The Safer Communities Partnership Board met on Friday 26 June 2026 to discuss a wide range of issues impacting community safety in Barnet. Key topics included a comprehensive update on policing performance, with detailed statistics on various crime types, and a significant focus on tackling domestic abuse and violence against women and girls, with reports highlighting increased demand for support services and the launch of a new strategy.

The meeting also covered the Youth Justice Service's annual report, which detailed successes in reducing reoffending and maintaining a zero-custody rate, alongside challenges related to the increasing complexity of young people's needs. Updates were also provided on the Prevent agenda, addressing radicalisation risks, and on efforts to combat hate crime, particularly antisemitism, which has seen a concerning rise. The London Fire Brigade and Barnet Homes also presented their annual updates, outlining their contributions to community safety.

Policing Performance Update

Acting Chief Inspector Tom Hinson of the Metropolitan Police provided a detailed update on policing performance in Barnet for the financial year 2025-26. He noted that it had been a challenging year but expressed pride in the work of officers and partners.

Domestic burglary, a persistent challenge in Barnet, saw a decrease of 10.8% in the financial year, equating to 203 fewer victims. This was attributed to operations targeting both organised crime groups and opportunistic offenders, with increased use of court orders like Criminal Behaviour Orders. However, the last quarter of the financial year saw an 8.4% increase compared to the previous quarter, which was attributed to the seasonality of burglary during darker nights.

Burglary of businesses and communities saw significant success, with a 22.6% decrease for the financial year and a 28.7% decrease in the last quarter. This was due to targeted operations against over-the-counter cigarette thefts and shutter break-ins, leading to offenders receiving multi-year sentences.

Robbery, however, increased by 9.4% for the year, driven primarily by robberies of schoolchildren by other young people. A prevention package is being developed for schools, and offenders are being targeted through interventions and liaison with other boroughs.

Shoplifting reporting increased by 7.8% for the full year and 25.6% for the broader figures, which was seen as a positive sign of increased retailer confidence. The detection rate for shoplifting has tripled, with a 25% detection rate, and the use of Criminal Behaviour Orders is increasing. The introduction of the Aura IT platform for logging shoplifting incidents is expected to improve reporting efficiency.

Violence without injury increased by 11.7% over the year, which was hoped to be indicative of increased reporting of domestic violence and assaults on police. Violence with injury saw a slight decrease of 0.9% year-on-year, with a detection rate of 24%. Barnet remains one of the safest London boroughs for violence with injury.

Interference with motor vehicles decreased by 3.8% for the full year and on the quarter, attributed to offender management. Theft of motor vehicles also decreased by 3.5% compared to the prior year, with work with car manufacturers on security systems cited as a factor.

Knife crime with injury saw an 18% decrease in the last 12 months, and while possession of weapons saw a 36.4% increase for the full year, this was viewed positively as it indicated proactive policing and removal of weapons. Drug trafficking saw a significant 59.1% increase for the full year, largely due to successful police operations intercepting online orders. Street dealing remains an issue in areas like Burnt Oak and Colindale, with ongoing warrants and arrests.

Possession of drugs also saw an increase, viewed positively as indicative of officers discovering drugs more frequently. Domestic abuse saw a 6.4% increase on the year, also seen as positive due to increased reporting and a 50% increase in the detection rate for crimes related to domestic violence, now at 13%. Rape and other sexual offences saw a slight increase of 2.7% year-on-year, with an increased detection rate of 11%.

Hate crime saw a 20% increase year-on-year and a 17.9% increase in the quarter. Racially based hate crime was the majority, followed by faith-based hate crime, with antisemitism being the largest faith-based category. A new community protection team of 100 officers is being deployed to areas with Jewish communities. Lethal firearm discharges and homicides remain rare in the borough. Stop and search figures have increased, with a positive outcome rate of 38%, exceeding the national average.

Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)

The Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls (DA & VAWG) Annual Report for 2025-26 highlighted significant progress against the previous strategy and the successful launch of the new strategy for 2025-29, co-produced with survivors. Key achievements included the establishment of the Barnet Domestic Abuse Support Hub (BDASH), DAHA accreditation for Barnet Homes, expansion of early intervention training, and strengthening of multi-agency safeguarding responses. Demand for support has grown, evidenced by a 59% increase in temporary accommodation linked to domestic abuse and 2,460 MASH referrals involving domestic abuse. The new strategy focuses on prevention, early identification, long-term recovery, perpetrator accountability, youth voice, and community outreach.

