Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Simon Murrells, Ade Adetosoye, Commander Wayne Chance, and Laura Marshall.

There were no declarations.

Minutes of the meeting held on 8th September 2014.

RESOLVED, that the minutes of the meeting held on Monday 8 September 2014 were approved as a correct record subject to the following amendments:

Steven Presland (not Evans); the London Fire Brigade cadets completing a one-year (not two-year) course; ‘Safety Thirst’ (not Safety First); and Ade Adetosoye being listed as present. 

Matters Arising

Child Sex Exploitation

The Assistant Director (Street Scene and Strategy) noted that a report on Child Sex Exploitation would come to the January 2015 meeting of the Group.

Domestic Abuse - Behind Closed Doors Event 24 November

The Chairman reported that the Behind Closed Doors event held in November 2014 to raise awareness among employers over their duty of care to employees at risk of domestic abuse had been well attended.

Licensing

The Community Safety Manager agreed to ensure the City of London Corporation webpages for Licensing and the Safer City Partnership were appropriately linked.

CCTV

The Chairman noted that the issue of CCTV covering the Barbican had been discussed at the Police Committee meeting in October 2014 and that a report would be submitted to the Police Committee in March 2015.

20MPH Speed Limit

A Police Superintendent reported that enforcement of the new 20MPH limit in the City was going well. Average speeds in contravention of the new limit were 25MPH with some isolated incidents of 58 and 64 MPH.

Air Quality

The Public Protection Director noted that a new Air Quality Strategy was being prepared.

There were no outstanding actions.

Report of the Assistant Director Street Scene and Strategy, Built Environment

The Group discussed a report on progress against targets by the Safer City Partnership for the period Q2 2014/15. The Assistant Director of Streetscene and Strategy noted that rough sleeper performance had improved, and that a review into domestic abuse services was underway in the Department of Community and Children’s Services. He added that the week commencing 24 November would be National Counterterrorism Week, and that events would be held across the Corporation which including Open Spaces, Markets, Environmental Health, Housing and Cleansing departments. He concluded by noting that a policy toolkit for use by hotels was being formulated. The toolkit would assist staff in identifying and responding to signs of domestic and physical abuse. In response to a question, he confirmed that the Emergency Planning Team was involved in these initiatives.

            A member commented that the Hotel Forum could usefully be combined with other fora.

RECEIVED

Report of the Borough Commander, London Fire Brigade

The London Fire Brigade Borough Commander provided an update on recent work by the London Fire Brigade in the City, noting that his team were working with the Assistant Director of Streetscene and Strategy in map areas where outdoor bin fires were prevalent. Moreover his team were meeting performance targets. In response to a question, he replied that these performance targets were set centrally by the London Fire Brigade.

RECEIVED

Report of the Education Development Manager

The London Fire Brigade Borough Commander provided an update of Fire Cadets, noting that the programme was aimed at underachieving young people to support and encourage their personal development. He noted that one cadet had recently attended a public dinner and delivered a well-received speech despite initially being a nervous public speaker.

            The Chairman thanked the Borough Commander for his update and added that he was a huge fan of the cadet movement, and that there was a potential event to include the Fire Cadets in come March 2015. The Borough Commander thanked the Chairman, noting that he would work with the Assistant Director of Streetscene and Strategy to establish where the programme could be further developed and whether further funding could be secured.

RECEIVED

Report of the Community Safety Manager

The Community Safety Manager introduced a community safety update, noting the recent Behind Closed Doors event and the fact that the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham had a dedicated policy on identifying and assisting staff vulnerable to abuse, and therefore she was working with City of London Corporation Human Resources staff to identify elements of best-practice.

            She went on to note that she was now attending both Rape and Violence against Women and Girls steering groups, and that her team were regular attendees of SARA meetings with the City of London Police. She concluded by noting that upcoming work items included crime prevention at office Christmas parties in the City, including a campaign in conjunction with the Greater London Authority London Drugs and Alcohol Policy Forum.

            In response to a concern expressed by a member, officers replied that drunk-tanks were not in operation in the City, but that other initiatives such as close cooperation with the London Ambulance Service, prosecution of offending licensed premises, and preventative initiatives such as floor staff with alcometers were being trialed. The Assistant Director for Streetscene and Strategy noted that letters were being issued to companies in the City to remind them of their duty of care to their staff.

