Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

This item consists of information to support scrutiny committees provide oversight of work of the Safer Stockport Partnership.  It includes a presentation outlining key performance trends, the proposed SSP priorities for 2016/17 and recently agreed changes to governance arrangements for the Partnership. 

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to

·                Consider the proposed themes for the 2016/17 SSP Plan set out in Section 3;

·                Note the proposed governance arrangements for the SSP set out in section 4;

·                Comment on key data trends and information within the presentation.

Officer contact: Steve Skelton, 0161 474 31714, steve.skelton@stockport.gov.uk

A report of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the proposed changes to governance arrangements for the Safer Stockport Partnership.

The Scrutiny Committee received a presentation from Superintendent Jo Rogerson and Steve Skelton outlining key performance trends in 2015/16 and priorities for 2016/17.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Concerns were raised about support for about male victims of domestic abuse and the long term mental health implications for victims. Partners had worked hard to raise the profile of this issue and encourage reporting, although it was acknowledged there was more work to do. The recent recommissioning of domestic abuse support had required a gender neutral service, but this approach was a challenge for many providers given the traditional focus on women.

·         Clarification was sought on the new Police Response Team arrangements, and it was stated that the new approach to having response teams based in neighbourhood police stations would being in September, although this would be January 2017 in the case of Marple due to building works at the Police Station.

·         In relation to figures for children missing from care homes, clarification was sought on whether those with no reports were doing something better. In response it was stated that partners worked with care homes to address these issues, and some of the difference in figures related to the children who may be  considered ‘absent’ rather than ‘missing’. Some of the facilities may also cater for children with severe needs so they were unlikely to have children who could go ‘missing’.

·         It was commented opiate misusers often had more than one vulnerability, such as other drug/alcohol misuse, mental health problems, that could lead to additional risk and vulnerability in the community and agencies had not always been successful at addressing these multiple factors. In response it was stated that the work such as Stockport Family was an example of how working across organisations could provide better support for those with complex needs.

·         Further information was requested about Restorative Justice. In response it was stated that this was approach was well developed and well used in Stockport, working closely with the Magistrate Court to develop an appropriate pathway. The mediation was undertaken by trained volunteers, for a wide range of offences.

·         Concerns were expressed about how well partners were encouraging and providing opportunities for males, and young boys in particular, to report sexual abuse. It was acknowledge that Child Sexual Exploitation could take many forms, and that Operation Phoenix (a partnership between GMP and local councils) provided dedicated resources to address this issue, including outreach work with partners. It was further acknowledged that young people often did not want to talk to Police Officers in the first instance.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and that Supt. Rogerson and Steve Skelton be thanked for their attendance and presentation.