Town Centre Violence

1. That local Members of Parliament be requested to lobby the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport to empower Licensing Officers to request reviews of licences

Accept

Procedures to be publicised locally using various media.

Ian Saxon Head of Environmental Services TMBC

September 2007

Ian Saxon Head of Environmental Services TMBC

September 2007

2. That procedures for requesting a premise licence review are publicised to relevant "responsible agencies."

Accept

3. That the Panel are updated on the development and impact the new Violent Crime Group and revised Action Plan, 3 months from the publication of this report.

Accept

The first meeting of the Tackling Violent Crime Steering Group took place on Tuesday 27th March.

The Strategy and action plan has been revised to include the accepted recommendations and has been forwarded to Scrutiny on 26th April 2007.

GMP

Ongoing

4. That consideration be given to main stream funding of licensing enforcement schemes.

Accept

Some mainstream funding is already provided for licensing enforcement activities, however consideration to be given to development of joint enforcement plan with Greater Manchester Police. (This action is linked to item 5)

Ian Saxon Head of Environmental Services TMBC/Lisa Lees

March 2008

5. That Greater Manchester Police give greater consideration to the resources available to enable enforcement activities to take place.

Accept

Consideration of identifying resources to enhance enforcement activity has and remains an ongoing activity. Measures such as the formation of Neighbourhood Policing teams with Neighbourhood Response elements to cover peal period evidencing this. In addition, Force resources are deployed when and where appropriate whilst spend profiles are planned to provide additionality in terms of enforcement activity at identified period of high demand such as Christmas and other events known to witness a rise in violent crime.

Greater Manchester Police at Tameside currently bases its shift system on a variable shift arrangement agreed locally with the Police Federation and designed to provide maximum resources at peak demand times such as weekend evenings. Analysis of the impact of the change in licensing hours on incidents and implications on demand has shown no significant change, which would require re-alignment of current shift patterns.

Steven Hartley, Chief Superintendent GMP

6. That the organisation of Police staffing shifts is reviewed in light of new licensing arrangements.

Accept

Steven Hartley, Chief Superintendent GMP

7. That the recently introduced practice of giving greater consideration to CCTV footage be encouraged.

Accept

A CCTV meeting takes place each month and will include other issues such as the stand-alone cameras. The Police and Licensing attend these meetings.

In addition, every 2 days a PCSO will collect footage from the CCTV unit that may be of interest to the Police. In other words, events that could not wait until the monthly meeting. The PCSO will ensure the footage gets to the most appropriate Police Officer. This process will be reviewed at the monthly meetings.

Mike Rhodes Head of Community Safety TMBC

May 2007

8. That communication between CCTV and the Police Operational Control Room be reviewed and peak time difficulties addressed.

Accept

This is ongoing and further practices to fill communication gaps and identify practices to improve communication are ongoing such as the deployment of Police officers in the CCTV room at peak times.

Steven Hartley, Chief Superintendent GMP

Ongoing

9. That the Council proactively encourages licensees to become active members of the Pub and Club Watch Scheme, and where financially possible, subscribe to Nitenet.

Accept

Training events to be run in conjunction with local licencees who will promote benefits of pub and club watch schemes. Licencees to be encouraged to join pub and club watch schemes as part of routine enforcement visits. Funding options for Nite Net radio to be considered especially in relation to take-aways and those premises not traditionally support by radio links.

Ian Saxon Head of Environmental Services TMBC

Ongoing

10. That the Council encourage late night take-aways to subscribe to support schemes such as "Nitenet" and that the ‘ring around' system be extended to include take-aways and other late night venues currently not included in the scheme.

Accept

See comment in relation to item 9.

Ian Saxon Head of Environmental Services TMBC

Ongoing

11. That measures to tackle violent crime in and around late night take-aways be included in the revised Violent Crime Action Plan.

Accept

Actions concerning takeaways and restaurants are included in the draft plan. However, on consideration, some may prove difficult. It would be too complicated to audit existing private CCTV cameras in takeaways. The Council can encourage the use of cameras but not insist on it. Whenever and incident takes place involving a takeaway, the Police would enquire if a camera were operating. However, the Tackling Violent Crime Steering Group will keep takeaways under consideration.

Consideration would be given to reviewing licences at late night takeaways where violent crime has been committed, conditions could be attached to licences where evidence is available to supports the case. Police to consider calling for review where appropriate.

Steven Hartley, Chief Superintendent GMP

Ongoing

12. That the Council continue to encourage drivers of Hackney Carriages and private hire vehicles to collect customers directly at the doors of pubs and clubs.

Accept

This is recognised as good practice - although the location of some pubs and clubs may prohibit this. This action was in a previous Town Centre Safety Group and Alcohol action plan. Taxi cards have been given to venues to encourage customers to plan their journeys home. Some venues will phone taxis on behalf of customers.

It is encouraged, but customers cannot be forced to order taxis in this way. This message could be reinforced during communications with the taxi trade by licensing enforcement staff.

Ian Saxon Head of Environmental Services TMBC

Ongoing

13. That all bar staff and door supervisors be fully aware of Anti-social Behaviour Order cases, including the terms and conditions of Orders and the procedures for reporting any breaches.

Accept

Copies of the ASBOs are disseminated to pubs, clubs and retail outlets within the town centres as a matter of course.

