Agenda item

16.1     The Head of Safer Communities introduced the report which outlined the performance across the Safer Communities Partnership during 2024/25. The Head of Safer Communities confirmed that East Sussex remains a safe place to live with crime rates below national average, despite some challenges in coastal areas of the county.

16.2     The Partnership’s key objectives of protecting vulnerable people, identifying people at risk or harm, and keeping communities safe remained the same and business plan objectives overall were progressing well.

16.3     The Committee was informed of updated data since the publication of the report regarding deaths that had met the criteria for a domestic abuse review and heard that there had been notifications of four in the last week. The Head of Safer Communities commented that the criteria had recently broadened to include death by suicide in the context of domestic abuse.

16.4     Committee thanked officers for the report asked questions in the following areas:

• Drug related offences – The Committee welcomed and sought clarification on reasons for the reduction in drug related offences, particularly in the Hastings area. In response they heard that there had been significant investment in treatment and recovery through the Drug and Alcohol Treatment, Recovery and Improvement Grant which had resulted in more people entering treatment as well as targeted work with young people. The Head of Safer Communities commented that heroin and other opiates was being used less widely amongst young people, but alcohol was becoming an increasing concern.
• Temporary accommodation – The Committee asked if people being housed in East Sussex from other areas, including Brighton, was having an impact on drug and alcohol related deaths in the county, including Eastbourne, and commented that issues could arise if people were housed without adequate support. The Director of ASCH informed the Committee that currently there were approximately 200 Brighton and Hove residents housed in the Eastbourne area and there had been a small number of issues as well as the recent deaths of two adults. However, relationships with colleagues at Brighton and Hove Council were positive and processes were in place to raise issues and repatriate individuals for them to access the appropriate support. In response to a request for information regarding these deaths, the Director confirmed that there had not been Safeguarding Adults Review referrals in relation to these deaths, however the department would investigate access to support services if this was a contributing factor and noted that coroners’ reports would be published when available.
• Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences referrals – The Committee questioned the high number of Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARC) referrals involving disabled individuals and comments in the report that this likely reflected both a higher local rate of self-identified disability and broader interpretations of disability by referral agencies, and asked what criteria was currently in place. The Head of Safer Communities noted that this was being looked at through the audit process but commented that agencies were likely to note individuals were emotionally distressed despite this not necessarily indicating a mental health issue.
• Drug and alcohol deaths – The Committee enquired about the change in criteria for recording drug and alcohol deaths and commented that if deaths were only recorded for people accessing services, any change or reduction to services would impact this data and asked if deaths related to drugs and alcohol should be recorded separately.  In response the Committee heard there was separate data for deaths relating to drug and alcohol and that alcohol related deaths were often more prolonged compared to fatal overdoses. The most recent data for these was from 2023, due to coronary processes, so additional real time data focussed on people in contact with services allowed for greater understanding of the current picture. The provision of services would impact on this data, however there was significant investment in drug and alcohol services. National statistics also included drug toxicity deaths, such as paracetamol overdoses, which may reflect suicide rather than substance misuse. The Committee asked about how Safer Communities tracks drug and alcohol misuse among those not in contact with services. The Head of Safer Communities noted academic research had estimated this figure, which had consequently informed national investment in treatment, but commented that some individuals will choose not to engage with services. There had however, been local successes in reaching opiate users.
• Community safety survey– The Committee discussed the high number of responses to the community safety survey from Wealden residents. The Head of Safer Communitiescommented that this was possibly due to the Safer in East Sussex newsletter having a broader readership in Wealden. There was an effort to ensure this was circulated widely across the county and welcomed any suggestions to improve this. 
• Community cohesion – the Committee enquired about work to support community cohesion in response to recent tensions. The Head of Safer Communities clarified that there had been very few recent incidents of far right /counter protests in East Sussex, possibly due to no hotels housing asylum seekers in the county, but noted work on monitoring community sentiments through sharing information across statutory agencies; a community engagement strategy had been drafted for PREVENT to support conversations around community tension, particularly where there was risk of violence.
• Domestic abuse related deaths – A question was asked about deaths caused by domestic abuse and if there were any links to far-right violence. The Head of Safer Communities confirmed that there was evidence linking extremist behaviours to domestic abuse but there was no evidence of this locally in domestic abuse related deaths reviews, although this would remain under comprehensive review. She also noted that the recent increase in domestic abuse related deaths was due to a change in criteria which now included suicide and drug overdose in the context of domestic abuse.
• Vaping – A question was asked about the role of Safer Communities in tackling vaping amongst children. The Head of Safer Communities clarified the role of Public Health in encouraging smokers to vape (whilst not encouraging vaping amongst non-smokers) and Trading Standards in ensuring vapes are not sold to children. More information could be provided by Trading Standards on this issue after the meeting.
• Local housing and crime – The Committee asked if there was a correlation between the number of new housing estates and crime figures in East Sussex. The Head of Safer Communities informed the Committee that hot spots were monitored and that to date these were not linked to new housing estates, although noted that data could be skewed by a particular household moving into an area.
• Shoplifting – The Committee discussed the increase in shoplifting and commented that this data was inaccurate due to a high number of incidents that were unreported due to a lack of trust in the system. Councillor Swansborough noted discussions amongst the Town Centre Crime Panel including incidents of shoplifting by people from outside the local area. Councillor Beaver noted there was frustration amongst retail staff about the inability to stop perpetrators. The Head of Safer Communities recognised that shoplifting was under reported but that police did target prolific offenders so urged people to report any incidents.
• Funding – The Committee asked if funding from the Home Office to support activity in high crime and anti-social behaviour areas would continue. The Head of Safer Communities confirmed funding for this year would continue but next year was dependent on the next Spending Review.  In response to a question on how local government reorganisation and devolution would impact on funding, the Director of ASCH commented that this was not yet clear but noted that the intended move of responsibility for policing and crime commissioning to the Mayoral authority would likely have an impact.

16.5     The Committee RESOLVED to note the report.

Meeting ended at 12.30pm.

Councillor Johanna Howell (Chair)