Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate & Support Services & Deputy Chief Executive.

This committee has a statutory responsibility to review and scrutinise community safety partnership activity and routinely receives an annual review and partnership update.  This focuses on the activity of the One Stockport Safety Partnership (OSSP) since committee approved the partnership’s 2022-2025 Plan in March 2022.  OSSP was previously known as the Safer Stockport Partnership – the new name was adopted by the partnership’s board in September 2022 to bring consistency to the names of all our key  strategic partnerships.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

a)    Consider the SSP 2022 Annual Update 2020/21 presentation.

b)    Note the priorities within each of the three themes in OSSP’s 2022/23 delivery plan.

c)    Note the proposed actions within the Safer Streets initiative

d)    Provide any comments or reflections on the issues covered in the presentation.

e)    Consider and comment on content and format of future Scrutiny updates (including performance information) and timing of the updates.

Officer contact: Karishma Chandaria at: karishma.chandaria@stockport.gov.uk

Michael Cullen (Deputy Chief Executive) and Chief Superintendent John Webster (Greater Manchester Police) attended the meeting and made a presentation providing an update on the activity of the One Stockport Safety Partnership since committee approved the partnership’s 2022-2025 Plan in March 2022. 

The Cabinet Member for Communities & Housing (Councillor Helen Foster-Grime) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         A large proportion of reports of anti-social behaviour actually relate to young men on the streets who are not necessarily committing criminal offences, but are perceived by the wider community as being troubling.  This was particularly the case during the winter months when it became darker, earlier.

·         Following the neighbourhood response review undertaken by Greater Manchester Police, work was taking place to move to a dedicated neighbourhood policing response to address such issues of anti-social behaviour.

·         An efficient neighbourhood response was recognised as being vitally important in effectively tackling issues of anti-social behaviour.

·         It was proposed that there would be three dedicated neighbourhood teams, each led by an inspector with three sergeants, between 12-14 constables and a further 12-14 PCSOs. 

·         With regard to the misuse of off-road bikes, it was stated that the police would not routinely chase offenders due the significant level of risk involved.  As a result, it was important that where there was any intelligence in relation to where these bikes were stored, that this information was passed along to the police so that the nuisance could be prevented from happening in the first place.

·         The detection rate for burglary had risen from less than 2% 12 months ago, to 16.7 in October as a result of investment in the neighbourhood crime team.

·         Where appropriate, restorative justice was being used for minors as an alternative to criminal prosecution.

·         A significant amount of preventative work had taken place around Halloween and bonfire night which had successfully reduced the level of anti-social behaviour and the challenges that had faced the police last year.  Further detail was requested in relation to the statistical data on reported incidents which it was agreed would be circulated to members separately.

·         The significant amount of work that had taken place to improve the call handling process for 111 non-emergency calls was welcomed.  It was noted that calls to 111 were now answered more quickly than 999 emergency calls were 12 months ago.

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate & Support Services & Deputy Chief Executive.

This committee has a statutory responsibility to review and scrutinise community safety partnership activity and routinely receives an annual review and partnership update.  This focuses on the activity of the One Stockport Safety Partnership (OSSP) since committee approved the partnership’s 2022-2025 Plan in March 2022.  OSSP was previously known as the Safer Stockport Partnership – the new name was adopted by the partnership’s board in September 2022 to bring consistency to the names of all our key  strategic partnerships.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

a)    Consider the SSP 2022 Annual Update 2020/21 presentation.

b)    Note the priorities within each of the three themes in OSSP’s 2022/23 delivery plan.

c)    Note the proposed actions within the Safer Streets initiative

d)    Provide any comments or reflections on the issues covered in the presentation.

e)    Consider and comment on content and format of future Scrutiny updates (including performance information) and timing of the updates.

Officer contact: Karishma Chandaria at: karishma.chandaria@stockport.gov.uk

The Scrutiny Committee was advised that a representative of Greater Manchester Police was unable to attend this meeting of the Scrutiny Committee to support the discussion on this item due to ill-health. 

RESOLVED – That consideration of this item be deferred to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee pending the attendance of a representative of Greater Manchester Police.