Issue - meetings

To consider the future monitoring arrangement in respect of the implementation of the IOPC report regarding Operation Linden.

The Chair explained that this item was to consider the monitoring arrangements to follow progress on the implementation of the IOPC recommendations regarding Operation Linden. 

It was important that Members understood that this review sat within a much larger framework of reviews to understand its history. 

The benefits of attending the Child Matters training session were highlighted.  This course was open for all social workers and school staff to apply to attend.

The Chair suggested that a small monitoring group of 2-3 members be convened from members of OSMB with a view to reporting back to the main Board meetings at regular intervals.  It was also suggested that the monitoring group be politically balanced.  It was also suggested that a report be brought back to the main Board meetings every 6 to 12 months for consideration.

Resolved: It was agreed that a monitoring group of at least 3 Members, politically balanced, be formed from Members of OSMB to follow progress on the implementation of the IOPC recommendations with a view to reporting back to OSMB at regular intervals to be determined.

To consider South Yorkshire Police’s progress against recommendations made by the Independent Office of  Police Conduct in its report: Operation Linden – Learning and Recommendations (November 2021).

At the meeting held on 12 January 2022, Council considered a motion regarding the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) report Operation Linden - Learning and Recommendations. It resolved that the progress of South Yorkshire Police against IOPC recommendations published in November 2021 be regularly monitored, with scrutiny arrangements to be determined by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board. 

The Chair welcomed Deputy Chief Constable Tim Forber and Chief Superintendent Steve Chapman from South Yorkshire Police who had been invited to the meeting to give an update. 

A report from the Deputy Chief Constable outlining South Yorkshire Police’s response to the IOPC recommendations for improvement was considered with a formal record of actions. The IOPC report was also submitted as background information to this item.

The Deputy Chief Constable introduced the report highlighting that the IOPC recommendations had been accepted in totality by SYP. In order to address the issues raised in its report, the approach that South Yorkshire Police had adopted in relation to child sexual exploitation (CSE) and other areas of offending, was to focus on continuous improvement. This ensured that learning was embedded, and consideration could be given to the capacity of the force to respond.

The Deputy Chief Constable gave an overview of its thematic response to the recommendations:

·       VICTIMS – the provision of quality victim care, informed by a trauma-led approach in line with the rights of victims laid down in the Victim Code.

·       COMMUNITIES - trust and confidence built with local communities.

·       PARTNERS – continuous improvements to partner collaboration and effective information sharing.

·       OUR PEOPLE - ensure SYP staff have regular training and their skills were up to date.

·       PROCESSES – compliance with Home Office Counting Rules when recording crimes related to CSE  

The importance of engaging with communities to ‘spot the signs’ to ensure that children and young people were protected was stressed. This activity was supported through an ongoing cycle of campaigns working with professionals, businesses and the wider public. An example was given of work in hotels to raise awareness of the signs of abuse.

Examples of work with partners were outlined. Independent Sexual Violence Advisors have provided training to specialist frontline officers and further work was planned with first responders to enable them to work with victims sensitively. The Child Exploitation Tactical Group was a co-located multi agency partnership which was able to deal effectively with evidence and intelligence relating to CSE. It was noted that Rotherham Safeguarding Children Partnership - CSE Review Final Report (RSCP) had cited the work of the tactical group as an exemplar of good practice. An invitation was extended to Council Members to see the work of the Evolve Team.

SYP had reviewed the capability and capacity of the force and undertaken a training needs analysis to ensure that more officers were trained to respond to serious sexual assault at a specialist level. It was also noted that all SYP officers would attend its “Child Matters” training which focussed on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18