Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:  To note that no Reserve Members had been nominated to attend the meeting.

In connection with Agenda Item 8 (Community Safety and Violence, Vulnerability and Exploitation Strategy – Annual Refresh), Councillor Chris Mote declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he is a Justice of the Peace as this may relate to some of the criminal justice issues to be discussed.  He would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 2018 and of the special meeting held on 24 May 2018 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 2018 be taken as read and signed as a correct record, subject to the amendment of the word “uniformed” in the fifth paragraph of minute item 268 concerning the Community Safety Strategic Assessment 2018 (Page 235) to read “uninformed”; 

(2)          the minutes of the special meeting held on 24 May 2018 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

To receive any public questions received in accordance with Committee Procedure Rule 17 (Part 4B of the Constitution).

Questions will be asked in the order in which they were received.  There will be a time limit of 15 minutes for the asking and answering of public questions.

[The deadline for receipt of public questions is 3.00 pm, <DATE>.  Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk  

No person may submit more than one question].

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions or petitions were received at this meeting.

There were none.

Report of the Divisional Director, Strategic Commissioning

RESOLVED:  That the Scrutiny Annual Report 2017-18 be noted, agreed and  submitted to full Council for endorsement.

Report of the Divisional Director, Strategic Commissioning

The Committee received a report on the Annual Refresh of the Community Safety and Violence, Vulnerability and Exploitation Strategy.  The Divisional Director, Strategic Commissioning introduced the report, advising that it built upon the comments from the Committee when it considered the draft strategic assessment in March; further work had been done to address specific points raised then by Members. 

Chief Superintendent Simon Rose, Borough Police Commander for Harrow confirmed that the document reflected both the priorities of the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) and the two additional local priorities selected by the Council.   

A Member asked about the definition of motor vehicle crime.  Chief Superintendent Rose advised that this data did not include those crimes in which people were robbed while in or on their vehicles.  Theft from motor vehicles had declined by 5.8% in the period in question, while theft of motor vehicles had increased by 43%.  However, overall, crimes involving motor vehicles in the Borough had reduced substantially.  He referred to thieves targeting high value vehicles which modern electronic locking systems; they were now able to “scan” the vehicles when left unattended, say, in a supermarket car park during the day, and acquire the electronic data to be able to then steal it overnight. 

Another Member welcomed the new Portfolio Holder for Community Safety  to his first meeting of the Committee in that capacity, and asked him to clarify the scope of his role.  The Portfolio Holder clarified his remit, confirming that crime and community in respect of children and young people would be covered.  He underlined that he would seek to work in partnership with relevant local organisations, including the Harrow Youth Parliament and Young Harrow Foundation.  He would prioritise addressing crimes against and involving young people, and violent crimes such as knife crimes which had increased in London recently. 

In response to a Member’s question about the crime levels in Croydon revealed in the data, Chief Superintendent Rose advised that the borough was affected by the number of care homes for young people located there which had the effect of increasing certain types of crime.  London Boroughs had their own particular factors such as the gang and drugs issues in Lambeth, the impact of the Notting Hill Carnival in Kensington and Chelsea, and the number of Premiership football teams in Hammersmith and Fulham.  So across London, there was a range of different factors affecting crime.  He confirmed that, by comparison, Harrow remained a very safe borough.  In terms of the trends in certain areas, for example the recent modest reduction in crime in Croydon, Chief Superintendent Rose cautioned that data could sometimes mislead; for example, an increase in crime levels sometimes reflected Police activity to detect crime and arrest those involved.  He also explained the different classifications of knife crimes to help Members interpret some of the data.  The Police would often shift resources from one area to another to respond to particular situations; for example, Harrow had received more resources recently following a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

Report of the Corporate Director, People – ITEM WITHDRAWN

The Chair confirmed that this item had been withdrawn and it was proposed that it be considered at a special meeting of the Committee on 10 July 2018.