North Yorkshire Community Safety Partnership
September 2023
1.0 Purpose of this Report
1.1 To update on the partnership working around the priority areas agreed by North Yorkshire Community Safety Partnership. The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 places a statutory duty on local authorities to create multi-agency partnerships to tackle crime, disorder, anti-social behaviour, substance misuse, and other behaviour adversely affecting the local environment and to reduce re-offending. The world of community safety continually changes and despite significant organisational change, the need for partners to work together is essential.
1.2 The Strategic Plan 2022-24 aims to identify the national and local influences that affect the agreed multi-agency priority areas for delivery. The local partnership arrangements for delivery will be reviewed during this period, with a new strategy to be planned for 2024.
1.3 North Yorkshire Community Safety Partnership has agreed the following priority areas for delivery.
· Partnership development (links across safeguarding)
· Community safety hubs
· Domestic abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)
· Early intervention and prevention (Serious and Organised Crime)
· Hate crime and community cohesion.
1.4 Local CONTEST arrangements (UK’s counter terrorism strategy) sit within a separate governance structure to the Community Safety Partnership.
1.5 The last update provided a generic overview of the multi-agency partnership, with consideration to local and national influences. This report intends to provide further detail regarding the key priorities of the multi-agency arrangements, including local context and performance. All the priorities are overseen by multi-agency partnerships that report directly to the Community Safety Partnership. Each partnership has specific datasets and action plans that aim to address areas for action, this may be via commissioning interventions, scrutinising individual partner’s action, including ‘enforcement’, engagement with specific cohorts and communities, communication campaigns and multi-agency training.
2.0 Community Safety Hubs
2.1 Local community safety hubs work together to
· Protect their local communities from crime and disorder, and help people feel safer
· Deal with local issues such as anti-social behaviour, drug, or alcohol misuse, reoffending and crime prevention; and
· Assess local crime and disorder priorities and consult partners and local communities about how to deal with them.
2.2 There are currently 7 community safety hubs across North Yorkshire, on the previous borough and district council boundaries. Differing arrangements exist locally regarding resourcing and co-location of agencies. Currently North Yorkshire Police contribute to the administration roles and each of the hubs receives a small amount of funding from the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner. The Head of Service (Community Safety and CCTV) has recently been confirmed and will undertake a wide review of all community safety and CCTV structures and arrangements.
2.3 The Hubs have a wide range of partnerships and forums these include
· REACH/ SAFE (Scarborough/ Harrogate identifying and support individuals facing exclusion/ homelessness)
· Daily briefing meetings with partners
· MAPS (Multi-Agency Problem Solving) these are mainly around individuals, but Ryedale undertake a wider community-based approach
· Focused interventions, including diversionary activities for young people
· Hate crime forums
· Anti-social behaviour tactical groups
· A wide range of local and community engagement events.
2.4 To enable effective case management, the same system is used by all the Hubs, Orcuma. This can be accessed by both local authorities and policing colleagues. In reviewing and ensuring a more consistent approach and management, the consistent use of Orcuma and effective analysis and action around the outputs will be key and will be considered in the review of arrangements.
3.0 Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)
3.1 This update focuses on local domestic abuse arrangements. The previous report had some focus of the partnership’s involvement in the wider Violence Against Women and Girls strategy, led by the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner. The Domestic Abuse Act 2021, for the first time, created a statutory definition of domestic abuse. Domestic abuse is defined as
“Any incident or patterns of incidents of controlling or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality.”
3.2 Section 1 of the Domestic Act 2021 provides greater detail on behaviour which constitutes domestic abuse. The Act specifies the following as types of abuse
a) Physical or sexual abuse
b) Violent or threatening behaviour
c) Controlling or coercive behaviour
d) Economic abuse
e) Psychological, emotional, or other abuse.
3.3 For the first time, it identifies that a child (a person under the age of 18 years), is for the purpose of the 2021 Act, recognised as a victim of domestic abuse if they see, hear, or experience the effects of the abuse.
3.4 Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 has placed a range of statutory duties on partners and partnerships, including the establishment of a multi-agency Partnership Board, which reports directly to North Yorkshire Community Safety Partnership. North Yorkshire’s Domestic Abuse Local Partnership Board has recently commissioned SafeLives (website Home | Safelives) to undertake an independent strategic needs assessment of domestic abuse across North Yorkshire and City of York. The findings and recommendations are influencing the new Domestic Abuse strategy which will be published by 2024.
3.5 We recognise that domestic abuse is widespread and persistently under-reported. Although data and statistics are helpful in giving an indication of how far-reaching domestic abuse is, reported incidents will be much lower than actual abuse levels and estimates may mask under-reporting within groups across the population.
