Agenda item

To consider the new Safer Rotherham Partnership Plan, setting out priorities and commitments for the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2025.

Cabinet Portfolio: Corporate Services, Community Safety and Finance

Strategic Directorate: of Regeneration and Environment

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, Community Safety and Finance introduced the report. The Safer Rotherham Partnership (SRP), of which the Council was a key statutory partner, had agreed a new Safer Rotherham Partnership Plan, setting out priorities and commitments for the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2025. The previous Safer Rotherham Partnership Plan 2018-21 was extended for an additional year to 31 March 2022 due to Covid pandemic pressures and impacts on crime and community safety. The plan guided the partnership in delivering significant work to protect vulnerable children and adults, build safer and more cohesive communities and tackle domestic abuse and serious and organised crime.

Community Safety Partnerships have a statutory responsibility to prepare an annual strategic assessment to identify community safety priorities across the local area, develop a partnership plan and co-ordinate activities to address the priorities. There was also a requirement to consult and engage with communities, ensuring that their views are taken into account when identifying local priorities.

The plan outlined a number of key priorities based around the following four themes:

•         Protecting vulnerable children;

•         Protecting vulnerable adults;

•         Safer and stronger communities; and

•         Protecting people from violence and organised crime.

It was outlined that the process and priorities were intelligence led and was informed by data and risks identified using the Management of Risk in Law Enforcement (MoRiLE) thematic tool and Joint Strategic Intelligence Assessment.

The Chair invited questions from Board Members. Clarification was sought on the consultation process and how groups were selected and what consideration had given to consult with other groups of disabled people, for example people with autism.  It was outlined that groups were identified through Voluntary Action Rotherham and other established networks. Whilst it was welcomed that two groups had been consulted with, it was felt that future consultation should be wider to capture the views of under-represented groups including black and minority ethnic communities and young people.  It was noted that a consultation plan had been drawn up and activities were delivered to try and capture views, including speaking to students from a special school to inform the Hate Crime Panel and engagement with Rotherham United to address mental health issues.  The plan also utilised findings from Council Plan consultation and information from ward plans.

Further details were asked about consultation on rural crime and engagement with individuals across different locations.  Examples were given of engagement with the Parish Council Network and the use of ward plans to better understand local issues and inform priorities.

It was stressed that tackling serious violence was a priority regardless of the gender of the perpetrator or victim. However, it was acknowledged that violence against women and girls was largely committed by male perpetrators and therefore the Partnership was developing strategies to address this and women’s safety.  It was noted that there had been reports of disabled people experiencing hate crime and some made be vulnerable to criminal exploitation such as modern slavery. Assurance was sought that the partnership was aware of these issues.

An issue was raised about vulnerable adults with poor mental health and a history of substance misuse and if there was a clear pathway for them to access services.  A review was underway to ensure that the right support was in place at the right time and comments from members on what works well/gaps in services were welcomed. 

Assurance was given that quantitative data was monitored to ensure that services demonstrated continuous improvement. This would be reported on when the Board considered the Annual Report at its November meeting.

The Chair for clarification about the risk of online radicalisation and how this is prioritised in the Prevent action plan. The Assistant Director for Streetscene and Community confirmed that the Partnership were informed by intelligence and South Yorkshire Police had developed a local profile in line with its duties. It was noted that as with other areas of online crime, online radicalisation had increased over the pandemic.

The Chair asked what was different in this plan compared with previous iterations. It was outlined that some previous priorities continued to feature however there were some changes to priorities to reflect legislative changes such as serious violence and domestic abuse.  The plan would also be delivered over a three-year period.

The continued focus on child sexual and criminal exploitation was welcomed. Clarification was sought about of the threat of acquisitive crime and if this impacts negatively of an individual’s perceptions of safety and well-being.  The MoRiLE assessment looks at the impact on the wider community and how the Partnership responds so there was confidence that this would be picked up. The Cabinet Member also cited ongoing engagement with health partners and voluntary sector organisations. In addition, there would be a light touch refresh of the plan each year there would be an opportunity to review actions in light of intelligence.

Resolved:

1.             That Cabinet be advised that the recommendations be supported.

2.             That wider engagement takes place to inform future and refreshed plans, including rural communities, disabled people, minority ethnic communities and those with other protected characteristics.