety team, Sussex Police and East Sussex Fire & Rescue service to promote road safety advice in schools and children s centres. Page 15 of 22

16 Adult Social Care: Abuse/neglect Our Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Team in Adult Social Care is a good example of how the work we undertake day-to-day also ties in with the work required of us by Section 17. The primary responsibility of this team is to safeguard vulnerable adults and within this, they raise awareness about abuse. The team provides information in various ways, such as magazine articles on the different sorts of abuse that can happen be it physical, discriminatory, sexual, psychological, financial or neglect. The idea is that, if more people understand and recognise abuse when they see it, then hopefully more people will know when to report it. Joined up working The Safeguarding Co-ordinators work closely with the Domestic Violence and Hate Crime leads in our Community Safety Team, and contribute to the wider East Sussex Safer Communities Partnership. For example, recently, the Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults team helped with a case where people with learning disabilities were regularly suffering abuse whilst waiting for a bus in a town centre in East Sussex. To address the problem, the Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults team worked with Sussex Police, private and voluntary sector housing providers, the NHS, education and representatives from the bus company. Action Do you know someone who is suffering abuse? If you wish to report a case of abuse, you can contact Social Care Direct on during office hours Monday to Friday or the Emergency Duty Service during evenings and weekends. Remember if it s an emergency always call the Police on 999. What contribution can other directorates make? Children s Services: Raising awareness of abuse through linking with PSHE lessons on Domestic Violence; Knowledge of referral pathways and reporting procedures for families of children who are living with abuse/neglect of vulnerable adults. Undertaking joint work and training on domestic violence. Governance and Community Services: Help develop strategic links between the Adult Social Care Plan and other strategies/plans; Trading Standards work to protect vulnerable adults from doorstep crime (see previous case study); work with Adult Protection when developing domestic violence services and strategic initiatives. Page 16 of 22

17 Corporate Resources: To raise and maintain awareness within the directorate and to ensure understanding of referral criteria and pathways. Transport and Environment: To raise and maintain awareness within the directorate of referral criteria and pathways. Page 17 of 22

18 5.3 Department Functions Impacting on Crime and Actions This is currently being updated. For more information please contact: Nicky Millward, Strategy & Partnership Officer, East Sussex Safer Communities Team ext or Page 18 of 22

19 More information Further information On-line training An Introduction to Community Safety (National Community Safety Network) *available from Websites Home Office website: ESCC Community safety web pages: East Sussex Safer Communities Partnership website: Publications East Sussex Safer Communities Agreement and Action Plans East Sussex Strategic Intelligence Assessment Support services for substance misusers and domestic violence victims and carers *all available from Reporting To report hate crime (domestic violence, racist, homophobic and faith related incidents, or those against travellers) visit: click on Community, then Community Safety and Emergency Planning and then Community Safety and look for Hate Crime and the Racist Incident Reporting Form. Short cut: Google East Sussex Hate Crime or, Safer Communities Team East Sussex County Council Community Safety Team: St Mary s, 52 St Leonards Road, Eastbourne BN21 3UU Acknowledgements We have developed this guide with reference to the following local authority Section 17 Handbooks: *Bexley Staff Handbook (based on the original Section 17 Staff Handbook produced by the London Borough of Haringey and Jane Charlton, Community Safety Consultant) *Kent County Council Handbook, Section 17: What it means to you. Page 19 of 22

20 Appendix 1 East Sussex Drug and Alcohol Action Team Structure Chart 2011/12 DAAT Board Chair: Becky Shaw (Chief Executive, ESCC) Harm Reduction Group Chair: Jason Mahoney (DAAT Joint Commissioning Manager, East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT) Young Peoples Performance Management Group Chair: Marcus Gomm (Safer Communities Manager, ESCC) Joint Commissioning Group Chair: Martin Packwood (Commissioner for Mental Health, East Sussex Downs & Weald PCT) User & Carer Involvement Steering Group Chair: Emma Jones (Business Development Officer, ESCC) Alcohol Group Chair: Robin Smith Chief Superintendent & Divisional Commander - East Sussex Division (Sussex Police) Reducing Supply Group Chair: Detective Superintendent Glenn Jones (Sussex Police) Treatment Performance Group Chair: Jason Mahoney (DAAT Joint Commissioning Manager, East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT) Page 20 of 22

21 Appendix 2 East Sussex Safer Communities Partnership Structure Chart 2011/12 Safer Communities Steering Group Chair: Councillor Bob Tidy (Lead Member for Community Services and E-Government, ESCC) East Sussex Casualty Reduction Board Resources and Performance Sub Group Chair: Kieran McNamara Assistant (Director Economy and Community Services ESCC) East Sussex Domestic Abuse Group Chair: Marcus Gomm (Safer Communities Manager, ESCC) Reducing Re- Offending Board Chair: Leighe Rogers (Director of Offender Management, Surrey and Sussex Probation Trust) Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Thematic Group Chair: Superintendent Stephen Barry, Sussex Police. County Communications Group Chair: Kevin Boorman, Hastings Borough Council MARAC Steering Group Chair: Ben Fitzpatrick (Violence and Hate Crime Manager, Safer Communities Team) and Fran Mitchell (Detective Page Inspector, 21 of 22 Sussex Police)

22 APPENDIX 4 - East Sussex Community Safety Agreement Priorities for Partnership Working 2010/11 Reduce the Harm Caused by Alcohol Reduce domestic abuse and the risked faced by those experiencing domestic abuse. Support more people to break the cycle of abuse. Reducing the harm caused by drugs Preventing and reducing re-offending Improving road safety Reduce the incidents and impact of anti-social behaviour (including where it is motivated by hate) on victims and communities in East Sussex Improving Communications and Perception of Community Safety Page 22 of 22