Paula Field Head of Anti Social Behaviour Team, TMBC

Ongoing

14. That the Crime and Reduction Disorder Partnership explore the possibility of establishing a protocol for the referral of cases, in order to deal with underlying causes of offending behaviour

Accept

There is an agreed protocol in place for referrals and support agencies attend the Case Intervention Group.

Paula Field Head of Anti Social Behaviour Team, TMBC

Ongoing

15. That the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership consider exploring the possibility of increasing resources for the Town Centre Case Intervention Group.

Accept

The capacity within the ASB team has increased with a dedicated officer for each of the four police neighbourhood areas.

Paula Field Head of Anti Social Behaviour Team, TMBC

Ongoing

Domestic Violence

1. That a protocol be developed in order to ensure all relevant agencies nominate a lead representative to attend Domestic Violence Forum, meetings and report back to their service area.

Accept

The Tameside Domestic Violence Forum is multi-agency and representatives do report back to their services. Terms of reference have been agreed but no agency can be forced to attend every meeting.

The Terms of Reference will be reviewed at the July Forum meeting.

Tracey Austin Domestic Violence Coordinator, TMBC

N/A

2. There should be closer working relationships between the PCT and Acute Trust in relation to procedures and initiatives to identify cases of domestic violence and refer to appropriate support services.

Accept

This issue will be raised at the Tameside Domestic Violence Forum meeting in July.

In addition, a separate meeting has been arranged with the PCT representative for Violent Crime to discuss this issue further.

Tracey Austin Domestic Violence Coordinator, TMBC

September 2007

3. That GP's, health visitors and community midwives be encouraged to attend

Accept

GP's, Health Visitors and Community Midwives are encouraged to attend the multi-agency domestic abuse training and do attend. Diversity issues are addressed in the training.

Tracey Austin Domestic Violence Coordinator, TMBC

Ongoing

4. That the Panel receive an update on progress made towards implementing the actions contained in the Best Value Improvement Strategy 2005 - 2008 produced by the police authority.

Awaiting a response

Karen Edwards from GMPA has for an update from Annette Crow who was previously responsible for the Best Value Review to establish the current position.

GMPA

5. Where cases are not dealt with by the attending on-duty police officer in accordance with the GMP Domestic Violence Unit policies and procedures, refresher training including issues affecting all victims of domestic violence should be provided.

Accept

Daily meetings take place between the relevant Chief Inspector and Sgt of the Domestic Violence Unit to discuss all domestic abuse reports. As a result of these meetings, if it is decided that any Police Officer has not responded appropriately-s/he is spoken to. In this way, professional practice is continually improved.

Steven Hartley, Chief Superintendent GMP

Ongoing

6. That greater publicity is given to the GMP Domestic Violence Unit and the role of specialist domestic violence officers and that Greater Manchester Police explore ways to improve communication with victims of domestic violence.

Accept

Articles about local policing of domestic abuse have featured in the local press, particularly around initiatives to visit the most high risk perpetrators.

Officers from the Domestic Violence Unit make contact with victims in ongoing cases on a daily basis.

The Police refer cases to the new multi-agency risk assessment conferences (MARAC) to inform other agencies of the grave risks facing a victim and to facilitate support from other services.

The GMP Press Officer for Tameside and Domestic Abuse (for the force) has attended the last Domestic Violence Forum.

Steven Hartley, Chief Superintendent GMP

Ongoing

7. That the Council assists the Tameside Women's Project in exploring opportunities for mainstream funding for Children's Workers before the current means of funding expires.

Accept

The Domestic Violence Co-ordinator endorses this recommendation.

The Local Safeguarding Children Board is currently looking at local provision of domestic abuse services

This recommendation needs to be presented to the Children and Young People's Partnership.

Tracey Austin Domestic Violence Coordinator, TMBC

November 2007

8. That all registered social landlords develop more flexible policies to meet the specific needs of victims of domestic violence.

Accept

This could be proposed to the Tameside Registered Landlord Forum and Supporting People Core Strategy Group.

Tracey Austin Domestic Violence Coordinator, TMBC

November 2007

9. That the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership continue to support the Sanctuary Housing Scheme.

Accept

The Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership are continuing to support the Sanctuary Housing Scheme. Tameside Housing Strategy also provide financial support.

Janet Callender Chief Executive TMBC

Ongoing

10. That Victim Support be encouraged to explore alternative means of promoting the service amongst young people. For example, by distributing promotional material through the Youth Service and in schools.

Accept

Victim Support and Witness Service consider accessibility to our service a priority and are keen to work with various youth and education establishments to promote our service to young people. I would also highlight that as a charity, adequate funding is essential. Any work in addition to core services may require supplementary funding.

Lisa Jones Manager Victim & Witness Support Tameside

On-going

11. That the Scrutiny Panel be updated on the progress relating to the development of a specialist Court system in Tameside for victims of domestic violence 3 months from the publication of this report.

Accept

Inspector Callaghan from GM Police has set up a multi-agency group to drive the establishment of a specialist Domestic Violence Court in Tameside and work is underway to achieve this, The Scrutiny Panel can be up-dated on progress.

Steven Hartley, Chief Superintendent GMP

Ongoing