Agenda item

To consider performance regarding the Community Safety Partnership’s priorities between April 2016 and March 2017.

The Committee considered a report which outlined the Community Safety Partnership’s priorities between April 2016 and March 2017. The priorities discussed within the report were the Partnership priorities for 2016/2019: Violence Against The Person, Antisocial Behaviour, Domestic Abuse, Sexual Offences and Rape, and Child Sexual Exploitation. The report also made reference to other ongoing work such as Hate Crime, Counter Terrorism, Serious Organised Crime and Modern Day Slavery. The report was presented by Mr P. Pertica, Head of Visitors Services.

It was reported that during the period between 2004/2005 and 2014/2015, crime in Blackpool had consistently reduced year on year which created an extremely challenging baseline from which to achieve further reductions. Therefore, in 2015/2016 all crime had increased for the first time in a number of years partly due to this baseline, but also due to a change in emphasis around harm and risk. The shift in focus had actively encouraged victims to come forward and report crimes such as hate and sexual offences which, although presenting within the figures as an increase, was actually considered to be a positive outcome. The trend of increases in 2015/2016 continuing through 2016/2017 was also being seen across the County.

The report indicated that all crime in Blackpool for the period April 2016 to March 2017 was up by 12.4% compared to the previous year. The crime categories contributing to the majority of this increase were Violence Against the Person, up by 14.6% and Theft Offences (predominantly burglary and vehicle offences), up by 13.3%. Mr Pertica accepted that the overall situation was unfortunate and the current emphasis was being placed on attempting to reduce crime that was considered to be more harmful. The current priorities for the Safety Partnership were around domestic abuse and sexual offences. It was pointed out that for many years, domestic abuse incidents were not being recorded and that in recent years, there had been a high increase in reporting of sexual offences, largely due to a number of high profile historic cases. Over 30% of sexual offences reported recently were classed as non recent (over 1 year old).

Mr Pertica also pointed out that in the case of many of the categories of crime within the report, the figures in Blackpool had fallen in comparison with other areas.

The Committee asked about the reported increase of 40.5% relating to Sexual Offences on children aged under 16 and whether it would be possible to provide a further breakdown of figures. Mr Pertica explained that this was a difficult area to categorise and at the age 16 threshold, certain consensual activities which were illegal by statute at age under 16, would become legal.

In relation to the use of CCTV, the Committee asked that in future, whether it would be possible to include details of prosecutions where CCTV had been used, within the report. Councillor Campbell explained that unfortunately it would not be possible to include such information, as the authorities would not differentiate which prosecutions took place directly as a result of CCTV footage, as opposed to other means of evidence. Members agreed with Councillor Campbell that CCTV was still appreciated as an extremely valuable asset in the fight against crime.

The Committee agreed to note the report.

Background papers: None.