Agenda item

To provide an overview to Members of the activities of the Gwynedd and Anglesey Community Safety Partnership.

Resolved:

1.    To accept the report, noting the observations made during the discussion.

2.    To support the priorities and the future direction of the work.

3.    Recommend that the Partnership add preventative work linked to sexual offences as a specific priority for the future. 

 

The report was presented by the Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Well-being, Senior Manager for Safeguarding, Quality Assurance and Mental Health, Senior Operational Officer of the Gwynedd and Anglesey Community Safety Partnership, Statutory Director of Social Services and Chief Inspector of North Wales Police. ⁠

 

All were reminded that submitting an annual update on the implementation of the Safety Partnership was a statutory requirement for Local Authorities in accordance with the Police and Criminal Justice Act 2002 and 2006.

 

It was explained that Community Safety Partnerships had been established in 1988 to ensure that crime and disorder was considered as a problem for everyone within society, not just for the police. It was added that the Partnership had a responsibility to formulate and implement a strategy to prevent and reduce serious violence and this was being done regionally across north Wales.

 

It was emphasised that no funds were permanently allocated for community safety and the Partnership was dependent on ad-hoc funding opportunities following the submission of detailed bids. It was noted that the only service directly commissioned by the Partnership were the Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHR). It was explained that the Domestic Homicide Reviews were a statutory duty as a result of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2024. It was confirmed that two reviews had been submitted to the Home Office and had been approved. Members were updated that the Partnership had submitted a bid to the Self-Harm and Suicide Prevention Fund to deliver a joint project with the Domestic Abuse Safety Unit, North Wales Police, and the ’Live Fear Free’ helpline to provide support to victims of domestic abuse. Pride was expressed that this bid had been approved and the project would be developed during 2025.

 

Several priority issues were highlighted for the partnership during 2024-25, based on the regional priorities of the Safer North Wales Board Strategy. It was explained that these included:

·       Prevention of crime and anti-social behaviour

·       Tackling violent crime

·       Tackling serious organised crime

·       Safeguarding and building resilient communities and maintaining public safety.

 

Data was shared data on several different types of crime and compared with the 2023/24 data statistics to look if Gwynedd's statistics were similar to what was seen across north Wales. It was recognised that there was a significant increase in the rates of stalking and harassment (+11.5%) and sex offences (+27.9%) compared with 2023/24 rates. It was considered that this increase derived from the fact that more cases were being reported as victims were more confident to do so following recent campaigns. It was added that there was an increase in the number of offences being reported after more than 12 months had elapsed since the offence. Reference was also made to hate crime rates, and it was also noted that these were 16.3% higher in Gwynedd compared to 2023/24. It was emphasised that a 10.9% increase in this type of crime appeared to be regional. However, it was assured that the rates of all types of crime were not on the rise, such as domestic incidents (-1.3% compared to 2023/24) and rates of individuals offending under the influence of alcohol or drugs (-28.5% regionally compared to 2023/24).

 

It was reported that the North Wales Serious Violence Strategy had been published in January 2024. It was explained that this Strategy imposed a Serious Violence Duty on specified authorities to work together to prevent and reduce serious crime in their communities. It was emphasised that the Partnership had played a central role in developing this Strategy. The Partnership received £82,000 for this work which was designated to fund eight new projects.

 

Pride was expressed that the Partnership had received £450,000 through the Shared Prosperity Fund to install and upgrade close circuit television (CCTV) in areas of Caernarfon, Bangor and Pwllheli. Thanks were given for the close collaboration with the Highways, Engineering and YGC Department who had been assisting with the installation of the cameras. It was added that the Partnership intended to submit applications for additional funding from the Shared Prosperity Fund so that more CCTV cameras could be installed in other areas of Gwynedd.

 

An update was given that Public Spaces Protection Orders had been issued in areas of Caernarfon, Cricieth and Pwllheli in August 2024 following the Cabinet's approval. It was noted that these had been introduced to ensure the public felt safe within their communities and to give police extra powers to tackle anti-social behaviour.

