Minutes of the Dorset Community Safety Partnership - 22 December 2021

Attendance 

Core Membership 

Attendees 

Support

Apologies 

• John Newcombe (DC),
• Vanessa Read (CCG), 
• Andrea Breen (DC), 
• Toni Shepherd (PS), and
• Sarah-Jane Smedmor (DC)

No 1

Welcome and Introductions

1.1 Cllr Carr Jones welcomed everyone to the meeting.

No 2

Minutes of Meeting held on 06 October 2021 and Matters Arising 

2.1 2.2 – Community Safety Plan - The Community Safety Plan had been shared within the CCG and with NHS Provider Trusts. Probation will take it through their new organisation.

2.2 6.6 – Draft domestic abuse strategy - The draft strategy has gone through Dorset Council’s Cabinet and will be finalised following public consultation.

No 3 

Progress Against Strategic Priorities 

3.1 Andy Frost introduced the report setting out activity against the CSP’s strategic priorities.

3.2 Since the last meeting, a significant amount of time had been spent on domestic abuse, particularly work to respond to the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. This included taking the draft Dorset Domestic Abuse Strategy through the Council’s Cabinet and publishing it for public consultation. The final Strategy will be published by the 5th January, taking account of feedback from public consultation.

3.3 Another area that had taken up a significant amount of time was responding to the funding released through the Safer Street’s Fund. Whilst the fund had presented some challenges, work was progressing well with initiatives taking shape.

3.4 Highlights since the last meeting included:

• Securing funding to run a series of interactive empowerment and bystander intervention workshops at Weymouth College during Sexual Violence Awareness Week in February 2022.
• The DRIVE programme, which targets perpetrators of domestic abuse, is operating well in Dorset with early findings from the project due to be produced shortly.
• The UP2U family practice model for domestic abuse is being rolled out across Children Service's in Dorset.
• Dorset Council is also considering options for the future of the UP2U Creating Healthy Relationships Programme.
• Wider whole systems work continues with partners exploring co-design and commissioning opportunities.
• Domestic Abuse communications work has taken place to coincide with the national 16 days of action campaign.

3.5 Andy reported on performance over the past quarter (Q2 2021/22), compared to the same time last year. Total crime had decreased slightly, domestic abuse incidents increased significantly and domestic abuse crimes remained roughly the same.

3.6 Without further analysis it was hard to draw any meaningful conclusions or insights from the data. However, anecdotal reports suggest peer on peer abuse appears to be a growing issue as does Serious Sexual Offences (SSOs) which have risen significantly.

3.7 Ch Supt. Richard Bell confirmed Dorset Police had seen an increase in SSOs compared to last year, however, he drew members’ attention to the fact that last year was exceptional due to COVID, and the rises this year are more in line with previous years. Richard commented that SSOs had risen quickly after the easing of COVID restrictions, particularly around the night-time economy. Dorset Police introduced Ops Vigilant as a result.

3.8 Richard informed the group that Ch/Insp Jim Beashel would be working over the next three months, along with the tri-force areas, to take forward the SSOs work as part of the wider VAWG (Violence Against Women and Girls) agenda. The primary focus will be on improving positive outcome rates.

3.9 David Webb agreed that anecdotally peer on peer abuse appeared to be a growing issue. He questioned whether the extensive public communications work may have had an impact, with more people coming forward to report issues rather than there being more incidents. Louise Drury agreed noting the successful launch of their contextual safeguarding agenda had helped create better awareness of issues amongst young people. 

3.10 Within the children’s arena a task and finish group were looking at training, processes, assessments, and interventions for this area of work.

3.11 Liz Plastow advised the group that a recent STARs (Sexual Trauma and Recover Service) report showed a significant increase in the number of people coming forward to access their services.

3.12 Cllr Rennie mentioned STARs attend the Dorset Domestic Abuse Forum where they provide updates along with other local providers. Cllr Rennie invited members of the CSP to the Forum. It was agreed Jim Beashel would be invited to the Forum considering his role on VAWG. 

• Action - Cllr Rennie / Supt. Richard Bell

No 4

Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs)

4.1 Kay Wilson White introduced the paper on DHRs, giving members of the CSP an update on each of the ongoing reviews. Following the last meeting, she had liaised with the Home Office to raise concerns about the lack of clarity in statutory guidance on completing DHRs involving suicide.

4.2 Information sharing continued to feature as an issue in DHRs. Partners have a clear position regarding information sharing on high risk cases of domestic abuse, however things are less clear for medium and standard risk cases.

4.3 Recent DHRs demonstrated that the level of risk can increase once agencies share the information they hold about a family. There didn’t appear to be any data protection issues with sharing information without consent in these cases.

