The Scrutiny Programme Committee met on Tuesday 16 April 2024 to discuss crime and disorder, review progress reports, and consider the council's work programme. Key discussions included the performance of the Safer Swansea Community Safety Partnership, with a focus on crime statistics and initiatives to tackle anti-social behaviour and hate crime. The committee also reviewed progress reports on service improvement, regeneration, and finance, and noted upcoming scrutiny activities.

Crime & Disorder Scrutiny - Safer Swansea Community Safety Partnership

The committee received an update on the Safer Swansea Community Safety Partnership's objectives and activities over the past year. Representatives from South Wales Police and Swansea Council presented information on crime statistics, highlighting a rationale for comparing 2023 performance against the 2019-2020 financial year, explaining that data from the COVID-19 lockdowns had produced misleading figures.

Discussions covered a range of crime types:

• Rape and Other Serious Sexual Offences: An increase in reported offences was noted, alongside the establishment of a dedicated team to investigate these crimes. The One Stop Shop initiative, a collaboration with third-sector organisations, was credited with leading to a high number of charges and prosecutions in Wales, making South Wales Police the second best performing force nationally in this area.
• Burglary: A significant drop in burglary offences was reported. A comprehensive overview of the process for handling both in-progress and historic burglaries was provided, including the development of a joint scientific unit and the assignment of detectives to these incidents. South Wales Police were noted as being third nationally in securing prosecutions for burglary.
• Car Crimes: While overall car crime had decreased, a dedicated team has been established to address an increase in motorcycle theft.
• Shoplifting and Online Crime: A nationwide increase in both shoplifting and online crimes was acknowledged.
• Mental Health: The committee inquired about the local police response to mental health issues. An overview of the call prioritisation and management process was given, with a new system due to be implemented by February 2025 to better connect individuals with appropriate services. Mental health services were recognised as an ongoing challenge.
• Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs): Concerns were raised about the potential impact of national cuts to PCSO budgets and workforce. A detailed analysis of ward data was underway, and while redundancies were not anticipated, it was acknowledged that any PCSOs leaving their posts were unlikely to be replaced. The invaluable service PCSOs provide to schools was highlighted, though funding for this role had ceased, with staff continuing until the end of the academic year.
• Neighbourhood Policing, 101, and 999: The committee discussed concerns about the interconnectivity between these services and the perceived lack of communication with councillors regarding local issues. Significant improvements to the 101 service were reported, with 92% of calls answered and an average wait time of 2.5 minutes. An online chat facility is also available. An invitation was extended to councillors to visit the control room in Bridgend.
• Mayhill Disorder: Assurances were given regarding resource deployment for future similar incidents, with lessons learned from the Mayhill disorder and the events in Ely, Cardiff in 2023. While procedures were deemed satisfactory, the police acknowledged they were not complacent and were working with communities to manage tensions.
• Drugs: Ongoing efforts to disrupt drug supply were discussed, including joint working with agencies to manage the links between mental health and substance misuse. An independent Drugs Commission, established to investigate drug-related deaths, is expected to report later in the year with recommendations.
• High Street: Ongoing challenges in the High Street area were detailed, alongside investments being made. A recent news article was noted for reporting historical issues rather than the current situation and ongoing improvements.
• Hate Crime: Efforts to tackle hate crime and extremism were discussed.

The committee resolved that the Chair would write to the Joint Chairs of the Safer Swansea Partnership to reflect the discussion and share the committee's views.

Scrutiny Performance Panel Progress Report: Service Improvement, Regeneration & Finance

Councillor Chris Holley, Convener, provided an update on the work of the Service Improvement, Regeneration & Finance Scrutiny Performance Panel. The committee noted the report, which detailed the panel's activities, including financial monitoring, performance monitoring, and discussions on regeneration projects.

Membership of Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups

No changes to the membership of scrutiny panels and working groups were reported.

Scrutiny Work Programme

The committee reviewed the Scrutiny Work Programme for 2023/24. The Chair confirmed that the main items for the next committee meeting on 14 May would include the scrutiny of the Swansea Public Services Board, the Welsh Language Standards Annual Report 2023/24, and the Committee's End of Year Review.

Scrutiny Letters

The Chair referred to recent Scrutiny Letters exchanged with Cabinet Members, reflecting on committee scrutiny activities. These included correspondence regarding the Leader's Q&A session, follow-up on the Road Safety Working Group, and the Annual Complaints & Compliments Report.

Date and Time of Upcoming Panel / Working Group Meetings

The Chair provided an update on upcoming scrutiny panel, working group, and regional scrutiny meetings for awareness.