SAFER YORK PARTNERSHIP BI-ANNUAL REPORT SEPTEMBER 2021

Summary

1. This report is the bi-annual performance report for Safer York Partnership.   In September 2020, Superintendent Lindsey Butterfield, NYP Area Commander for York and Selby took over from Sharon Houlden as Chair.  Lindsey has since moved on to a Temporary Assistant Chief Constable role and Superintendent Mark Khan is fulfilling the Area Commander Role.

2. This paper covers the period April 2021 – October 2021.

3. City Centre Crime and Anti-social behaviour

3.1    Further National Lockdown’s meant that the city centre remained closed. The Government introduced a Roadmap to Recovery with key dates restrictions to be gradually lifted.  These dates were as follows:

· 12^th April:  the re-opening of shops and some public buildings (eg. Libraries.  Outdoor settings like alcohol takeaways and beer gardens reopened and self-catering holiday accommodation (lets and campsites) could open.

· Mon 17th May: Rule of 6 in hospitality settings (eg pubs) applies. Cinemas, museums, hotels, performances and sporting events reopen.

· Mon 21st June:  Limits on social contact removed. Other sectors of economy can open.  However, due to continued concerns with infection rates, this final lifting of restrictions was delayed until 19^th July

3.2    Working under this priority within the Community Safety Strategy, a multi-agency stakeholder group focusing on the Community Safety Challenges which could occur as a result of restrictions lifting on these key dates was convened, chaired by Head of Community Safety City of York Council. The group includes representation from key services within City of York Council, North Yorkshire Police, Make It York and the BID.  The group developed a clear action plan which was reviewed prior to each key date and new actions captured as new challenges were identified.  The Action Plan and good engagement by partners meant that issues identified were addressed very quickly and no significant community safety concerns emerged which could not be dealt with the appropriate agencies working together.

3.3    Prior to 12^th April and 17^th May, weekend multi-agency high visibility action days took place involving the BID Rangers, Police, Neighbourhood Enforcement Team and City of York Council COVID Support Marshalls.  This was well received by both the business community and visitors and residents in the city.

3.4    The value of the group as a model for driving this priority within the strategy has resulted in the group continuing after 19^th July, enabling partners to keep on top of community safety concerns which relate specifically to the city centre.  The action plan will remain flexible with seasonal actions being added to reflect the pattern of community safety issues that impact on the city centre throughout the year.

3.5    One issue identified within the action plan was the increase in litter within the city centre as restrictions lifted, visitor numbers increased and with an increase in outdoor hospitality and takeaway food.  The Neighbourhood Enforcement Team worked with the offending businesses and street cleaning team to address this resulting in better communication between all parties and a visible reduction in the presence of litter associated with the night time economy.

3.6    The COVID Support Marshalls have continued to provide a valuable patrolling presence in the city centre, supporting the police and BID Rangers in demonstrating highly visible partnership working.  They have been proactive in engaging with rough sleepers and dealing with low level issues, enabling the police to focus on issues that require their warranted powers.

4.      Counter Terrorism: Protect, Prepare, Prevent

4.1    Protect and Prepare

The Counter Terrorism Task Group has continued to meet and adapted its action plan to recognise the challenges to progressing priorities with COVID restrictions still in place.  The group has developed a quarterly newsletter which is widely disseminated across the business community, highlighting how to access support and advice on counter terrorism security and providing the links to online training packages for their staff.

4.2    The Protect Duty is part of the Government’s commitment to improving protective security and preparedness at public spaces.  Consultation on the duty began on Friday 25^th February and ended on 2^nd July. The results are currently being analysed with a view to them being published around November 2021.  Working through the Counter Terrorism Task Group, York has placed itself in a strong position to deliver the duty by establishing a pilot project to engage with the business community in Fossgate/Castlegate and develop a model which can be adapted for implementation across all public spaces where crowds gather.  This work and the proactive approach taken to developing a requirement for counter terrorism security to be a mandatory requirement for organisers of large events applying to the safety advisory group has resulted in the North East Counter Terrorism unit being identified to undertake a pilot in relation to the Protect Duty and York to be held up as an example of National Good Practice.  The North East Pilot will mean that our businesses receive additional support from the Counter Terrorism Security Advisers and access to early information that will again strengthen our ability to keep the city safe.

