Decision details

The Chair welcomed County Councillor Peter Buckley, Cabinet Member for Community and Cultural Services; Debbie Thompson, Public Health Specialist, Lancashire County Council; Angela Harrison, Director of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner; Robert Ruston, Partnerships Officer, Police and Crime Commissioner's Office; and Lee Sculpher, Senior Partnership Analyst, Public Health, Lancashire County Council, to the meeting.

The report presented provided an overview of the Strategic Assessment, which in Lancashire was produced on a three yearly cycle, with an annual review of key findings. Members raised concerns that knife crime had not been included in the Community Safety Agreement for 2019-2022, given recent events both locally and nationally. Members also suggested if work could be done in schools to help reduce knife crime. Officers felt they would welcome the opportunity to work with schools and youth forums. It was reported that the Community Safety Agreement was a high-level document of key issues and that detailed work would happen in local areas.

The Committee noted that Lancashire County Council could not instruct what each of the Community Safety Partnership's priorities should be. It was also noted that the information used to inform the Agreement was gathered 12 months ago.

A question was asked regarding when, how and from whom the Living in Lancashire Survey was sent out to. In response it was reported that the officers in attendance didn't have the information with them at the meeting but agreed to contact Lancashire County Council's Communications team to obtain and circulate it to the Committee. A copy of the response is set out in the minutes.

Members fed back on the concerns of their residents. The committee felt there was a loss of connectivity between police and the communities. Concerns were raised about the lack of PACT (Police and Communities Together) meetings. Engagement with communities was different across the County and in some instances was through a virtual online PACT. The Committee was informed that three Engagement Officers had recently been appointed to work with each of the Base Command Unit areas. However, there was a consensus from members that they wanted to see more policing in their areas.

The Committee was informed that over the next four months a review of Community Safety Partnership working and Governance arrangements would be undertaken. It was suggested that the outcome of the review be presented to the Committee in five months' time.

Resolved:

1.  The Cabinet Member for Community and Cultural Services consider the inclusion of knife crime in the Community Safety Agreement for 2019-2022, before it takes effect from 1 April 2019.

2.  An update on the review of Community Safety Partnerships be presented to the External Scrutiny Committee in five months' time.