The Leicestershire and Rutland Safer Communities Strategy Board met on Thursday 26 March 2026 to discuss a range of community safety matters. Key topics included updates on re-offending rates following early release schemes, performance reports from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, and progress on Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews. The board also reviewed the implementation of a new Anti-social Behaviour Case Management System and considered proposed increases to funding for Domestic Homicide Reviews.

Re-offending Rates of Prisoners Following Early Release Scheme

The board was scheduled to receive a verbal update from Bob Bearne, Head of the Leicestershire, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) Probation Delivery Unit, regarding the re-offending rates of prisoners released under early release schemes. This update was a follow-up to a report previously considered by the board in November 2025.

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service Update

An update on the work of Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) was to be presented by Ben Bee, Assistant Chief Fire Officer. The report detailed the service's activities in fire protection, which involves ensuring fire safety in commercial premises and public buildings, and prevention, which focuses on engaging with the community to provide advice and equipment, such as Home Safety Checks. The report highlighted notable developments and challenges, including the delivery of fire safety audits, enforcement actions taken for non-compliance, and joint working with local authority partners. It also outlined the service's prevention efforts, such as Home Safety Checks, school presentations, and the use of a virtual reality film to educate young drivers on road safety. Key issues for partnership working were also raised, particularly concerning the varying provision of assistive technology for individuals with hearing impairments across different local authority areas and the challenges presented by housing and accommodation pressures, including the use of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) for asylum seekers.

Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews

Holly Wells, Domestic Abuse Related Death Review Support Officer, was scheduled to present an update on Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews (DArDRs), formerly known as Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs). The report explained that the name change reflects the inclusion of deaths from domestic abuse-related suicide. It detailed that there were eleven DArDRs in progress across Leicestershire, with a breakdown of victim demographics and perpetrator types. Key themes emerging from these reviews included the link between mental health and domestic abuse, isolation in rural communities, deaths linked to firearm use, the impact of adverse childhood experiences on perpetrators, and multigenerational abuse. The report also highlighted challenges related to significant delays in the Home Office's Quality Assurance Panel reviewing overview reports, which impacts the publication of findings and brings closure to families.

Community Safety Partnership Domestic Homicide Review Contributions

Gurjit Samra-Rai, Community Safety Team Manager for Leicestershire County Council, was set to present a proposal for an increase in funding contributions to the Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) management process. The report noted that DHRs are a statutory requirement under the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004, and Leicestershire County Council manages these reviews on behalf of Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs). The report detailed the current funding arrangements, where Leicestershire County Council contributes £30,000 plus a dedicated post and officer time, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) contributes £16,000, and each District partner and Rutland County Council contributes £2,500. Due to an increase in the number and complexity of DHRs, it was proposed that each District partner and Rutland County Council should be invoiced £5,000 per annum to cover the rising costs. The report also highlighted that the funding arrangements had not been reviewed since 2013.

Anti-social Behaviour Case Management System (ECINS)

Gurjit Samra-Rai was also scheduled to provide an overview of the project to implement ECINS, a new Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Partnership Case Management System, across Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland (LLR) one year after its implementation. The report detailed the background of the project, stemming from the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, and the move from the previous system, Sentinel. It outlined developments underway, including custom data export specifications and a Power BI dashboard, as well as completed developments such as increased file storage and new address-search functionality. Challenges encountered during the implementation, including data migration and user training, were discussed, alongside ongoing issues such as the integration with the Police's GENIE system and data extraction capabilities. The report concluded by recommending the continuous review of ECINS to ensure it remains the most suitable system for the LLR ASB Partnership.

Safer Communities Performance 2025/26 Quarter 3

The board was to receive a report on Safer Communities' performance for the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year. The report presented data on key indicators, including the protection and support of vulnerable communities, with a focus on Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) repeat referrals, which were noted to be within the recommended range. The report also covered ongoing reductions in crime, with overall crime and violence with injury figures showing improvement, and stabilised rates for burglary and vehicle offences. The performance of domestic crime and incidents, domestic violence with injury, and sexual offences were also detailed. Finally, the report addressed the prevention of terrorism and radicalisation, noting low numbers of hate crimes reported to the police and a slight decrease in resident agreement that people from different backgrounds get on well.

The meeting also included agenda items for introductions, minutes of the previous meeting, matters arising, and the LRSCSB Action Log. The date of the next meeting was scheduled for Thursday 25 June 2026, to be held via Microsoft Teams.