The Hounslow Community Safety Partnership Board met to discuss community safety initiatives and review strategic plans. The agenda included updates on the perception of safety, strategic needs, serious violence, and the Louise Casey Review, as well as a project related to stab injuries. The board also considered its forward plan.

Perception of Safety Task and Finish Group Update

Permjit Chadha, Assistant Director, Safer Communities, Siobhan Donoghue, CEO of Perfectly Imperfect, and Helen McCartan, Senior Communications Manager, were scheduled to provide an update on the Perception of Safety Task and Finish Group and its delivery plan. The Safer Communities Strategy 2024-2027 highlights that residents' feelings of safety after dark are lower than the London Government Association benchmark, despite Hounslow being a low-crime borough.

The delivery plan includes 12 actions based on six factors affecting people’s perception of safety:

1. Physical surroundings
2. Crime rates
3. Confidence in law enforcement
4. Past experiences
5. Social networks and community engagement
6. News reports and social media

Since 1 April 2024, nine partnership Safer Communities Action Days have taken place in Hounslow High Street, Chiswick High Road and Feltham High Street. There was mixed feedback from residents, with some reporting that they had never witnessed antisocial behaviour, and others reporting that they did not feel safe.

A joint event between the London Borough of Hounslow and the police on Chiswick High Street engaged with 20 women and 5 men to discuss safety and initiatives such as Ask for Angela¹.

Operation Nightingale has provided additional police patrolling hours in areas of concern across the borough.

The report pack stated that communications activity must relate back to the Perception of Safety Delivery Plan, and be localised and targeted, focusing on areas with high antisocial behaviour and other issues.

Safer Communities Annual Strategic Assessment

Shahernaz Kargar, Safer Communities Manager, was scheduled to present the Safer Communities Strategic Needs Assessment. The Hounslow Community Safety Partnership (CSP) has a statutory requirement to conduct an annual strategic needs assessment to analyse crime trends and review these against priorities set out in the borough’s Safer Communities Strategy 2024-2027. The assessment also encompasses the need to review the Serious Violence Strategy as per the Serious Violence Duty².

The report pack noted that Hounslow continues to be considered a ‘lower crime’ borough, with crime rates lower than the London average, and that overall, offences are down by 4.8% whereas London has seen an 0.5% increase in reported crime. It also noted that since the development of the Safer Communities Strategy 2024-2027, Hounslow’s fear of crime level has reduced from 53% to 49% but is still higher than London average of 43%.

The report pack stated that the priorities set out in the Safer Communities Strategy 2024-2027 are still relevant for 2025-2026:

1. Residents are less affected by serious crime
2. Young people and adults exposed to and exploited to commit crimes receive help
3. Residents work together to keep Hounslow safe

The report pack also noted that the crime types where increases have been seen are similar to other London boroughs and not specific to Hounslow.

Serious Violence Duty Annual Review

Shahernaz Kargar, Safer Communities Manager, was also scheduled to provide an update on the annual review of the Serious Violence Strategy. The Serious Violence Duty was introduced by the government through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022³. The duty ensures that serious violence is an explicit priority within each Community Safety Partnership and that there is a strategy in place to tackle this issue.

The Hounslow Community Safety Partnership Board Serious Violence Strategy was published in January 2024. The report pack stated that the Serious Violence Strategy priorities are the same as the Safer Communities Strategy 2024-2027.

Louise Casey Review Progress Update

Superintendent James Rawlinson was scheduled to provide an update on policing issues within Hounslow and on issues raised in the Baroness Casey Review.

The report pack noted that overall recorded offences have decreased by 20.7% (financial year to date), which is a reduction of approximately 4,000 crimes, and that crime in Hounslow Town Centre has decreased by 17.5% (financial year to date) – a reduction of nearly 300 offences.

The report pack stated that the Metropolitan Police remains committed to every ward in Hounslow having Dedicated Ward Officers (PCs) and a PCSO, and that every ward has the required numbers of officers in post, with exceptions generally where individuals move to new roles, but these vacancies are prioritised for recruiting into to ensure ward team strengths are maintained.

Non-accidental Stab Injury Project with West Middlesex University Hospital

Phil Hopkins, Head of Adolescent Services, and Charlie Rigby, CEO of Violence Intervention Project, were scheduled to provide information on a new project started in September 2024 between the Local Authority, West Middlesex University Hospital (WMUH) and Violence Intervention Project (VIP).

The project aims to engage with young people and young adults who have been impacted by a non-accidental knife injury and/or youth violence at the earliest opportunity, often referred to as a ‘reachable moment’. The project works with a third sector provider as victims may be wary of professionals and services. It is also hoped that through working with WMUH, health data may be used to better understand where incidents occur and in time, better understand themes and trends.

CSP Board Forward Plan

Permjit Chadha, Assistant Director, Safer Communities, was scheduled to present the CSP Board Forward Plan.