Agenda item

Report of the Director of Public Safety.

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Community Safety.

DMC Members raised the following concerns:

• Some DMC Members had experienced serious issues with crime and antisocial behaviour (ASB) on their estate and felt that these issues had not been suitably addressed.
• Some estates would have lower reports, despite crime and ASB being prevalent due to residents being reluctant to report due to not wanting to get involved or due to fear of consequences. 
• Some residents had consistently reported issues but had become tired of continuously having to make reports and had found it incredibly draining, especially as they had not seen any of the issues resolved.
• Residents had experienced lots of issues such as theft, ASB, and drug use and had been put into situations where they were forced to take action due to concerns for their safety and lack of support from the authorities, which was unacceptable.
• Young people were being drawn into crime from young ages, as there were no more services available to them, such as youth clubs.
• It was noted that sometimes when police presence was increased on certain estates, the troublemakers would move on to a different area and bring issues to different estates.
• Sometimes patrols had been scheduled at times of the day when issues were not as apparent, so authorities did not have a full picture of some of the problems on the estates.
• It was imperative that there was cross authority working as some estates were pass throughs to get into Islington.
• DMC were concerned that the police were not sharing vital information about crime on estates with the Council, this needed to be addressed and improved.
• Anti-social behaviour was a problem for all residents, regardless of whether they were on an estate or in a street property. Some residents were living with serious issues but were too frightened to report them.
• DMC Members agreed that a special meeting on Crime and ASB would be beneficial for residents and requested that TRA Chairs be provided with further information.

ACTION: Community Safety/ Tenant Participation

The Community Presence Team Leader introduced the report and provided the following information in response to questions:

• Leaflets and door knocks had taken place on some estates to inform residents when estate action days were taking place, however action days had not yet been arranged for some estates but information on upcoming action days would follow in due course. 
• So far action days had taken place in Kentish Town on the Torriano, Rostock and Peckwater Estates.
• The action days had been well received so far, and residents had the opportunity to talk to officers from different services and some issues were able to be resolved on the day, for example some repairs had been undertaken on the spot, or they had been inspected and further work arranged for a later date.
• The Ingester Road Estate Action Day was scheduled to take place in January.
• Officers went with police on patrols of estates.  In the south of the borough for example, hotspot patrols were undertaken and areas with high levels of ASB and drug activity were inspected to identify issues and potential perpetrators and enforcement proceedings were initiated, as necessary. 
• Low levels of reporting on estates was a major problem as deployment of resources was data lead and based on reports, so it was important that detailed reports were made when residents witnessed crime and ASB. 
• If consistent reports were received about issues on certain estates or in certain areas resources would be directed to address this.
• if there was a particular address of concern, resources and specific support would also be directed there.
• Officers were undertaking design out crime work and were exploring new ways to work more closely with partners.