Minutes:
Nottinghamshire Police Superintendent Matt Healey, delivered a presentation, a copy of which is circulated with the initial publication of the minutes.
The presentation included the following:
a) an overview with regard to staffing, recruitment and proposed improved facilities, current policing operations (including Operation Reacher which is now across the City), and dedicated funding to help address child criminal exploitation;
b) Lead Policing officer roles were identified as follows:
o Nottingham City Area– Supt Mat Healey – 24/7 Response, Neighbourhood Policing & Criminal Investigations;
o Public Protection– Supt Andy Gowan – CAIU, Rape Investigation, Domestic Abuse, Sex Offender Management;
o Serious & Organised Crime– T/Supt Mike Allen – Modern Day Slavery, Human Trafficking, County Lines, Organised Crime Groups;
o Youth Justice, VRU & Knife Crime Strategic– Supt Ted Antill;
c) how the Police Service is contributing to the Children’s Partnership, mainly co-terminus with the City Council but also liaising with partners, including:
i. committing to Children at the Heart Improvement Board and particularly development of the Neglect Strategy;
ii. Missing From Home Locate Team (MFHL) of the 2,427 missing reports, 61% of repots are for young people/children, (which is a reduction of 21%) and 21% of those are young people from residential care). Overall outcomes have improved; Each missing report presents a cost to the Police of £2,500, so prevention work is important in many aspects;
iii. ongoing Youth Justice work;
iv. dedicated Children in Care Police Officers;
v. an officer is seconded to the Troubled Families Team;
vi. coordination with the Mental Health Triage Team, including BARNHAUS at the QMC to support the victims of child sexual abuse;
vii. a Schools Officer;
viii.Child Sexual Exploitation awareness and strict prosecution;
ix. contributing to Partnership Risk Management, including providing youth engagement with the Police Cadets, Mini Police, Internships & Work Experience and a full time Police Career Advisor
x. Violence Reduction Unit;
d) overall, crime has reduced across all non-covid legislation breach categories, really due to the COVID-19 lockdown, but the number of reported incidents is rising as restrictions are eased:
i. first has reduced by 37% compared to the same period last year;
ii. sexual offences has reduced by 26% (204 fewer offences);
iii. domestic abuse is increased by 1% (34 for incidents);
iv. reporting of domestic incidents (which do not meet the threshold for domestic violence ) has increased by 14% (663 more incidents);
v. City Policing is driving the reduction in knife crime of 7.6% (21 fewer offences) and knife possession educed by 31.7% (72 fewer offences);
vi. Anti Social Behaviour has incidents have increased significantly but this is mainly due to the inclusion of reports of
e) Statistics for the city and county were presented for Public Protection notices (regarding safeguarding referrals of sexual exploitation) month by month for the past year;
f) Statistics for ‘Encompass Referrals for city and county for the past year, in relation to informing schools when the police have attended a domestic incident where a child was present, so that the child can receive wrap-around support;
g) Officers are keen to include the ‘voice of the child’ into the decision making of the Police, and progress the development of the neglect strategy.
Members welcomed the comprehensive overview of the partnership work of the Police which makes a difference to the safety of children in the City.
Police work placements for care leavers is also very welcome and further discussions will take place with Tajinder Madahar, Head of Service Children’s Duty and Targeted Services, to progress this further.
Members of the Partnership thanked the Police for their work in partnership and in considering the key challenges faced within the City, including young people in custody and early intervention approaches when young people are caught in possession of a knife.
Resolved to note the work of Nottinghamshire Police and their strong collaborative working within the Partnership.