Safe and Attractive Neighbourhoods Specialist Strategic Partnership – 15^th June 2004

5 Boroughs Partnership Community Drugs Services

The Halton Community Drugs Services business plan for 2004/05 was presented to the group. Feedback was also given about recent action to improve service delivery.

Neighbourhood Renewal update

Karen Marcroft updated the group on recent events in the Halton Strategic Partnership. These included:

• 100% spend of Neighbourhood Renewal Fund for 2003/04;
• An Audit Commission validation exercise on the Partnership’s performance management framework – early feedback at the time of the meeting was very positive; and
• The Board away day in May where performance information was reviewed.

Self-assessment process

The group were informed about the findings of the recent self-assessment process for Halton’s Community Safety Partnership and Drug Action Team. Inspector Grant Ardern highlighted the strengths and areas for improvement identified by the process, and it was agreed that an away day would be arranged to develop an improvement plan.

Criminal Justice Intervention Programme

The Criminal Justice Intervention Programme will begin in Halton soon. It aims to reduce drug related crime by:

• Getting offenders into treatment;
• Offering support during treatment and sentences; and
• Continuing the support after release/completion of treatment.

Interventions included in this new approach include drug testing, enhanced arrest referral, bail support and a prison detox programme.

Jigsaw

The Jigsaw approach was explained to the group – this multi-agency approach targets young offenders between 18-21 years old, and aims to reduce re-offending, crime, and the fear of crime.

Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy

The group were informed about the Government’s new Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy, which will see £20 billion being spent per year. Key areas of the strategy include better education, improving treatment services, combating related crime and working with the alcohol industry.

Performance monitoring

The Community Safety Strategy Group’s performance monitoring information was examined, and agreement reached that other methods of presentation involving floor targets would be considered at the next meeting.

The Drug Action Team will be subject to an assessment by Government Office when targets are published later in the year, including a ranking against other teams in an overall table.

Crime Statistics update

Inspector Grant Ardern reported that the burglary detection rate was currently at 32%, meaning we are ahead of target. The group discussed domestic violence, an area where more action is necessary. The Domestic Violence Unit will be contacted to explore the possibility of them giving a presentation at the next meeting.

Audit and consultation

The group received an update about current issues. It is expected that a full consultation will take place from November to January. Assistance with funding was requested from the Partnership.

Drug Action Team update and budget

Steve Eastwood outlined the funding that makes up the team’s budget for the coming year, and provided a progress report to the group on current activities.

Additional areas being tackled include community development and tackling drug related litter.

Fire Service

Peter Howard from the Fire Service spoke to the meeting regarding the level of youth related incidents where Fire Crews are being attacked. As a response to this problem, an early intervention initiative is being investigated to inform and develop the skills of young people.

Such an approach has been successful in Warrington, and funding is in place for the initiative – all that is needed now is for partners to come on board.

The group expressed strong support for the idea, and agreed ways in which it should be investigated and developed.

Date of next meeting – 9^th September 2004