Agenda item

The Group Manager - Community Safety introduced a report that provided an update on the work of the Slough Violence Task Force.

The Task Force had been formed in October 2019 to provide a multi-agency, co-ordinated approach to address the issue of serious violence in Slough.  It brought together a range of partners from Health, Children and Adult services, Safer Slough Partnership, Youth Services, and the voluntary sector to focus on tackling the issue.

Three sub groups had been formed (Data and Insight, Violence Reduction Interventions and Communications) in order to work across a range of statutory and voluntary groups to understand and identify the causes of violence, map the current provision of service delivery, and to create a communications plan.  The findings of the three sub groups were used to inform the creation of a live action plan.  The plan was an evolving document and was used as a project management tool.

In concluding, the presentation the Group Manager – Community Safety informed Members that whilst work of the Task Force had continued throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, officers were acutely aware that the landscape was continually changing and there was a need to reflect and review as the Task Force moved forward.  Work was ongoing to adapt processes, form new projects and establish interventions to reduce the impact of violence in Slough.

The Chair then invited comments and questions from Members.

During the course of the discussion, the following points were raised:

• A Member asked how the work of the Task Force had progressed during the Covid-19 lockdown period.  What challenges the Task Force had faced and what it had achieved to date.  It was explained that work had been focussed on building effective partnership working to improve communication and establish interventions.
• In relation to early intervention strategies, a Member asked if work was being undertaken with both primary and junior aged school pupils.  It was confirmed that the Interventions sub group actively engaged with both primary and junior school aged pupils.  In addition, work with the voluntary sector and the Youth Parliament was being developed. 
• It was queried if Slough had a similar level of violence to other areas in the Thames Valley.  It was confirmed that Slough was comparable to neighbouring areas.  In some respects Slough was safer than nearby areas in the Thames Valley and London; however Slough faced particular challenges, which the Task Force aimed to address.
• A Member requested some information about the total crime figures for Slough compared to nearby Oxford, Reading and Milton Keynes.  The Group Manager - Community Safety agreed to circulate the information to the Committee.
• It was asked what impact the Task Force had made on the level of violence in Slough.  It was explained that the work of the Task Force was developing and data to demonstrate impact was not yet available.
• A Member asked what was being done to tackle the issue of knife crime in Slough.  It was explained that knife crime was a global challenge and a complex issue to resolve.  The Task Force had adopted a collaborative approach and would be undertaking work with young people to address the issue in Slough.
• The Committee was informed that clear communication with residents was central to the work of the Task Force and a number of media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and the Council’s web site were being used to engage with the community.
• A Member asked if an increase in the number of police officers in Slough would reduce levels of violence.  It was explained that whilst sufficient police resource was important, it was not possible to ‘police our way out of knife crime and violence’ and that adopting a ‘Public Health approach’ by developing strategies to divert young people away from knife crime and violence were crucial in tackling these issues.
• A Member asked what the average police response attendance time was.  It was explained that this question would be best addressed by the Chief Constable when he next attended an Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting.
• It was queried if the installation of additional CCTV in Salt Hill Park would assist in reducing crime.  It was explained that often parks did not have suitable lighting and this inhibited the effectiveness of CCTV; police monitoring of parks and open spaces was considered as a more effective solution.
• A Member asked how the impact of the Task Force would be measured.  It was explained that the work was being undertaken to understand the data available.  The Task Force would be considering performance monitoring and working with partner agencies to establish a suitable metric to monitor levels of violent crime.  The data collated by the Safer Slough Partnership would be used as a baseline to inform the future work of the Task Force.
• With regard to early interventions, it was queried if young people were made aware of the impact of illegal substance misuse.  Members were informed that a ‘Choices Programme’ was being rolled out in primary and secondary school in Slough to educate pupils about the consequences of making ‘good’ and ‘bad’ choices.
• A Member suggested that when police responded to a report of crime, they should do so without using a car siren, as this provided the offender with an opportunity to run away from the scene.  It was suggested that this comment be addressed by the Chief Constable when he next attended an Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting.
• A Member requested information about the uptake of apprenticeships by young people who had been permanently excluded from school.  The Group Manager- Community Safety agreed to contact the Service Lead, Communities and Leisure for details and to circulate a response to the Committee.

(Councillor R Sandhu left the meeting)

The Chair thanked the Group Manager- Community Safety for the presentation and report.

Resolved –

(a)  That the report be noted.

(b)  That the Group Manager – Community Safety be requested to circulate the additional information requested, as detailed above, to the Committee.