Agenda item

The Service Director for Neighbourhood Delivery presented the Community Safety Partnership and Action Plan highlighting the Council’s statutory duty to work with partners – the Police being one of them.

Priorities and hot spots were identified every year with the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Office leading to pulling out resources to tackle problems. This was done successfully with funding received from the Government and data showing that crimes were reducing.

Cllr Reece welcomed the trend and asked if strategy to reduce violence against women and girls had played a role in the reduction.

The Service Director for Neighbourhood Delivery confirmed that it had been a focus for the Police who was keeping the Council up to date on it. A safe place was also run by volunteers on Friday night at the Iron Market and work had been done with street medics and businesses operating at nighttime to reduce the occurrence of violence even further.

Cllr Whieldon commented on the fact that it was a growing phenomenon requiring vigilance.

Cllr Reece enquired about knife crime and if knives were voluntarily deposited.

The Service Director for Neighbourhood Delivery responded that data could be provided and that the problem lied mainly in carrying knives and bladed weapons rather than using them.

Cllr Barker enquired about empty buildings that the community worked hard to get and were property of Staffordshire County Council in Chesterton and a local youth club which had closed.

The Service Director for Neighbourhood Delivery and Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Wellbeing advised that this was not within the remit of the Council and should be taken to the County Council.

About the closure referred to there was a Youth project funded by the Police, Fire and Crime Commissionner, that had been run in Chesterton and Kidsgrove. This was still ongoing and may have moved to another venue.

Cllr Dymond confirmed that one such project run by volunteers had just started in Kidsgrove where a room had been made available.

Cllr Whieldon commented that a Youth venue had indeed been closed in Chesterton and suggested that it may be a good thing to contact the County Council about it as such clubs would keep young people off the street.

The Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Wellbeing acknowledged the suggestion, meanwhile noting that while the County Council may help those projects required volunteers to run them.

Cllr Whieldon wished to add that board games clubs may be another option worth considering.

The Service Director for Neighbourhood Delivery advised that those ideas could be floated to the Joint Operation Group.

The Chair reiterated that volunteers were needed to run youth projects and concluded by welcoming the pro-active approach taken by the police in relation to drug related offenses

Resolved:     1. That the report be received and the successful outcomes achieved in reducing crime and anti-social behaviour, as well as the work in progress to continue to tackle the strategic priorities, be noted.

2. That the updated Local Crime and Police Plan in line with the Strategic Assessment priorities for 2025/26 be received and noted.

Watch the debate here