3.6 Domestic Abuse Related Crimes (North Yorkshire)
|
|
2020/21 |
2021/22 |
2022/23 |
|
Q1 |
1420 |
1523 |
1573 |
|
Q2 |
1615 |
1660 |
1778 |
|
Q3 |
1424 |
1625 |
1501 |
|
Q4 |
1307 |
1538 |
1435 |
|
|
5766 |
6346 |
6387 |
3.7 North Yorkshire Council, City of York Council and the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire jointly commission the local specialist domestic abuse services, local victim support services, which consists of a community-based support service, refuge and safe accommodation service and a whole family approach service, all of which are currently provided by IDAS (website IDAS) and managed via a central hub referral point. IDAS also provides a Respect service, which utilises a Respect accredited programme to support young people displaying abusive behaviour towards their parents or family members. As part of the joint commissioning arrangements there is also the provision of an adult perpetrator service, which is a behaviour change intervention for perpetrators of domestic abuse, which is currently provided by Foundation (website +Choices - Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Programme - Foundation (foundationuk.org)).
3.8 The 2022/23 impact report provided by IDAS showed that they had received 9,739 referrals during this period, as well as receiving 17,012 helpline calls, an average of 1,418 per month. 80% of these referrals were support by the IDAS hub, which provides triage and short-term support for victims of domestic abuse, whilst 1,784 individuals were referred to the community-based service for longer term support. IDAS provided safe accommodation, either through refuge or dispersed units, to 164 adults and 97 children, as well as undertaking 8,389 safety plans across all their services during 2022/23. 210 adults and 132 children were supported through the whole family approach service, whilst 264 parents and 76 children were supported via the Respect service.
3.9 Foundation’s 2022/23 impact report highlighted successes of the behaviour change programme, which is delivered as part of a whole system approach and utilises dedicated victim liaison officers to work closely with IDAS and ensure a victim led approach that reduces risk to the victim. During the 2022/ 23 financial year Foundation supported 122 service users through the +Choices programme to address their behaviour, 75% of them evidenced reduced risk at the point of service exit.
3.10 In reviewing the findings from SafeLives and in developing the local Domestic Abuse Strategy the voice of victims and survivors has been key. Victims spoke positively about support received from IDAS, valuing effective communication, support, compassion, and flexible response from familiar, consistent, and knowledgeable professionals which was tailored to their needs. Many survivors were unaware that they were experiencing abuse and felt IDAS helped them to recognise the signs of abuse in a non-judgemental way. Additional needs and multiple disadvantage such as immigration, no recourse to public funds and disabilities create additional barriers to support for victims.
3.11 Alongside the joint commissioning of specific services there is a range of multi-agency arrangements relating to domestic abuse, which includes Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC)- where high-risk victims are identified, discussed and multi-agency action is taken, Multi Agency Tasking and Coordination (MATAC)- with a focus on high-risk perpetrators.
3.12 Several surveys were undertaken by SafeLives, including surveys aimed at local professionals. 82% of professional survey respondents felt the MARAC “greatly or somewhat” improved the safety of victims. 96% of respondents felt the MARAC “greatly or somewhat” improved the safety of children.
3.13 A specific MARAC/ MATAC steering group has been established, to ensure that the multi-agency arrangements are effective and robust, Escalation of concerns regarding irregular agency attendance and engagement, including representatives not always of sufficient seniority has been raised to the Community Safety Partnership and strategic oversight and action is being planned.
4.0 Early Intervention and Prevention (Serious and Organised Crime)- Serious Violence Duty
4.1 The Duty, introduced in January 2023 requires the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner to convene partners including North Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, Probation services, North Yorkshire Council, City of York Council and the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board to work together to prevent and reduce serious violence, that occurs in the area, develop a Strategic Needs Assessment (SNA) and implement a response strategy to address it.
4.2 Full national guidance has been published Serious Violence Duty - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) A multi-agency working group has been established, that reports directly to the Community Safety Partnership. The SNA and strategy must be shared with the Home Office by 31st January 2024.
4.3 The aims of the North Yorkshire and York responses to serious violence are
· To understand the extent of violence across North Yorkshire and York, through the analysis of characteristics, patterns of behaviour and the impact on the wider community
· To establish the risk factors that increase the likelihood of violence, and how these factors can be reduced through prevention, diversion, and early intervention
· To establish effective interventions in a variety of settings and monitor the impact on reducing serious violence these interventions produce.
4.4 The North Yorkshire and York definition of serious violence and associated SNA include a focus on the following crimes
· Homicide
· Violence with injury, including attempted murder, endangering life, and wounding with intent
· Domestic abuse
· Rape and sexual offences
· Weapon related violence, including weapons possession
· Arson endangering life.
4.5 In addition, the following areas of thematic interest will be considered within the wider profile
· Diversion, prevention, and early intervention
· Domestic abuse
· Violence against women and girls
· Young people
· Robbery, theft, and burglary
· Stalking and harassment (non-domestic)
· Drug related offences
· Offences against emergency workers
· Alcohol and substance misuse.
4.6 An initial SNA will be presented at the next working group, due to take place 6th September 2023.
5.0 Hate Crime and Community Cohesion
5.1 An Inclusive Communities Joint Coordination Group reviews hate crime incidents across North Yorkshire and York, this group reports directly to North Yorkshire Community Safety Partnership and Safer York Partnership.
5.2 For quarter 1 2023/ 24 there has been a slight decrease in reported hate crime, compared to the equivalent quarter 2022/ 23. There has been a rise in hate crime compared to the first three months of this year, however this is a recurring annual trend (transitioning towards summer, lighter nights, increased social activity etc.)