4.4 Practitioners and data protection leads for Health, Police and You First recently met in order to address this issue and to try and establish an agreed way forward. Progress was made and it was agreed that the group will meet early 2022 to explore what information needs to be shared, how this would happen and how it fits within the legislative framework.

4.5 Once more details are established consideration would be given to doing a pilot which may involve an application for funding to the Dorset Police Innovation Fund.

4.6 Liz Plastow referenced the work being undertaken by NHS England to look at information sharing agreements and mentioned that it would be worth flagging this work up to that group. She would share information on the work with Andy Frost so it can be considered by the group.

• Action - Liz Plastow

4.7 Ch Supt. Richard Bell mentioned that Dorset Police were currently considering options to their PPU (Public Protection Unit) arrangements, with consideration being given to locality safeguarding hubs.

4.8 Liz Plastow queried the use of professional judgement in determining risk and whether there was a learning need. Kay acknowledged there was but reiterated the importance of the work to look at information sharing practices.

4.9 Cllr Carr-Jones asked about progress with the toolkit for GPs. Liz Plastow explained it had been very well received and was included as part of the quarterly training package for GPs. The CCG would also be making sure it’s being used and looked at as part of their quality assurance processes.

4.10 Members of the group reiterated the importance of acting on lessons to prevent future cases.

4.11 Resolved - The Group agreed all the recommendations set out in the report. 

No 5

Progress Against Local Priorities

5.1 Graham Duggan presented the report and summarised key activities and progress made against local priorities.

5.2 Work to review the (Partnership Coordinating Groups’) PCGs’ terms of reference to ensure consistency across the localities is underway. Operational Plans are based on the problem-solving technique, SARA (Scan, Analyse, Respond, Address).

5.3 Graham highlighted the extensive work happening in response to the night time economy e.g. Safe Space and drink spiking kits distributed via Police to licensed premises. He cited the policing plan for New Years Eve which the council was involved in preparing.

5.4 Cllr Carr-Jones asked about knife crime issues and it was confirmed these were very much isolated issues in specific areas.

5.5 Andy Frost mentioned mental health and substance misuse were common themes that come up consistently across the PCGs and suggested it was important to develop a strategic approach for these.

5.6 Louise Drury explained the work being undertaken by the Harbour Project to respond to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and multiple issues. The Harbour was a good model and could act as a reference point for similar provision across Dorset.

5.7 Cllr Rennie highlighted that young people will often be experiencing domestic abuse and talked about the good work of the voluntary sector in working with children who wouldn’t normally be accessing support. Cllr Rennie raised the importance of funding and ensuring services talk to one another, so they see the whole picture.  

5.8 Ch Supt. Richard Bell agreed Dorset had a good offer for responding to children and young people but stressed the importance of having a good preventative offer. Richard stressed the challenges around funding over the past several years but was hopeful this would change and more funding would be available in the future.

5.9 All agreed the importance of having a strong preventative offer and bringing the safeguarding boards and the CSP together to tackle cross cutting issues. It was agreed Andy would take the points raised today to the Chairs of the boards who are due to meet soon.

• Action - Andy Frost

No 6

Partnership Strategic Assessment (PSA)

6.1 Andy gave a presentation on the process for developing the Partnership Strategic Assessment (PSA).

6.2 He presented draft priorities based on the most recent Police strategic assessment, including their analysis of high risk issues.

6.3 Following discussion members of the group agreed the following priorities for 2022/23:

• Domestic abuse and stalking
• Sexual offences
• Violent Crime
• Anti-social Behaviour
• Fraud
• Rural Crime

And the following cross cutting issues:

• Mental health
• Substance misuse
• Complex cases / multiple need

6.4 Supt. Richard Bell mentioned the release of the 10-year Drug Strategy by central government and the potential for future funding to support local areas in meeting the strategy.

6.5 Adam Harrold pointed out that tackling drugs is also a priority for PCC and was included in his police and crime plan.

6.6 Andrew Billany informed the group that a conversation regarding the structures for taking forward the drug strategy had started with Public Health and agreed to come back and update members of the CSP with an update.

• Action - Andrew Billany

6.7 Resolved - Members of the CSP agreed their priorities for 2022/23 as above. 

No 7 

Revising the Community Safety Plan

7.1 Andy introduced a report on the process for conducting the final refresh of the community safety plan 2020-23.

7.2 Although legislation requires CSPs to determine their priorities though local needs assessments, government were increasingly setting expectations outside of that process, such as the need to have violent crime and domestic abuse strategies.

7.3 The public’s views on community safety issues should inform the refresh of the plan. This would be achieved by utilising the Council’s Residents Survey and People Panel.

