Agenda item

7.1       The Committee considered a report which provided an annual review of Safer Communities performance, priorities and issues which was introduced by the Assistant Director - Planning, Performance and Engagement, Samantha Williams, and the Safer Communities Manager, Justine Armstrong-Smith.

7.2       The following points were made in response to the Committee’s questions:

·         Officers assured the Committee that there is sufficient flexibility within the partnerships and plans to adjust to emerging challenges. Officers provided examples where there has been a shift in emphasis within the Business Plan in response to new threats and challenges such as cybercrime, exploitation, drugs and cuckooing.

·         In relation to funding provided by the Police and Crime Commissioner, this is now focused at district and borough level, plus some funding to work on issues on a pan-Sussex basis. The work of the Safer East Sussex team supports both county-wide and more local work, for example current work around County Lines and cuckooing. The team attends as many local meetings as possible and also plays a key role in translating national and regional policies into local work. Key relationships are in place and there have been recent discussions at Community Safety Partnerships to discuss meeting arrangements going forward.

·         In relation to statistics on the number of people receiving drug treatment, East Sussex has a good record of people successfully moving through treatment first time and not subsequently coming back into the system which impacts on the figures for the numbers entering treatment. The county compares well nationally.

·         Sussex Police are reporting a real challenge in keeping pace with cuckooing, particularly given the age profile which can be as young as 11, and the use of different types of property such as Air B&B and caravans which are less visible. The Lead Member for Children and Families commented on the involvement of Children’s Services and the LSCB in Safer Communities work, for example supporting County Lines work by taking children into care for protection.

·         There are a range of actions underway via partnership working in relation to drug misuse and cuckooing, for example action in schools on exploitation incorporates exploitation related to drugs.

·         In relation to the scale of modern slavery within the county, officers advised that Project Discovery in the Hastings and Rother area had made six referrals to the National Referral Mechanism since the start of year. A further six cases have been referred through other routes as it is not yet clear whether these cases are modern slavery. Eight people have come forward through other initiatives. Project Discovery is due to be rolled out across East Sussex which will enable a clearer picture of the issue to be obtained.

7.3       The Lead Member for Communities and Safety commented that the partnership arrangements in East Sussex work very well and enable partners to be reactive to current issues. There is a need to be engaged at regional level as well as within the county given the nature of crimes and the Police and Crime Commissioner funding arrangements are supporting liaison with other areas which will feed down into local partnership work.

7.4       The Committee RESOLVED to note the report.