APPENDIX 2: BEST PRACTICE EXAMPLES OF COMMUNITY SAFETY WORK 2020/21
PRIORITY CRIME
Modern Slavery
· In September 2020 alongside leads from Adult Social Care, Children’s Services and Sussex Police, the Safer East Sussex Team delivered Modern Slavery training to ESCC members covering legislation, the different types of exploitation, the local and national picture, duties of the local authority and crucially how councillors can help tackle modern slavery.
· The Modern Slavery Pledge was signed by Chief Executive Becky Shaw, Council Leader Councillor Keith Glazier, and the previous lead member for Communities and Safety Councillor Bill Bentley, underlining East Sussex County Council's commitment to Sussex-wide plans to end modern slavery and human trafficking. The pledge coincided with the 10-year anniversary of UK Anti-Slavery Day on the 18th October 2020.
· In February 2021 we supported the pan Sussex Anti-Slavery Network to deliver a modern slavery workshop developed by Dr Alicia Kidd from the Wilberforce Institute at the University of Hull. In each workshop the attendees worked in partnership through a realistic scenario of modern slavery, allowing them to learn about current gaps and best practice in their respective region.
Reducing re-offending
· In October 2020 Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Reducing Reoffending Directorate awarded East Sussex 'trailblazer status' for adopting a whole-system approach to improving the outcomes for prison leavers.
· In February 2021 as a result of East Sussex’s trailblazer status HMPPS provided bespoke sessions with Professor Keith Grint, an expert in systems leadership. The sessions included lead trailblazer partners, Safer East Sussex Team, National Probation Service, Rough Sleepers Initiative, and local District & Borough Housing authorities. The session further supported trailblazers to develop innovative resettlement opportunities for prison leavers which are coming to fruition throughout 2021.
· Funding was secured to recruit a Prison Housing Options Officer, a new post which will pilot in autumn 2021 to work across all local housing authorities enabling prisoners to have immediate access to specialist homelessness advice, prevention, and support to improve their chances of successful resettlement in the community.
Community Safety Education and Awareness Delivery – Young People
RelationSHOPS Programme
These workshops focus on the different types of relationships young people are part of in society today and are divided into 4 themed ‘shops’. Pupils have opportunities to contribute by discussing the law around different scenarios including hate crime, criminal exploitation, county lines and online bullying.
75 RelationSHOPS workshops have been delivered since September 2020, to approximately 2,250 children at Primary Schools across East Sussex. Some feedback from pupils/staff:
· Year 6 pupil (Telscombe Cliffs Primary Schools)
I liked: the inclusiveness, the tips and tricks, the all-round professionals describing it properly, the timing was good because of the imminent racism and he calmly described the serious act of hate, making people realise what they did wrong.
· Year 6 pupil (Pevensey & Westham Primary School)
The things I liked about your workshop is all the rules you taught us; it was so much fun. I also liked learning about the drugs as I didn’t know much about them. I also liked that you tried to get people involved as much as possible even though coronavirus is still here. Your workshop is amazing. I really enjoyed it and I wish I could have it again soon.
· Headteacher Skippers Hill Prep-School
Many thanks indeed for this. We really enjoyed having you here at Skippers last week and both pupils and staff found it very valuable. It was noted by a couple of sets of parents that dropped off pupils the following morning that their children had come home and talked about the content you went through and talked with real interest and certainly enjoyed their experience.
· Head of Year 6 Emily Skillen
You came in to our school in January to deliver some sessions for our Year 6 pupils. When evaluating the year, many pupils highlighted your sessions as one of their highlights and they often used the strategies that you had taught them. I was therefore wondering if you might be able to return again this year.
In My Shoes
A new project delivered with Victim Support and supported by Bexhill Performing Arts Students. It portrays the impact certain crimes and behaviours can have on an individual and explains the different ways people can be affected by crime and harmful behaviours.
This resource presents various victim accounts portrayed and acted by Bexhill College performing arts students. They are taken from real victim testimonies and have been expertly turned into personal accounts and scenarios for the purpose of this resource. They include themes on knife crime, domestic abuse, sexual exploitation, hate crime and online harms. The session is delivered to secondary students.
Early feedback from the pilot:
· Majority of participants told us their understanding of how crime and harmful behaviour can impact on someone has changed.
· They enjoyed the videos and role play parts of the session most.
· Some of the students could relate to the scenarios.
· Students felt sad, uncomfortable, angry by some of the victim stories.
· The main points they took away were the impact the crime had had on the victims, to be empathetic and how they could help someone in these situations.
Channel Early Intervention and Support for Young People
Early intervention and support are delivered only where appropriate, and in the following circumstances:
· If there is not a vulnerability that puts the individual at risk of being drawn into terrorism and the concern is low level and does not pose a Counter-Terrorism risk.
· The young person is attending school/college.
· Where education is more appropriate than an intervention provider.
· When consent is not provided by parents/individual - group work or year group assembly can be delivered to enforce key messages around specific issues identified.
· To bridge the gap between receipt of the referral and the appointment of an intervention provider
10 intervention sessions have taken place with 4 young people in 2021. The types of referrals vary, for example, one local school wanted support with a young boy around his racist/discriminatory comments to students from other countries or race, leading to conflict. Three sessions were delivered, and the young boy engaged very well – they focused on British Values[1], identity, hate crime and the impact this type of comment can have.
The Headteacher wrote Thanks for the report. Great news he has not lapsed, and he has been great towards the other children. Thank you for all your support. I hope you have a great summer.
This short intervention avoided the need for a Prevent referral to be submitted and allowed for a timely intervention with the young boy who was unaware of how his behaviour had been impacting on some of his peers. After the sessions he understood hate crime and British Values, and that racism has no place in these values.