7.4 Cllr Carr-Jones asked how the Community Safety Plan was cross referenced with the plans of other partnership groups like the Safeguarding Boards. Andy explained there is no formal process for doing this but suggested it would be helpful and could be picked up when meeting the chairs of the other boards.

7.5 Members of the group felt it would be beneficial to map each Boards’ priorities to identify links and opportunities for joint working.

7.6 Resolved - Members of the CSP agreed the approach to refreshing the Community Safety Plan 2020 - 2023. 

No 8 

Annual Scrutiny Report

8.1 Andy introduced a report on the process for writing the annual scrutiny report which suggested items for inclusion.

8.2 Local authorities are required by law to have Crime & Disorder Committees that review and scrutinise partners’ community safety work at least once a year. In Dorset, the People & Health Scrutiny Committee scrutinises the work of the CSP. The intention was to take a report to the committee on the 14th March 2022.

8.3 Members of the group agreed the report should include a summary of progress made against the community safety plan and highlight partners’ work to tackle domestic abuse, in light of the new Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

8.4 Given the timescales, it was agreed the committee report would be developed in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair who would sign it off on behalf of the Partnership.

8.5 Cllr Carr-Jones was keen for the report to demonstrate partners’ achievements and asked members of the group to share any work they were proud of or any challenges.  

• Action - All

8.6 Resolved - The annual Scrutiny report would be developed in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the CSP who sign it off on behalf of the Partnership. 

No 9 

Violence Crime Duty and Offensive Weapon Homicide Reviews

9.1 Andy introduced the report setting out the proposed new duties and responsibilities in the Police, Crime, Courts and Sentencing Bill and the implications for partners and the CSP.

9.2 The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill was currently progressing through the House of Lords and nearing its final stages before becoming legislation. The Bill proposes a new Serious Violence Duty and the introduction of Offensive Weapon Homicide Reviews.

9.3 The proposed Serious Violence Duty will require specified authorities to work together to prevent and reduce serious violence, including identifying the kinds of serious violence in their area, the causes of that violence, and preparing and implementing a strategy for preventing and reducing serious violence. The proposed Duty also requires the specified authorities to consult educational, prison and youth custody authorities in the preparation of their strategy.

9.4 The Duty doesn’t specify a lead organisation or person responsible for coordinating activity or set out a partnership structure within partners must work. The Bill does, however, look to amend the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to include a requirement for CSPs to formulate and implement a strategy to prevent people from becoming involved in serious violence, both as victims and perpetrators, and reduce instances of serious violence in the area.

9.5 Andy advised it was important for partners to consider our existing structures and plans and to use their resources effectively. Draft guidance suggests that CSPs’ annual Partnership Strategic Assessments (PSAs) and Community Safety Plans can both be used for the new Serious Violence Duty and Crime and Disorder Act requirements.

9.6 The Bill also makes provision for the establishment and conduct of reviews of the circumstances of certain homicides where the victim was aged 18 or over and the events surrounding their death involved, or were likely to have involved, the use of an offensive weapon. Andy explained we were awaiting the details of the guidance, but this requirement was likely to have an impact on local resources. The Bill did clarify that where the case also meets the criteria for a DHR, it would not be necessary to complete two separate reviews.

9.7 The Government intends to pilot reviews initially in several areas before they are rolled out nationally.

9.8 Supt. Richard Bell raised the issue of resources in light of new duties being placed on partners from central government. He asked whether the CSP needed to be more outcomes focused to help guide resource allocation and ensure efficiency.

9.9 Andy mentioned the Council was intending to build some additional resource to help deal with the new work coming through, including analytical support. Liz Plastow felt whilst it was important to consider resource pressures as a partnership, it was also important that all partners flag the need for adequate resources within their agency.

9.10 Cllr Carr-Jones suggested the CSP write a letter to the Minister setting out the need for additional funding considering the additional work. Partners agreed.

• Actions - Andy Frost

9.11 There was wide support from the group for taking an outcomes-based approach to performance. Andy agreed this would be included once the analytical support was in place.

No 10

Forward Plan

10.1 It was confirmed the forward plan had been updated since the last meeting

No 11

Any Other Business

11.1 This was Kay Wilson White’s last CSP meeting as she was moving to a new role in Public Health Dorset in February. Cllr Carr-Jones and partners thanked Kay for her work over the years and wished her the best of luck in her new post.

11.2 Cllr Rennie invited all members of the CSP to the Dorset Domestic Abuse Forum, asking for any requests to be made directly to her.

11.3 Following a short discussion, it was agreed the CSP would start monthly meetings in the new financial year.

Future Meeting Dates:

10am on 16th March 2022 – Quarterly Meeting

All meetings to be held virtually until further notice.