RECEIVED

Report of the City of London Police

The City of London Police Superintendent provided an update for the Group, noting first that there had been a reduction in violence with injury but an increase in harassment. This increase had been apparent across all London forces, and included activity such as persistent texts, stalking and internet trolling. The nature of the activity meant that it was difficult to put a tactical group together to address the issue. The Chairman noted that the one positive aspect was that the activity was being reported.

            The City of London Police Superintendent went on to note that City police officers were looking at the issue of theft from motor vehicles in particular, and that a prosecution for attempted murder was taking place following an incident involving a vehicle. In response to a question the Superintendent replied that theft from vehicle crime was not localized but was instead spread across the City.

RECEIVED

Report of the Assistant Director Street Scene and Strategy, Built Environment

The Assistant Director of Streetscene and Strategy provided an update on the Proceeds of Crime Act, noting that the homelessness initiative in the City was funded in part by funds granted by the Proceeds of Crime Act Board (POCA). In response to a question he replied that the way in which POCA bids were prioritized was in line with Home Office guidance.

RECEIVED

Report of the Substance Misuse Partnership Manager, Community & Children's Services

The Substance Misuse Manager provided an update on substance misuse, noting that a tender for a joint service encompassing substance misuse and tobacco control services was due in early 2015.

            She went on to note that the trial by NHS England of a Police Custody Healthcare Service involving the City of London Police was an exciting development. She concluded by noting that a memorandum of understanding for the Drug Intervention Programme was included with the report as an appendix.

RECEIVED

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services

The Substance Misuse Manager introduced a legal highs briefing that had been issued to the City of London Police, noting that it was due to be revised in early 2015. In response to a question, the Superintendent replied that more intelligence was needed to build a better picture of the pattern through which legal highs were marketed and sold.

RECEIVED

Report of Community & Children's Services

The Group discussed the Health and Wellbeing Board update report. BG expressed concern on behalf of residents over new GP contracts issued by NHS England taking effect from January 2015 would make it easier for GP practices to accept registration from patients who lived outside of the practice’s geographic area. Given the high day-time population of the City, this meant GP services to residents would likely suffer due to high demand from City workers.

RECEIVED

Report of the Head of Homelessness and Rough Sleepers

The Head of Homelessness and Rough Sleepers introduced an update report on homelessness in the City, noting that her team had performed well in the last quarter. She added that her team would be seeking to build on this work by applying for another grant from the POCA Board for pop-up hubs providing homelessness services.

            In response to a question, she replied that the average of a rough sleeper within the City ranged from 40-50 years of age, and that her team was seeing some evidence of rough sleepers who were substance abusers entering the City from neighbouring boroughs. 

            In response to a question from the Chairman, the Assistant Director Streetscene and Strategy replied that the recent visit to the city by a Chief Executive from Australia had gone well, with the visitor being impressed at the scale of intervention into the problem of homelessness and rough sleeping – he noted that part of the reason for their good impression of the intervention activity was that there was no equivalent to the Vagrancy Act in Australia.

RECEIVED

Presentation by Community Safety Officer  

A Community Safety Officer provided an update on the community trigger provided by the new ASBCP Act 2014, noting that it had gone live since October 2014. In response to a question, she replied that the trigger would not replace existing enforcement tools such as reviews of premises licenses, but was rather intended as a means through which the local community could challenge the police and local authorities when they felt their community safety needs were not being met.

Report of the Port Health & Public Protection Director, Markets & Consumer Protection

The Director of Port Health and Public Protection provided an update on public protection service activity, noting that recent street trading activity had focused on enforcing against illegal ice cream vans and nut sellers.

            In response to a question regarding the 70:30 breakdown in proceeds from the Late Night Levy, the Director replied that a report would be submitted to the Licensing Committee once the system had been in operation for six months to outline how the funding had been utilized. The allocation process had yet to be completed, but would be approved by the Licensing Chairman.

RECEIVED

24-Hour London Underground Services

The Superintendent noted that the introduction of 24-hour tube services needed to be evaluated to ensure public safety was maintained – it was important that the Group was made aware of any issues arising from the change to 24-hour operation. 

New Year’s Eve 2015

In response to a question, the Superintendent replied that City of London Police were conducting a joint-operation with the Metropolitan Police on New Year’s Eve.