4.3    Prevent

          Channel Panel has continued to meet monthly.  Referrals have remained steady with around 3-4 live cases under discussion.  All partners have remained fully engaged with the virtual meeting process. 

5.      Domestic Abuse

5.1    Fortnightly tactical meetings continued to take place between Chief Inspector Safeguarding, North Yorkshire Police, the Office of the Police Fire & Crime Commissioner and Community Safety leads for City of York and North Yorkshire County Council.  These meetings have been taking place since the first National Lockdown in March 2020 and allow a multiagency focus on commissioned services, Domestic Abuse data, resourcing and communications.  The group continues to meet.

5.2    The Domestic Abuse Bill came into force this year.  An independent consultant was appointed to look at the structures in place within the city to ensure that we are able to meet the requirements of the duty. Strategic responsibility for Domestic Abuse has transferred from Community Safety within City of York Council to Public Health and a full update is provided as a separate item on the agenda.

6.      High Risk Anti-Social Behaviour

          In addition to the City Centre Roadmap to Recovery meeting, a separate Roadmap to Recovery meeting was established to focus on anti-social behaviour in the York Outer area (excluding the City Centre).  Again, this group focused initially on the challenges posed as restrictions were lifted.  Membership include a range of City of York Council services, North Yorkshire Police and Youth Justice Service.  Membership is at a level that can direct resources and the group has also had success in dealing with emerging issues in a timely way that has prevented them from escalating. 

6.1    An example of the success achieved through this group was in addressing a high volume of complaints from residents about large groups of youths gathering on Little Knavesmire, behaving in an anti social manner, underage drinking, causing damage to the cricket club, leaving litter and making noise.  COVID Support Marshalls supported the police Neighbourhood Policing Team in providing regular patrols to the area, engaging with the young people and residents.  Litter picking was arranged, involving Police Cadets and the Youth Justice Service and a multi-agency community engagement event took place on 6^th August.  As a result of this work, no further complaints have been received.  However, a small problem solving group is working on plans to put in place medium and longer term measures to prevent the issues arising again next year.

6.2    As with the City Centre Group, this York Outer Group will continue to meet as it provides a valuable forum to support an early intervention and prevention approach to identifying issues as they emerge and putting actions in place to prevent escalation.

6.4    Daily meetings between Public Protection (in relation to deployment of the COVID Support Marshalls), Community Safety and the Neighbourhood Policing Inspectors continue as an early morning conference call.  At these meetings, the Sergeant working within the Community Safety Hub outlines the ASB issues which have occurred in the previous 24 hours. This assists in identifying those locations which may need referring to the ASB Outer group as potential ‘hot spots’ and also assists in managing the more serious cases where a partnership approach is required.

6.5    Neighbourhood Enforcement

Enforcement activity

Community Protection Notices (for various anti-social behaviour offences)

74 Warnings issued

Dogs

3 dog fouling FPNs issued

5 micro chipping notices issued

Domestic Noise

260 warning letters issued

16 Abatement notices served

2 Magistrates court warrants for equipment seizure obtained

Domestic Waste Presentation

227 Notices served

Duty of Care in respect of Waste (including commercial waste)

15 warning letters issued

9 Notices served requiring production of waste carriers licence

24 Notices served requiring production of waste information

7 Fixed Penalty Notices issued for non-production of the above.

Fly-tipping

20 warning letters issued

8 Fixed Penalty Notices served

Street urination

3 Simple Cautions issued and accepted

Unauthorised encampments

4 separate encampments dealt with by use of Direction to Leave Notices.

