Agenda item

This report is the bi-annual performance report for Safer York Partnership.

The Committee were joined by Lindsey Butterfield from North Yorkshire Police and chair of Safter York Partnership and Andrew Blades from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. Members considered the report and were provided with an update on policing and COVID Support Marshalls work during lockdown. The Committee were also updated on additional funding that had been made available by government and bids that were being considered to access further funding.

Members enquired about river safety in the city and it was confirmed that it was a key focus for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue. With a high number of incidents on the River Ouse, Members were updated on prevention work including training for those in the night time economy and with students. With the easing of lockdown it was noted that Fire and Rescue were responding to a rising number of secondary fires and that they expected a rise in fires with more people able to gather outdoors. It was also confirmed that due to more regular flooding, flood response work was becoming an increasing part of the work Fire and Rescue were engaged with. Members enquired about grab chains being installed on the river, while this will be considered by Fire and Rescue not all land that would require them is Council owned so would require private owners to support installing.

The committee were updated on how North Yorkshire Police were balancing the competing demands of COVID enforcement and business as usual. Partnership work with the Council was also highlighted with daily briefings for both COVID and non-COVID issues. It was confirmed that COVID enforcement had been largely been split with the Police enforcing when there were incidents with individuals and the Council with business in the city.

Anti-Social behaviour was discussed and it was expected that the number of incidents could rise as lockdown eased, due in part to indoor venues continuing to be closed, directing residents to more meetings outdoors. As well as, the potential lower tolerance because of lower quitter neighbourhoods during COIVD. Officers noted that a separate task group had been set up to focus on incidents outside of the city centre, while work was ongoing with neighbourhood Police Officers to respond to incidents.

The Committee discussed the domestic violence and domestic violence data within the report, the rise in Police incidents during lockdown and the Council services had not seen a similar rise. It was noted that the number of incidents did not necessarily reflect a rise in crime. Officers confirmed that the data presented in the report presented an incomplete picture of the situation and further data would be shared with the Committee. Members enquired about the provision of services and the training for Council staff. it was confirmed that additional funding and effective working with partners had allowed Council services to continue and work was being undertaken with Housing.

Members enquired about the rise in hate crimes and it was confirmed that they were rising in line with national trends. It was confirmed that COVID had lead to a rise in hate crimes towards Asian people, while incidents continued to be up since BREXIT. It was noted that part of the increased number of reported incidents was connected to an increased confidence to report incidents, members questioned whether this had also seen an increased number of prosecutions which were historically low. Prosecutions data was not available at the meeting and it was noted that it could be shared with the Committee after the meeting.  

Issues of speeding were also discussed and it was confirmed that lockdown had seen a rise in major speeding. The work of police traffic vans and 95 Alive was noted and it was confirmed that residents should raise concerns. It was also confirmed that the use of communications from the Council had been important throughout lockdown and work was being undertaken to do engagement about speeding.

Resolved

                   i.        Additional information to be shared with the Committee about domestic violence.

                  ii.        OPFCC Community Funding link to be shared with the Committee.

                 iii.        Noted the Safer York Partnership Bi-Annual Report.

Reason:    To update Members on the performance of the Safer York Partnership.