Agenda item

To receive a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Local Engagement), providing members with an annual update on the work of the Community Safety & CCTV service in the Harrogate and Knaresborough area.

The Committee received an annual update on Community Safety and CCTV services in the Harrogate and Knaresborough area, outlining delivery during 2025/26 and priorities for the year ahead.  The report highlighted the role of Community Safety Hubs as a coordinated partnership model bringing together the Council, Police and other agencies to address local issues through early intervention and problem-solving.  Key areas of activity included tackling anti-social behaviour in its various forms, the use of enforcement tools and legal powers, and preventative work through multi-agency engagement, particularly with young people.  The report also referenced the development of a countywide anti-social behaviour framework, increased information sharing between partners, and the use of measures such as warning notices, contracts, and property closures to address persistent issues, alongside the continued strategic oversight provided through the Community Safety Partnership.

In discussing the report, Members received a detailed update from Council officers and North Yorkshire Police representatives on community safety activity over the previous 12 months, including the operation of the Community Safety Hub and developments in CCTV provision.  It was outlined that the Hub continues to provide a coordinated partnership approach to tackling complex community safety issues, including anti-social behaviour, neighbour disputes and safeguarding concerns, working closely with housing, environmental protection and other services.  The Hub was described as focusing on more complex and higher-risk cases, with responses ranging from light-touch interventions to multi-agency support, mediation and referrals.  Particular reference was made to ongoing work in Harrogate town centre, including partnership engagement with local businesses, the BID and support organisations to address persistent anti-social behaviour, alongside targeted policing activity, the use of dispersal powers and improvements to CCTV coverage, including enhanced 360-degree camera provision to strengthen monitoring and evidential capability.

Members raised a number of questions in relation to operational delivery and local priorities.  Clarification was sought on the handling of neighbour disputes and the potential introduction of a Public Space Protection Order, with officers advising that such measures required a robust evidence base and that incident reporting was therefore essential.  Updates were also provided on public safety initiatives, including the installation of bleed kits across the area and the development of associated training packages for local businesses and community settings.  Police representatives outlined recent structural changes to neighbourhood policing, including increased investment in officer and PCSO numbers and a strengthened commitment to neighbourhood policing as a core function.  It was reported that anti-social behaviour had reduced overall, alongside improvements in the management of missing persons, and that there had been increased use of enforcement tools such as Criminal Behaviour Orders, Community Protection Notices and dispersal powers.

Further discussion focused on wider strategic issues, including serious and organised crime, child exploitation and county lines activity, with officers emphasising that this remained an active area of work supported by ongoing operations, intelligence-led policing and partnership approaches.  The importance of community intelligence and reporting through all available channels, including Crimestoppers and online platforms, was highlighted as critical to building an accurate understanding of local issues.  Members also raised concerns regarding lower-level nuisance matters, including traffic-related issues, anti-social driving and illegal sales, with officers confirming that these were monitored and addressed through coordination with relevant services, including trading standards and road safety teams.  The importance of continued engagement with communities to identify local priorities was emphasised, alongside the need to balance responsiveness to day-to-day concerns with the management of more complex and high-risk issues.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.