5.3 Race remains the dominant strand, there has been an increase in reports of hate crime in relation to sexual orientation. There has been a decrease in reports relating to disability and little movement for the remainder (transphobic, religion, misogyny, asylum seeker/ migrant worker, gypsy/ traveller, sex worker).
5.4 Over the last 12 months there has been a gradual decrease in reports of disability hate crime, during the annual Hate Crime Awareness Week (October) there will be a focus on raising awareness around disability hate crime.
5.5 There is ongoing work in creating a North Yorkshire ‘credibility’ framework to monitor community tensions more effectively in relation to anti minority activity. The term anti minority is used to refer to all forms of activism explicitly targeting one or more minority groups. It covers ideologically distinct groups ranging from ‘single issue groups’, such as those protesting against ‘Islamification’ (Britain First) through to the extreme right wing (National Front, National Action).
5.6 Several workshops with Community First Yorkshire are planned over the next few months to raise awareness around community tensions, hate crime and Prevent. The outcome of these workshops will influence and shape further work moving forward, such as increasing community intelligence, improving community messaging (both in and out of the community), providing support and awareness raising within our communities.
6.0 Prevent
6.1 Section 26 of the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 places a duty on certain specified authorities, including all local authorities, in the exercise of their functions to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.” A multi-agency Prevent Partnership Board has oversight and scrutiny of local arrangements.
6.2 The Home Office, via their Regional Prevent Advisers, complete an annual local assurance exercise. Ten benchmarks and a set of performance criteria are reviewed, using a scoring system based on a scale 1-5. A score of 3 against a benchmark indicates that the duty is being met, and a score of 4-5 indicates that the duty requirements are being exceeded. Arrangements for North Yorkshire scored 3 and above, findings were shared April 2023.
· Risk Assessment. The organisation has a local risk assessment process reviewed against the Counter Terrorism Local Profile (3)
· Multi-Agency Partnership Board. There is an effective multi-agency partnership board in place to oversee Prevent delivery in the area (4)
· Prevent Partnership Plan. The area has an agreed plan (4)
· Referral Pathways. There is an agreed process in place for the referral of those identified as being at risk of radicalisation (5)
· Channel Panel. There is a Channel Panel in place, meeting monthly, with representation from all relevant sectors. This is the statutory forum where individuals are identified, and a multi-agency action plan is developed. This is observed on a regular basis by Channel Panel Quality Assurance leads, again from the Home Office. This was not scored for this process
· Problem Solving Process. There is a Prevent problem solving process in place to disrupt radicalising influences (4)
· Training Plan. There is a training programme in place for relevant personnel (5)
· Venue Hire and IT Policies. There is a venue hire policy in place, to ensure that premises are not used by radicalising influences, and an effective IT policy in place to prevent the access of extremist materials by users of networks (3)
· Engagement Activity. There is engagement with a range of communities and civil society groups, both faith based and secular, to encourage an open and transparent dialogue on the Prevent duty (3)
· Communications. There is a Communications Plan in place to proactively communicate and increase transparency of the reality/ impact of Prevent work and support frontline staff and communities to understand what Prevent looks like in practice (3).
6.3 The feedback gives further detail regarding action that will support improvement. All has been incorporated within the multi-agency action plan and the Prevent Partnership Board will ensure action is undertaken.
7.0 Modern Slavery
7.1 Modern slavery is a serious crime being committed across the UK in which victims are exploited for someone else’s gain. It can take many forms including trafficking of people, forced labour and servitude. It is a hidden crime with the victims often unable to come forward and consequently reporting is partial and quantifying the number of victims is challenging.
7.2 Although currently it is not an identified priority of the Community Safety Partnership, it was agreed earlier this year that the Modern Slavery multi-agency partnership would report to the Community Safety Partnership, to ensure strategic oversight.
7.3 The partnership reviews several data sources
· National Referral Mechanism (NRM) submissions must be submitted if a ‘first responder’ encounters an individual that they reasonably believe may be a victim of Modern Slavery. NRM is important because it tells us how many potential victims have been identified and, in most cases, a NRM referral necessitates the recording and investigation of a crime under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 by the Police
· The partnership reviews local issues and potential sectors that may be more vulnerable.
8.0 Development of North Yorkshire Community Safety Partnership
8.1 Over the next few months there is significant partnership activity planned to improve arrangements, these include
· A review of the current priority areas for delivery, using strategic needs assessments and relevant data, including the Serious Violence Duty SNA, and the development of a new strategic plan
· Development of an effective performance framework that covers all the agreed priorities and statutory duties of the Community Safety Partnership
· Review of ‘performance’ and reporting ensuring that the ‘right’ information is being shared in a range of forums and partnership, for clear purpose and accountability, including the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Area Constituency Committees
· Review of community safety and CCTV arrangements, alongside relevant services, and directorates e.g., Localities, North Yorkshire Council.
9.0 Recommendations
9.1 For members to consider the content of the report and to identify any areas for clarity and potential future action.
9.2 For members to identify partnership priorities and duties, that can be a focus for future updates and reports to the committee.