Agenda item

RECOMMENDATION

That the Committee acknowledge the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) progress report and agree any matters of significance with the Cabinet Member for Healthy Communities.

Councillor Kathleen Becker, Cabinet Member for Healthy Communities, and Chief Inspector Korine Bishop introduced the report which set out the Annual Community Safety Update, (available here).

Councillor Becker’s introduction included the following points:

1. The report covered the activity undertaken by the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) for the first three quarters of the financial year 2025-26.
2. Priorities included high-harm crime, anti-social behaviour (ASB), and open space actions, with a significant focus on domestic violence and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).
3. Street homelessness numbers were reported as low due to the efforts of specialist providers and the housing team, though this figure did not account for 'sofa surfing'.

Chief Inspector Bishop provided the committee with details relating to the

following:

1. The update focused on the people, partnerships, and priorities behind the data, with:
   1. Priority 1 addressing ASB and shoplifting in Winchester City Centre, where formal action against shoplifters was over 41%.
   2. Priority 2 focused on rural crime, with two new rural local police officers funded for Bishop’s Waltham and Alresford, and a task force supporting investigations into heritage, wildlife, and farm crime.
   3. Priority 3 concerned HMP Winchester, where a strategic prison partnership board was in place to address investigative workloads regarding drugs, violence, and weapons.
   4. Priority 4 addressed the night-time economy and VAWG, with proactive operations including behavioural detection officers and venue compliance checks.
2. Strong partnerships were maintained with the Council and schools, and through the OVAL (Offender, Victim, Location) partnership.
3. Operation Fortress continued to tackle drug supply and county lines while safeguarding vulnerable users.
4. Priorities for 2026 included increasing visibility, maximising rural posts, high-harm offender management, and youth intervention.
5. Chief Inspector Bishop noted this was her final meeting and introduced Inspector Kirby as her successor.

The committee was recommended to acknowledge the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) progress report and agree any matters of significance with the Cabinet Member for Healthy Communities. The committee proceeded to ask questions and debate the report. In summary, the following matters were raised.

1. A question was asked regarding a recent incident in Wickham involving smashed car windows and the perceived lack of engagement following the report, and further clarification was sought on whether the ward and parish councillors were sufficiently updated on specific incidents.
2. A question was asked regarding the absence of statistics on rural and wildlife crime and whether this data could be added to future reports.
3. Clarification was requested regarding the definitions of "formal action taken" and "further action taken" within the report.
4. A question was asked about how figures regarding further formal action could be improved and whether this was circumstantial.
5. A recert media article regarding Winchester was raised and was followed with a question regarding the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) and the frequency of its use by relevant officers.
6. Further clarification was sought regarding grant funding applications, specifically an update on the Legacy Plus project and the duration of the funding.
7. Concerns were raised regarding the balance of focus between rural areas and the city centre, as it was felt that rural areas generated a large proportion of complex cases.
8. A request was made for clearer area-based information in future reports, specifically breaking down data by city centre, market towns, rural areas, and specifically Whiteley due it being a major area of the district.
9. A question was asked regarding mechanisms for reporting back to communities following crime reports where the reporter was not the direct victim.
10. A question was asked whether data could be included showing the breakdown of the legal process from caution or charge through to the final court result.
11. A request was made to include trend data in future reports to illustrate changes over a number of years.
12. A question was raised about road safety on the A272 and A32, including strategies to address speeding and noise outside average speed camera zones, this was followed by a query on the effectiveness of the speed camera schemes and a request for data on offences and Notices of Intended Prosecution.
13. Clarification was sought regarding the recorded 36% increase in mobile camera enforcement activity.
14. A question was asked regarding drug offences at Boomtown, noting a lack of public domain information and requesting reassurance that appropriate action was being taken.
15. Further clarification was sought regarding the Stop Domestic Abuse section and the reasons why referrals to community-based services appeared to have almost doubled.
16. A question was asked regarding the increase in drug detection, and whether there was evidence to demonstrate whether this was due to enhanced policing or an increase in usage.
17. Clarification was sought on why robbery figures had increased while shoplifting had decreased, including whether this was due to reclassification, this was followed by a question asking what advice should be given to the public if they witness shoplifting in progress.

These points were responded to by Councillor Becker, Cabinet Member for Healthy Communities, Sandra Tuddenham, Community Safety Manager and Chief Inspector Bishop accordingly. Members thanked the Chief Inspector for her continued support.

RESOLVED:

The committee agreed the following comments:

1.    That the Community Safety Partnership progress report be noted.

2.    The Cabinet Member consider the committee’s comments raised during the discussion of the item, specifically the following recommendations:

a.    That future reports should include a breakdown of data between the city centre, market towns, and rural areas to better reflect demand and activity across the district.

b.    That rural crime statistics, specifically regarding animals, be included in future updates.

c.     That trend data be provided to illustrate whether crime statistics are improving or worsening over multiple years.

d.    That reassurances regarding the drug enforcement strategy at Boomtown be provided to Councillors outside of the meeting.

e.    That the Cabinet Member and officers discuss the issues raised within item 12 above (A272/A32) with the police, including feedback regarding road safety data and the impact of speed camera schemes.