Fly posting

19 FPNs issued

Simple Cautions issued:

	Legislation	Nature of case	Date issued
1.	Environmental Protection Act 1990 S34	failing to secure transfer of waste to authorised persons and retain waste information	22.05.21
2.	Environmental Protection Act 1990	Noise for breach of noise abatement	22.05.21
3.	Environmental Protection Act 1990	Noise for breach of noise abatement	22.05.21
4.	Local byelaw prohibiting defecation/urination in public places - made 6^th April 1998	Street Urination	15/07/2021
5.	Local byelaw prohibiting defecation/urination in public places - made 6^th April 1998	Street Urination	15/07/2021
6.	Environmental Protection Act 1990 S33	Fly tipping	21/07/2021
7.	Local byelaw prohibiting defecation/urination in public places - made 6^th April 1998	Street Urination	23/07/2021

Prosecutions

May 2021

Fly-tipping

Conditional discharge for 6 months

£300 costs

£22 court surcharge

Total £322

August 2021

Ongoing noise nuisance from barking dogs. The defendant was previously cautioned in January 2018 for the same offence and now faces legal action against her tenancy.

Fine £140

Costs £570

Total £710

A number of cases are currently pending court hearings.  Many have been delayed and re-adjourned due to the ongoing court backlog as a result of C19.

Two significant trials have been re-listed from their original dates in August due to structural damage to the magistrate’s court building. 

Other initiatives

Redeployable CCTV cameras

The Neighbourhood Enforcement team own 3 portable CCTV units for use in the investigation of fly-tipping offences.  These have begun to be deployed at fly-tipping hotspot locations identified from data received from Business Intelligence Hub combined with anecdotal information from the Public Realm team.  Cameras are deployed overtly with signage in place at each location.  Locations are reviewed on a 6 monthly basis.

Stop and Search Operation

On the 20^th April 2021 the Neighbourhood Enforcement team worked alongside North Yorkshire Police and the Environment Agency on a roadside Stop and Search operation as part of Metal Theft Action Week.  The NEO focus was on unlicensed scrap metal collectors/dealers and waste carriers.

· 10 non-scrap carrying vehicles were stopped.

· 2 scrap carrying vehicles were stopped.

· 7 NEO investigations were triggered from non-scrap carrying vehicles.

· 2 NEO investigations were triggered from scrap carrying vehicles.

· 9 Notices were served by the Neighbourhood Enforcement team, requiring waste carriage and transfer documentation to be presented to officers.

Domestic noise equipment seizures

On 21^st July 2021 Neighbourhood Enforcement officers seized equipment from two properties.

Following advice, warnings and formal notices being issued, officers applied for warrants from York Magistrates Court

The equipment (stereos, speakers, TVs and other items) was used to play overly loud music day and night and was seized following ongoing complaints from neighbouring residents.

Both cases are now pending prosecution proceedings.

City Centre patrolling and enforcement

The Neighbourhood Enforcement team undertake regular city centre proactive patrols, working alongside partner agencies.  This is in addition to reactive work in response to complaints received.

Commercial waste enforcement action taken in respect to the following:

· A Licensed premises on Bootham. Complaints from nearby flats about bins being stored.  Section 47 notice (Environmental Protection Act 1990) served  setting out waste presentation conditions. April 2021.  Issues resolved.

· A restaurant on Goodramgate. Complaints from CYC Street Cleansing and residents. S47 Notice served.  Issues resolved. July – August 2021.

· A café/restaurant on Goodramgate. Complaint about bins being left out.  S47 Notice served.  Issues Resolved. August 2021.

· A café/restaurant on Skeldergate. S47 notice served. Failed to comply therefore Fixed Penalty Notice served for fail to produce Waste Transfer Information. August 2021.

· A restaurant/wine bar on Bridge Street. S47 notice served.  Bins removed from highway.  Issues resolved. August 2021.

· A takeaway on Goodramgate. Bags of food waste left out Saturday into Sunday. S47 notice served and Sunday collection arranged. August 2021.

Several low level complaints were received regarding buskers. These were referred to Make it York in first instance as per the busking enforcement protocol.

