The Connecting Three Rivers (formerly Local Strategic Partnership and Community Safety Board) are scheduled to meet on Thursday, 25 September 2025, at Three Rivers House, Rickmansworth. The agenda includes presentations and updates on local government reorganisation, the local plan, energy supply, crime trends, and community safety initiatives. Also to be discussed is an update from the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire, and the Connecting Three Rivers Fund.

Local Government Reorganisation

The Head of Strategy and Partnerships is scheduled to give a presentation on local government reorganisation in Hertfordshire. In the previous meeting on 18 June 2025, Joanne Wagstaffe, Chief Executive, provided a briefing on the status and plans for devolution and reorganisation, and responded to questions about the consultation process, the reorganisation of local government structures, integrating grassroots organisations, dividing the population into unitary authorities¹, ensuring equality impact assessments, and funding for third sector organisations.

Local Crime Trends, Priorities and Engagement

An Inspector from Hertfordshire Constabulary is scheduled to present information on local crime trends, priorities, and community engagement strategies.

Police and Crime Commissioner Update

A police officer from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Hertfordshire is scheduled to provide an update. The report pack includes an OPCC RAG Briefing - September 25, which states that Police & Crime Commissioner Jonathan Ash-Edwards continues to deliver against the five strategic priorities set out in his Police & Crime Plan:

• 1. Make Hertfordshire safer
• 2. Strengthen local policing and build public confidence
• 3. Tackle crime and anti-social behaviour
• 4. Protect people from violence, abuse and exploitation
• 5. Bring offenders to justice and support victims

The briefing highlights several initiatives and developments:

• Neighbourhood Policing: The PCC has secured £3 million in government funding to recruit 35 additional police officers and 20 PCSOs, enhancing coverage in every district and borough. The PCC has also reaffirmed the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, ensuring every community has a named, contactable officer.
• Safer Town Centres: The Summer Town Centres for Hertfordshire campaign (June - September 2025) builds on the success of Operation Hotspot, which delivered over 26,000 patrol hours and reduced crime and antisocial behaviour by 14.5%. Patrols have been extended to Cassiobury Park and Hartham Common to address seasonal footfall and park-related ASB[^3]. [^3]: ASB is antisocial behaviour.
• Safer Streets Projects: Projects in Hatfield and Hertford have delivered reductions in ASB, extra patrols, upgraded CCTV, new street lighting, environmental improvements, educational workshops, and arrests linked to theft and drugs.
• Knife Angel and Youth Engagement: Welwyn Garden City will host the Knife Angel in October 2025, launching a county-wide anti-violence programme.
• Youth Commission on Policing and Crime: The PCC has launched the Hertfordshire Youth Commission to engage young people aged 14–25.
• Innovation and Targeted Interventions: A Noise Camera Pilot has been launched in St Albans to tackle illegal street racing and antisocial driving. The Fly Tipping Fund continues to support private landowners with clean-up and prevention measures.
• Community Safety and Serious Violence Funding: £43,000 has been awarded to nine local projects, and £675,000 Serious Violence Duty funding has been confirmed for 2025/26.
• Countywide Stop and Search Update: There has been a 6% increase in the use of Stop & Search compared to the equivalent period of 1st July 2023 – 1st August 2024. Positive outcomes are up 4.3% and arrest rates are up 1.1%.

County Community Safety Unit

The Programme Manager from the County Community Safety Unit (CCSU), Community Protection Directorate, Hertfordshire County Council is scheduled to provide an update. The CCSU RAG Update - August 2025 includes updates on:

• Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) JSNA: The CCSU are starting a refresh of the previous VAWG JSNA[^4] published in 2021, which will include a refresh of the public survey, combined with consultation for the new upcoming VAWG Strategy with the Strategic Partnerships team. [^4]: JSNA is Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.
• Child Exploitation: A JSNA has been finalised and recommendations have been approved by the CCSU Strategic Chairs.
• Community safety and health intelligence products: The CCSU work regularly with Public Health to produce joint intelligence products where crossovers between community safety and health exist.
• Drugs, Alcohol and Criminal Justice: All detainees that are arrested (or charged) for a trigger offence for the second time in a 12-month period or are otherwise targeted through authorisation by the duty inspector, will be required to undertake an oral swab test for Class A drugs. Since October 2020, 10,204 tests have been carried out across Stevenage & Hatfield Custody suites.
• Drug & Alcohol Strategy: The Drug & Alcohol Strategy 2025-30 has been published. CCSU will be leading on shaping the 'Enforcement' objectives of the strategy, with an early focus on cuckooing[^5]. [^5]: Cuckooing is where drug dealers take over a person's home and use it as a base for their operations.
• Drug and Alcohol Deaths surveillance: The CCSU and Public Health are introducing a partnership drug and alcohol deaths surveillance system in Hertfordshire.
• Drug and Alcohol Deaths Audit 2024: The annual Drug and Alcohol Deaths Audit report is now finalised.
• Drugs and Alcohol needs assessments: Work has now started on refreshing the existing Drugs and Alcohol JSNAs, last updated in 2022.
• Hate Crime: Hate Crime Awareness week will take place from the 11th of October - 18th October 20265 and the theme for this year's event in Hertfordshire is a focus on disability.
• Serious Violence Duty: The Home Office Funding for the Serious Violence Duty has been allocated for 2025/26.

Local Plan

The Head of Planning Policy and Conservation is scheduled to present information on the local plan.

Energy Supply in Three Rivers

The Climate Change, Sustainability, and Recycling Officer is scheduled to give a presentation on energy supply in Three Rivers.

Connecting Three Rivers Fund Update

The Partnerships & Inclusion Manager is scheduled to provide an update on the Connecting Three Rivers Fund.