The Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to discuss a range of issues concerning public safety within the City of London. Key topics included the Home Office's Prevent Assurance Return, a review of processes and practices concerning rough sleeping and encampments, and updates on the Safer City Partnership Strategy. The committee was also set to receive partner updates and discuss serious violence.

Order of the Court of Common Council

The committee was scheduled to receive the Order of the Court of Common Council, dated 23rd April 2026, which formally appointed the committee. This document outlines the committee's constitution, quorum, membership for the 2026/27 civic year, and its terms of reference. The terms of reference state that the committee is responsible for scrutinising decisions and actions taken by responsible authorities in relation to their crime and disorder functions, and for making reports and recommendations to the local authority.

Home Office Assurance Return

A report from the Prevent Adviser for East London and Southeast and the City of London Corporation Prevent Lead was scheduled for discussion. This report detailed the outcome of the Home Office's Prevent Assurance Benchmarking for 2025/26. The assessment indicated that the City of London Corporation met seven out of eight Prevent benchmarks, demonstrating established governance, partnership arrangements, risk management processes, referral pathways, and training structures. Areas of good practice were identified, including the establishment of the Prevent Delivery Board, effective partnership working with the City of London Police during the transition of Prevent responsibilities, and sustainable Channel arrangements with Westminster City Council. However, the benchmark for Reducing Permissive Environments was assessed as unmet, highlighting it as the principal area for improvement. The report also identified opportunities to strengthen Prevent training assurance, communications and engagement, community engagement, and elected member oversight. The committee was to be asked to note the outcome, the identified strengths, and endorse the strategic response and improvement activity outlined in the report.

Process & Practice Review: Rough Sleeping & Encampment

The Head of Community Safety was scheduled to present a report on the process and practice review concerning rough sleeping and encampments. This report provided an update on the Joint Working Group's activity to address rough sleeping and associated anti-social behaviour across priority locations in the City. It highlighted ongoing multi-agency delivery, including Days of Action, hotspot management, and case-based interventions. The report noted that Baynard House podium remained a key priority due to significant environmental, safety, safeguarding, and anti-social behaviour concerns. The partnership was seeking to apply a structured model, similar to that used at White Lion Subway, combining support, legal advice, enforcement planning, and preventative action. However, the report indicated that momentum was being affected by extended legal review timelines, reduced attendance at planning and debrief meetings, and the need for more consistent early partner presence during operational deployments. The committee was asked to note progress, support a renewed focus on Baynard House and operational alignment, and provide strategic direction on future success measures for this work.

Partner Updates: Our Safer City

The committee was scheduled to receive updates from partners under the Our Safer City initiative. This initiative encompasses several key workstreams aimed at improving safety and security within the City. The report pack provided detailed information on progress in areas such as Safer Public Spaces, Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and Domestic Abuse (DA), Prevent, and Serious Violence.

Under Safer Public Spaces, the report detailed operational activity and interventions, including environmental clean-ups, engagement with rough sleepers, and the placement of notices. Key locations such as Castle Baynard Street, White Lion Subway, and Baynard House Podium were highlighted as ongoing priority areas. The report also noted the reduction in anti-social behaviour linked to rough sleeping in specific locations and the co-location of City of London Corporation (CoLC) and City of London Police (CoLC) Community Safety teams.

Regarding Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and Domestic Abuse (DA), the report indicated significant progress in implementing the City of London's VAWG Strategy (2025–2029). Key activities included the planned launch of a Hotel Safety Toolkit, workforce development with staff trained on MARAC¹ referral pathways, and contributions to the Safe Haven campaign. The report also mentioned support for World Cup 2026 planning with joint letters to hotels and licensed premises regarding football tournament-related crime and vulnerability, and the recommissioning of the Iranian Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation. A new partnership project, Safer City Streets: Information, Advice and Support Sessions, was launched in collaboration with City of London Police and Hackney and City Domestic Abuse Intervention Service (DAIS).

The Prevent section of the report noted that Channel Panel training had been delivered to the board by the Home Office, a partners' Prevent health check was completed, and education mapping was finalised with engagement commenced. The Home Office assurance outcome had been received, and an action plan developed.

Concerning Serious Violence, the latest evidence suggested that serious violence in the City was stable in volume but declining in harm. The report noted that recording changes complicated the picture, with new rules leading to more offences being recorded as robbery of business property, making it appear as though these offences were rising when it was a shift in offence definitions. The City was midway through an annual refresh of its Serious Violence Duty strategy, which was expected to retain existing priorities on the night-time economy (NTE) serious violence, sexual and domestic violence, and threats from a changing City, with new focuses on links between serious violence and drug misuse, and serious violence affecting retail workers. The City would continue to receive a £94,000 per annum Home Office grant for the Serious Violence Duty, with greater flexibility on its use.

Safer City Partnership Strategy Update

A report from the Head of Community Safety was scheduled to provide an update on the Safer City Partnership Strategy. This report would likely detail the strategic direction and progress of the partnership in achieving its objectives related to crime and disorder reduction.

Serious Violence Duty

A verbal report from the Town Clerk was scheduled concerning the Serious Violence Duty. This would provide an opportunity for an update on current initiatives and any emerging issues related to serious violence within the City.