The DA & VAWG Dashboard for 2025-26 showed a 9% increase in MARAC referrals, involving 345 children. Police remained the main referrer, and nearly half of cases involved racially minoritised communities. Referrals to Solace Advocacy Support Service increased slightly, but acceptance rates fell. Jewish Women's Aid saw referrals increase by a third. IRIS referrals rose significantly, but acceptance rates dropped, indicating a need for further engagement with GP practices. Refuge new arrivals slightly decreased, but occupancy remained high. One Stop Shop attendance was up, with a shift towards housing support needs. Perpetrator programme referrals for adults were falling, while CIFA and child-to-parent abuse referrals were rising, though completion rates were declining. MASH saw 2,460 domestic abuse referrals, with police and education as the main referral sources. Overall demand was rising across all services, with seasonal peaks in Q2 and persistent geographic hotspots.

Youth Justice Service Annual Report 2025–26

The Barnet Youth Justice Service Annual Report for 2025-26 highlighted strong performance against national indicators, including a sustained 0% custody rate, a reoffending rate of 28.6% (lower than London and national averages), and a 4.6% reduction in first-time entrants. The service has focused on prevention and diversion, embedding a Child First approach, and maintaining strong multi-agency governance. Children reported high levels of satisfaction with the service, feeling listened to and involved in decision-making. Challenges include increasing complexity of need, persistent disproportionality affecting Black and other diverse backgrounds, and a high NEET (not in education, employment or training) rate within the cohort. Priorities for the coming year include strengthening prevention, reducing inequalities, improving education outcomes, and enhancing transitions into adulthood.

Serious Violence Duty and Priority 3: Reducing Offending, Violence, Vulnerability and Exploitation

The annual update on the Serious Violence Duty showed a slight reduction in serious youth violence incidents to 21, with a downward trend over recent years. The cohort involved continues to present with high levels of vulnerability, with over half being looked after children. Key delivery areas include targeted outreach, the Adults at Risk Panel, and the Victim Care Hub. The report noted a reduction in violence associated with street-based acquisitive crime, though half of all incidents involved the use of a knife or bladed article. Edgware and Finchley recorded the highest number of incidents, with a notable number occurring outside of Barnet. Knife amnesty bins at Union Street and Bunns Lane saw a significant number of knives deposited. The Adults at Risk Panel discussed 80 adults, predominantly male, with complex needs. The Victim Care Hub supported 147 victims, with a higher proportion of male victims, and provided safety planning and referrals to wider services. Outreach and Engagement delivered 1,811 hours, engaging 1,873 young people. The Secure My Stuff project concluded, having focused on robbery prevention. The My Ends – Next Generation Project engaged 234 young people, demonstrating positive outcomes in emotional regulation and relationship skills.

Prevent and Hate Crime

The Prevent enquiry data for Q4 2025/26 showed a significant increase of 57.1% in enquiries compared to the same quarter the previous year, with 33 enquiries received. The majority of enquiries were for individuals under 18 and male. The Channel Panel, a multi-agency safeguarding program, discussed an average of 7 cases per meeting. Hate crime figures showed a 20.1% increase year-on-year, with racist and religiously aggravated offences being the most reported. Antisemitic offences presented a disproportionate risk profile for Barnet, ranking first for such offences in London. The borough received £500,000 in government funding to support community cohesion work. The Metropolitan Police introduced a dedicated Community Protection Team of 100 officers to protect Jewish communities.

London Fire Brigade Update

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) reported a busy period, with the majority of work generated by anti-Semitic-based incidents, particularly following attacks on ambulances and synagogues in March. Fire is increasingly being used as a weapon, with properties being targeted. The LFB is working with partners to provide reassurance and community engagement, including business safety talks. Finchley Fire Station is being used as a community hub, and a Borough Risk Management Plan is being refreshed to include tackling anti-Semitic incidents. The Safer Havens project will commence in all four stations, providing drop-in centres for vulnerable individuals. A video message on park safety, water safety, and seasonal messages is being produced. Safeguarding issues are stable from the LFB perspective.

Barnet Homes Update

Barnet Homes reported 556 ASB reports received in the year, with 143 cases managed by the ASB team. They achieved a 'C1' grading from the Regulator of Social Housing and Bronze and Silver awards from the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA). Partnership working with the police on closure orders was highlighted. Barnet Homes is prioritising mental health support and aims to achieve Gold standard DAHA accreditation. Community Roadshows and meet-and-greet days are being held to engage residents and identify issues early.

Communications Update

John Schroeder, Head of Campaigns and Deputy Head of Communications, provided an update on communications efforts. Significant work was undertaken in response to emergency incidents, including eight press releases and 11 police messages distributed via social media. The 'Step In' campaign, aimed at tackling harassment and encouraging bystander intervention, was highly commended at the MJ Awards. PSPO renewal information was disseminated through animated videos and social media. The 'Step In' campaign was also launched in conjunction with the World Cup to address harassment and abuse.

Forward Work Programme

The Forward Work Programme for June 2026 to August 2027 was presented, outlining upcoming reports and updates for the Safer Communities Partnership Board, including performance updates, police and family services reports, and specific updates on serious violence, combating drugs, and community cohesion.

The meeting concluded with thanks to all involved for their time and patience.