Neighbourhood Enforcement Officers worked with a city centre fast food restaurant to resolve littering around their premises. 

An unauthorised tent encampment on Wellington Row was dealt with by serving a Direction to Leave Notice.  NEOs coordinated input from the Salvation Army and waste team.

Other Case Studies

A self-employed garage owner accepted a caution for duty of care offences around waste management at his business.  The NEO worked with the owner through visits and information to improve his waste storage arrangements avoiding the matter being progressed to court.

A local man was issued a Fixed Penalty Notice for £400 for fly tipping two bags of garden waste on private land near a community facility at Stockton on Forest.

Officers worked with the council’s Temporary Accommodation and Travellers teams and the York Travellers Trust in response to a homeless travelling family who were setting up encampments around the city in order to access urgent healthcare.  NEO welfare checks on the family determined that there was a valid need to tolerate and assist the family as they applied for temporary housing.  Officers made regular visits to monitor the site and responded to concerns. Accommodation has now been found for the family.

6.6    ASB Team (CYC ASB Officers and North Yorkshire Police Hub Officers

As part of the government’s response to Covid 19, the government put a hold on enforcement action through the county courts, this has encouraged us to work holistically with partners to try to resolve issues, targeting actions such as managed moves for perpetrators or victims.  An example of this, is on the Cambridge Estate where Children’s Services highlighted a care leaver that was experiencing issues with their neighbour, where the ASB team were able to work with Housing Services to obtain a transfer so that she could get a fresh start.

6.7    While the courts were in lockdown we managed to obtain an eviction in a case where the antisocial behaviour was significant and ongoing.  The incidents involved drug dealing at the address and people coming to the property and impacting on the neighbours. The court agreed therefore that we could obtain possession, and in May we carried out the eviction.

6.8    The courts are back operating normally at present, and during September we have obtained outright possession orders in 28 days against two addresses both of which required joint working.  At the first property there have been ongoing noise issues which led to the Neighbourhood Enforcement Officers obtaining a Noise Abatement Notice and then  the tenant was prosecuted for a breach of this. This demonstrates the value of the community safety hub approach with collaborative working between the police, ASB Officers and Neighbourhood Enforcement team.

6.9    At the second property we fed intelligence from residents to North Yorkshire Police, who carried out two raids looking for drugs, which they found.  The Police then attended court for our possession hearing to give details of this, as the criminal trials had not taken place.  We were getting regular complaints from seven different local residents.  Again, this demonstrates the value of the collaborative North Yorkshire Police/City of York Council approach to tackling serious ASB.

6.6    Neighbourhood Enforcement Officers, ASB Officers and the Hub Police Officers are currently receiving training in strength based conversations to assist in dealing with some of the complex and challenging cases where there are multiple issues and health needs of the victims and/or perpetrators.

7.      Serious Organised Crime

7.1    The Serious Organised Crime Board and the Disruption Panel (Tactical group) for York and North Yorkshire have continued to meet, working to ensure that all key partners are focused on disrupting the most prolific and serious offenders and groups operating within the city and county.

7.2    Fortnightly intelligence meetings take place between the Community Safety Hub Officers, Neighbourhood Policing Teams and Police Intelligence Unit focused primarily on County Lines activity and addresses and nominal of note.  This group links closely with the Multi Agency Child Exploitation and Missing meetings to ensure that where young people are involved with those engaged in serious organised crime all concerns, including the safeguarding of those young people are being addressed through a multi-agency approach. The model of this group has been altered by splitting the agenda into two parts. The first half of the meeting focuses on addresses and individuals linked to County Lines and Drug related crime and the second half looks at wider vulnerability issues including safeguarding concerns.

7.3    The Modern Slavery Partnership for York and North Yorkshire continues to meet quarterly.  The group is conducting a training needs analysis across all partners.  A communications campaign has been developed to support the #lookcloser week taking place 11^th October 2021.

Jane Mowat

Head of Community Safety