Agenda item

Members received an update on the development of Community Safety Hubs across North Yorkshire. It was noted that the model of embedding Community Safety Hub Police Constables within the hubs had operated successfully in the Hambleton and Richmond areas and had since been extended across most of the county. Recruitment to the new structure was largely complete, with some outstanding arrangements on the coast.

 

A Joint Delivery Group had been established to drive the future development of Community Safety Hubs. The group comprised representatives from North Yorkshire Council and North Yorkshire Police, with plans to extend membership to wider partners and council departments. Its purpose was to promote best practice, innovation, consistency of service delivery, and effective responses to local needs.

 

Members were advised that a countywide Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Policy and Procedure had been approved, supported by staff training and a common operating framework. This was intended to improve consistency across former district areas while continuing to reflect local community needs.

 

Councillor Griffiths proposed and Councillor Foster seconded that a review of the CCTV service level agreement and charging framework, including consideration of whether North Yorkshire Police should assume responsibility for the service be undertaken. However, the motion was formally withdrawn after the Committee was informed that the CCTV service is undergoing a comprehensive strategic review. The review was examining the overall CCTV offer across North Yorkshire, including funding arrangements, service delivery models, service level agreements and the differing legacy arrangements inherited from former district councils.

 

Officers explained that CCTV was not a statutory service and represented a significant ongoing cost due to staffing, system maintenance and equipment replacement. Existing arrangements with North Yorkshire Police originated from agreements made with former district councils and involved financial contributions from the police towards the operation of CCTV control rooms.

 

Members were advised that North Yorkshire Council, as data controller, was required to operate a formal process for requests to access CCTV footage. This process was necessary for data protection compliance and the transition from DVD-based systems to digital evidence-sharing had significantly improved efficiency.

 

There was no North Yorkshire Council-operated public space CCTV provision in Richmond and therefore no associated charges to North Yorkshire Police for CCTV footage from that area. CCTV provision in Richmond was managed separately by Richmond Town Council, while CCTV within Catterick Garrison was operated by the Ministry of Defence.

 

Members discussed whether charging arrangements for CCTV footage could create barriers to police investigations.

 

Concerns were raised that any process involving payment or authorisation could potentially delay officers’ access to evidence. Members expressed the view that the Council should support North Yorkshire Police wherever possible and that any obstacles to the timely retrieval of evidence should be reviewed.

 

Police representatives clarified that the approval process for CCTV requests was not related to budgetary approval but existed to ensure compliance with data protection legislation and to provide appropriate oversight of requests. It was confirmed that requests required line manager authorisation to demonstrate operational necessity and the process was not considered burdensome by the police.

 

Members highlighted the historical context of the current arrangements, noting that contributions from North Yorkshire Police were originally established as a compromise when district councils retained responsibility for CCTV operations rather than transferring them wholly to the police. It was also noted that some police forces operated and funded their own CCTV systems.

 

Officers advised that the strategic review already underway includes consideration of all funding arrangements, operational models and service level agreements relating to public space CCTV provision.

 

Members received an update on anti-social behaviour issues in Great Ayton.

 

•       Incidents had increased due to both a genuine rise in activity and improved reporting linked to a greater neighbourhood policing presence.

•       Police and partner agencies had implemented a range of measures, including increased patrols, engagement with British Transport Police, monitoring of rail arrivals, use of body-worn video, regular partnership meetings, and joint working through the Community Safety Hub.

•       With regard to CCTV provision in Great Ayton, officers explained that infrastructure constraints currently limit the installation of permanent cameras. However, options for deployable ASB cameras and alternative camera locations were being explored.

 

Members praised the work of the Community Safety Hub and partner organisations in addressing these issues.

 

Officers reported on a range of ongoing work across the Hambleton and Richmond, areas including:

 

•           Project Spotlight activity in Richmond.

•           Partnership work on rural and acquisitive crime prevention.

•           Consideration of closure orders for problematic properties.

•           Night-time economy initiatives in Hambleton, including spiking awareness training and partnership working with local businesses.

•           Efforts to tackle graffiti and improve safety around the Hambleton underpass area.

•           Exploration of CCTV solutions to support enforcement and prevention activity.

 

Policing updates – Hambleton area

 

•           Continued work to address anti-social behaviour in Great Ayton.

•           Operation Monsoon, targeting rural crime including quad bike and tool theft.

•           Arrests of key offenders and consideration of Criminal Behaviour Orders.

•           Targeted deployment of specialist police resources in identified hotspot areas.

•           Significant reductions in retail crime following enforcement action against prolific offenders and ongoing engagement with local retailers.

 

Policing updates – Richmond area

 

•              A reduction in anti-social behaviour across the wider Richmond area, although increases had been experienced in parts of Catterick Garrison.

•              Successful partnership activity using diversionary measures, civil powers, and community engagement to address youth-related anti-social behaviour.

•              Improved conditions within the night-time economy through joint work with the Community Safety Hub, Community Alcohol Partnership, and Royal Military Police.

•              Positive results from Operation Passage targeting rural thefts of vehicles and plant machinery.

•              Work with partner organisations and neighbouring police forces to address cross-border offending.

•              Ongoing plans with Highways to tackle parking-related issues and associated anti-social behaviour around Richmond Falls through traffic management measures and enforcement.

 

Resolved

 

The Committee noted the updates provided by officers and police representatives, welcomed the ongoing partnership work across North Yorkshire, and agreed that the outcomes of the CCTV strategic review should be considered through the relevant scrutiny arrangements when available

 

Councillors Hearther Moorhouse and David Hugill left the meeting at 11.25am.