The Social Inclusion and Community Safety Policy and Accountability Committee met to discuss the annual performance report of the law enforcement team, receive a briefing from the local police, and review the committee's work program. Key discussions included the effectiveness of community engagement initiatives, crime statistics for the borough, and strategies for improving neighbourhood policing.

Law Enforcement Team Annual Performance Report

The committee reviewed the annual performance report for the law enforcement team (LET), which covered a short period between reports and highlighted key performance indicators and successes. Councillor Andrew Dinsmore sought clarification on the criteria used to justify the salaries of Local Enforcement Officers (LEOs), requesting a breakdown beyond a general job description. It was confirmed that the job description would be shared, and salary breakdowns had been provided previously.

Discussions also focused on the progress of two Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) concerning dogs and the River Path. Both consultations had closed, receiving over a thousand responses for the River Path and nearly nine hundred for the dog PSPO. The analysis of these responses was ongoing, with recommendations yet to be made to the lead member, Councillor Sally Taylor. The committee was assured that updates on the outcomes and implementation timescales would be provided outside of the formal meeting, with a commitment to inform members once decisions were made.

The committee also discussed the LET's priority sites list, which comprises 24 locations based on repeat service requests from residents. These sites remain on the list until service requests decline. Sharon Tomlin, chair of the Lily Ward Safe Neighbourhood panel, inquired about the LET's patrolling arrangements for housing association properties. It was explained that the LET currently focuses on council-owned housing stock but does incorporate communal areas of housing association properties based on demand and in conjunction with the Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) team. Patrols are prioritised based on the severity of issues and in collaboration with local police teams.

A significant portion of the discussion revolved around the LET's work with Neighbourly Lab, a non-profit community research organisation focused on social connection and strengthening communities. Granja Mani and Marnie Freeman from Neighbourly Lab explained their project, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, which aimed to improve engagement between residents and essential workers. Their work involved shadowing LET officers, co-designing community engagement strategies, and delivering training to officers to enhance their engagement skills. This initiative resulted in increased comfort and feelings of safety for officers, and greater resident engagement and positive perceptions of the LET. Councillor Tony Boyes, chair of various community groups in the Fulham Reach ward, suggested leveraging existing resident associations and ward panels to extend the reach of the LET's messaging and engagement efforts. The LET confirmed their attendance at ward panel meetings and their availability for patrols and surgeries, with a commitment to explore further collaboration.

Police Input Briefing Document

Superintendent Craig Knight, the newly appointed Neighbourhood Superintendent for Hammersmith and Fulham, presented a summary of the borough's policing data for the past 12 months. He noted that the comparison period was during COVID-19, which should be considered when interpreting the data.

Key crime statistics presented included:

• Total Notifiable Offences: An increase of 451 offences, bringing the total to just over 21,000. Hammersmith and Fulham was described as one of London's safer boroughs, with high footfall.
• Sanctioned Detection Rate: 6.8% for the borough, compared to the Metropolitan Police average of 7.7%.
• Burglary: A fall of 22% (246 fewer offences), attributed partly to more people working from home and increased home security awareness.
• Robbery: A rise of 23% (101 more offences), linked to increased footfall and the nighttime economy, with offences often involving the theft of high-value mobile phones and small items, or occurring in transport hubs like Hammersmith Broadway.
• Sexual Offending: A rise of 7.3% to 602 offences, with increased reporting, particularly concerning violence against women and girls (VAWG), seen as a positive step in addressing these issues. The detection rate for VAWG was around 8.6%.
• Violence Against the Person: An increase of 1% to 5,444 offences. There were no homicides, though one individual was charged with grievous bodily harm following an incident where a person subsequently died.
• Theft of Motor Vehicle: A rise of 18% to over 3,000 offences, with ongoing efforts to tackle this through public communication and targeted patrols.
• Antisocial Behaviour (ASB): A decrease of 20% to just over 5,000 reports, primarily related to rowdy or nuisance behaviour.

Superintendent Knight also discussed stop and search, with nearly 4,000 conducted in the last 12 months, predominantly for drug offences. The borough achieved a 30% positive outcome rate, meaning something was found or achieved in a significant proportion of searches. He emphasised that stop and search is a preventative tool and that 97% of searches were recorded on body-worn video and supervised.

The Turnaround Plan for the Metropolitan Police was highlighted, focusing on strengthening neighbourhood policing, public protection, safeguarding, and raising standards. The public were encouraged to contribute to the plan online.

Discussions around Shepherd's Bush Green noted the success of operations there, with crime falling by approximately a quarter. However, concerns were raised about potential displacement of individuals to surrounding residential streets. Superintendent Knight acknowledged displacement theory but stated that academic research suggests benefits to neighbouring areas, and that issues in surrounding areas are being addressed.

The committee also discussed the challenges of dealing with mental health-related call-outs, with approximately 40% of calls having a mental health component. Superintendent Knight acknowledged that police are not mental health specialists and that austerity has impacted support services. He stressed the need for multi-agency collaboration and a review of societal spending on these issues.

A concerning issue was raised by Councillor Andrew Dinsmore regarding a small business owner being asked for financial support by individuals claiming to be police officers. Superintendent Knight stated this was likely an impersonation and advised reporting such incidents immediately.

The committee discussed the Baroness Casey report and its implications for the Metropolitan Police, with Superintendent Knight acknowledging the need for significant change and transformation. The discussion touched upon the need for increased funding and a review of the police's accountability mechanisms.

Tangible changes expected in Hammersmith and Fulham include the presence of a dedicated Neighbourhood Superintendent, an increase in Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) numbers, and enhanced ward teams with increased capacity from Police Constables (PCs) and PCSOs. There will also be an increase in sergeant numbers to improve supervision ratios. The recruitment of volunteers from diverse backgrounds for various roles within policing was also discussed.

Work Program

The committee noted that the law enforcement team's scrutiny would remain a standing item. Preliminary ideas for future discussions in July include the social inclusion aspect of services, a new refugee strategy, and the third sector investment fund.

The next meeting is scheduled for 26 July 2023, with a subsequent meeting on 22 November 2023.