This meeting's agenda covers crime and data analysis, community safety initiatives and the council's civil contingencies planning. The committee will also review recommendations and actions from its previous meeting, as well as its forward plan for the year.

Civil Protection

This item will provide an overview of how the council responds to emergencies. The report submitted to the committee describes the tiered command and control structure that would be used in the event of an incident, and the roles and responsibilities of council officers and partner organisations such as the Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade, and the Environment Agency.

The committee will be asked to review the council’s response to the counter-protest that took place in Walthamstow on 7 August 2024 in response to the planned gathering of a far-right group. The report describes the intelligence-led approach taken by the council in partnership with the police and the community in the lead up to the protest, and the communication strategy that was used to reassure residents and businesses. The report notes that:

Misinformation on both a local and national scale have been identified as a key issue from the national and local protests witnessed and experienced during August 2024.

It also states that the council will be reviewing its response to the protest in order to identify any areas for improvement.

The report also notes that the council will be reviewing its emergency planning procedures in light of the findings of the Grenfell Inquiry, which reported its findings in September 2024.

The Scrutiny report

The committee will review the action tracker which contains the actions arising from the committee’s last meeting, which took place on 11 July 2024. The minutes for this meeting are available here: Minutes Public Pack 11072024 Communities and Public Protection Scrutiny Commmittee. The committee will also consider its draft forward plan for the rest of the year. This is a working document that lists the topics and reports that are scheduled to be discussed by the committee at future meetings. The committee is expected to suggest amendments and additions to this plan.

Also included for discussion is a draft scoping document for a ‘Home Streets’ themed review. According to the report this topic:

…seeks to reduce crime and fear of crime through increased localised data and collaboration with the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector, local partnerships, and the Met Police.

The document sets out a proposed timetable for the review, as well as its aims and objectives, and the methods it proposes to use.

Safe streets evaluation and enhanced problem-solving

This item will provide an update on the Safe Streets pilot scheme, which sought to identify crime hotspots and involve residents in finding solutions. The report submitted to the committee will describe the successes and challenges of the pilot scheme, which was trialled in Leyton and Chingford Mount. The report details the cost of each intervention that was implemented as part of the Safe Streets pilot scheme. It also notes that:

Effective multi-agency problem-solving is critical to achieving public safety mission.

The report lists the key features of the 'enhanced problem-solving' approach that has been informed by the Safe Streets project. This approach was used to address problems with drug dealing and antisocial behaviour in Leyton and Grove Green, and the installation of CCTV cameras to deter theft from ATMs in Chingford Mount.

The committee are expected to discuss the successes and failures of the project. They will hear from officers about the cost breakdown for the £21,000 that was allocated for youth engagement and review the data behind the statement that:

…young people in Chingford want weapons sweeps.

Crime Patterns and Use of Data and Insight

This item will provide an overview of the data-led approach that the council uses to understand and respond to crime in the borough. The committee will hear about the different types of crime that are committed in Waltham Forest and how this information is used to inform the council’s community safety strategies and interventions. In particular the committee is expected to focus on the relatively low rate of crime, but the relatively low levels of trust in the police. They will also be asked to note the low proportion of reported crimes that result in a charge.

The committee will discuss the effectiveness of the response to a recent increase in acquisitive crime, and in particular, mobile phone theft in the borough.

The report also describes the council’s Serious Violence Needs Assessment, which identifies the factors that contribute to serious violence in the borough and the interventions that are being implemented to address them. One such intervention is the Step Together Programme, which seeks to address the high rates of crime affecting under-18s after school. This programme:

…will see adult ‘chaperones’ strategically placed on routes to and from school across three locations in the borough.

The committee will discuss how data is used to identify crime hotspots in the borough and how this information is used to calibrate police patrols and target interventions.

The report provided to the committee ahead of the meeting highlights the important role of community engagement and partnership working, and the value of initiatives such as ward panels as a forum for residents to raise concerns and work with the police to find solutions.

Also up for discussion is the role of the council's Youth Independent Advisory Group in scrutinising the police.

The committee is expected to discuss how crime data is used to inform the council’s corporate performance indicators and how this information can be used to improve services. They will also discuss the role of CCTV in deterring crime.

Serious Violence Duty Strategy Update

The committee will receive an update on the council's Serious Violence Duty Strategy, which sets out how it intends to tackle serious violence in the borough.

This strategy is informed by the Home Office’s Serious Violence Duty, which requires local authorities to collaborate with key partners to identify and address the root causes of serious violence in their areas. The strategy also seeks to fulfil the council's obligations under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989, which places a duty on local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in their area.

The committee will discuss the strategy’s aim to increase the use of CCTV in hotspots and outside of schools, and will review its action plan, which includes proposals to:

• Work with schools and other partners to provide support to young people who are at risk of becoming involved in serious violence, either as victims or perpetrators. This includes providing mentoring, counselling, and educational programmes.
• Increase opportunities for young people to engage in positive activities, such as sports, arts, and culture.

The committee will also discuss the progress that has been made in implementing the strategy since it was last reviewed and will make recommendations for future action.