Purpose

That the cabinet member recommends to Council that the proposed Safer Westminster Partnership Strategy for 2024-27 be approved

Decision

Summary of Decision

That the cabinet member:

1. Notes the content of the report and the ongoing contribution of the Safer Westminster Partnership to crime and disorder issues in the borough and the overarching themes and priorities for the partnership.
2. Recommend to Council that the proposed Safer Westminster Partnership Strategy for 2024-27 be approved.

Reasons for Decision

The Fairer Westminster Strategy sets out the outcomes and key ambitions which inform decisions at the Council; delivering safer streets is one of these but we cannot achieve this on our own. The Safer Westminster Partnership Strategy seeks to ensure the Council and partner agencies work together to make Westminster safer for everyone who lives, works, and visits the borough.

The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 sets out the requirement for responsible agencies, including Westminster City Council, to work together in formulating a strategy to reduce crime and disorder in an area.

Additionally, the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, placed a duty on specified authorities to work together and plan to prevent and reduce serious violence in their area. The Safer Westminster Partnership Strategy is the means through which we are discharging that duty.

The proposed strategy will replace the existing strategy (2020-23) with a clearer focus on a smaller number of priority areas, and a greater emphasis on engaging with and ensuring local communities have a voice in tackling crime and disorder priorities in their area.