 

During the discussion, the following observations were made:- 

 

Concern was raised that the data presented within the report indicated that sex offences had increased significantly more in Gwynedd (+27.9%) than regionally (+14.6%) compared to the 2023/24 data. The Partnership was thanked for the work being done to support victims of sex offences. However, it was considered that the Partnership should ensure that preventative work in this area was a future priority to ensure that rates are reduced. In response to the comments, the Senior Manager for Safeguarding, Quality Assurance and Mental Health confirmed that preventative work was being implemented such as the programmes undertaken in schools to learn about acceptable behaviours and healthy relationships. ⁠

 

The Partnership was congratulated on their success in refurbishing CCTV systems in the Caernarfon, Bangor and Pwllheli areas. It was considered that if work was being carried out to assess crime rates before the new cameras were installed and to compare these to see if this project had resulted in fewer offences. In response to the comments, the Senior Operational Officer of the Gwynedd and Anglesey Community Safety Partnership confirmed that this was an important element of the project and positive data would give information to support additional applications to the Shared Prosperity Fund. It was confirmed that the Wavehill company had been commissioned to ascertain the relevant data and confirm that the information would be included in the Partnership's 2025/26 annual update, and it would be possible to share information with this Committee if desired.

 

Reference was made to the North Wales Vulnerability and Exploitation Strategy 2021-24 which involved violence against women, domestic abuse, sexual abuse and modern slavery, and it was asked what work was taking place to support communities to recognise signs that individuals were victims of modern slavery. In response to the query, the Senior Safeguarding, Quality Assurance and Mental Health Manager confirmed that this work was not being implemented directly by the Partnership but that a Vulnerability Board was looking into these issues and educating residents on the awareness of modern slavery and how they could recognise signs that someone was suffering.

 

It was highlighted that hate crime was a growing issue in Gwynedd and regionally, with statistics increasing annually. In response to a query on how to deal with this challenge, the Senior Operational Officer of Gwynedd and Anglesey Community Safety Partnership confirmed that the Partnership was aware of the challenge. It was noted that it was difficult to deal with this using one specific method as there were several different aspects to the offences. However, it was emphasised that the Partnership was working together to develop powerful plans to respond to the challenge with a view of reducing the number of this type of crime in the future.

 

It was considered that rates of domestic, sexual offences and stalking could fall if more resources were earmarked to deal with them, such as ensuring more police officers were on patrol in our communities. In response to the comments, the Senior Operational Officer of the Gwynedd and Anglesey Community Safety Partnership agreed that this could be an effective way of lowering the crime rates. However, it was confirmed that the Welsh Government was responsible for the various grants that fund the Partnership and there were limits as to how those funds could be spent. It was emphasised that lobbying work was happening to see an increase in the grants available to the Partnership this year and that officers were enquiring about the grants’ forecasts for the 2025/26 financial year.

 

It was noted that house and business burglary crime statistics were relatively similar to those seen in 2023/24. It was asked whether it was possible to receive data to outline how many of these crimes occur in rural settings compared to urban areas. It was also considered whether any consideration had been given to a mobile CCTV device which can be used in different areas as required. In response to the comments, the Senior Operational Officer of Gwynedd and Anglesey Community Safety Partnership explained that due to the complexity of the task and that there was only one analyst carrying out the work across north Wales that this data could not be received for the whole of the County, but that data could be provided if information about a particular area was requested. The Chief Inspector elaborated that the Police and CSP welcomed the idea of a mobile CCTV device but financial considerations were a barrier to purchase.

 

It was asked whether the locations where crime takes place were assessed (such as the quality of the streetlight, if it was a shaded or hidden area) and being considered following crimes, to consider improvements to prevent future crime. In response to the question, the Chief Inspector confirmed that this was a very important part of police investigations and led to adjustments in the way those spaces were protected.

 

It was considered whether the increase in sexual offences figures was due to any changes to crime reporting. In response to the query the Senior Manager for Safeguarding, Quality Assurance and Mental Health confirmed that victims felt more confident to report crime following campaigns to raise awareness about this process. It was added that this has led to victims reporting historical crimes which had been included in the figures in the report.

 

It was mentioned that the statistics presented in the report reflected the crimes reported. It was discussed that a number of offences had not been included in the report as no one had reported them, and to consider what work was being done by the Partnership to try to ensure that as many crimes as possible were detected and that data was processed annually. In response to the query, the Senior Manager for Safeguarding, Quality Assurance and Mental Health confirmed that collecting this data could be challenging but the Partnership was working with support services such as the Live Fear Free Helpline, North Wales Violence and Sexual Abuse Support Centre, Gorwel and the Domestic Abuse Safety Unit (DASU) to be able to consider the type of challenges that affect them. The Chief Inspector added that offenders were often not caught when undertaking their first offence and work was being done to try to catch offenders sooner and to encourage victims to report offences earlier.

 

The members expressed their thanks for the report.

 

         RESOLVED

1.     To accept the report, noting the observations made during the discussion.

2.     To support the priorities and the future direction of the work.

3.     To recommend that the Partnership adds preventative work linked to sexual offences as a specific future priority.