The Safer and Stronger Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee of County Durham Council met on Monday 20 April 2026 to discuss a range of issues impacting community safety and performance. Key topics included an update on the Serious Violence Duty, a review of open water safety initiatives, and a performance management report for the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year. The committee also received an update on the work of the Probation Service.

Serious Violence Report

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the Serious Violence Duty, a government initiative introduced under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. This duty requires specified authorities, including the police, fire and rescue services, justice agencies, health authorities, and local authorities, to collaborate on preventing and reducing serious violence. The report outlined the partnership approach to tackling serious violence within County Durham, with a strategic vision for the county to be a safe place where individuals, families, and communities can thrive. The strategic priorities identified for the partnership until 2029 include prevention and early intervention, focusing on children and young people at risk of serious violence and alcohol-related violence. Criminal justice and enforcement priorities include addressing repeat and habitual offenders of serious violence, domestic abuse-related serious violence, and a cohort linked to repeat offenders. A strategic needs assessment was completed in January 2026, with a refreshed strategy planned for summer 2026.

Open Water Safety Update

An update on open water safety initiatives was presented, highlighting the ongoing work of the City Safety Group (CSG) and the county-wide Open Water Safety Group (OWSG). These groups meet regularly to review interventions and risk mitigation strategies. The report indicated a positive trend in relation to open water-related fatalities in Durham City Centre, with fatalities across County Durham remaining at similar levels to previous years. The CSG, which includes Durham County Council, Durham Constabulary, Durham University, Durham Students Union, Durham Cathedral, and County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, meets biannually. The OWSG, chaired by the Council's Corporate Health and Safety Compliance manager, meets quarterly and focuses on safety in areas of open water outside of Durham city centre. National guidance and best practices from organisations like RoSPA and the National Water Safety Forum have informed the council's open water safety policy and risk assessment methodology. The report included statistics on non-fatal and fatal water-related incidents in County Durham from 2014 to 2025, noting that males continue to be overrepresented in accidental fatalities.

Quarter Three, 2025/26 Performance Management Report

The committee received an update on the council's progress towards achieving the strategic ambitions and objectives set out in the Council Plan 2025-30. The data presented was for the period ending 31 December 2025, covering the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year. The report highlighted that reports of anti-social behaviour were at their lowest recorded level for two years, and fly-tipping rates remained low. In terms of road safety, there was an increase in fatalities and serious injuries compared to the previous year, with speeding and drink/drug driving identified as contributing factors. The report also detailed the progress of the selective licensing scheme for privately rented properties, with 69% of properties either fully licensed, being processed, exempt, or subject to legal proceedings. The report indicated that the scheme was being reviewed, with a re-modelling exercise to identify unlicensed properties planned for 2026.

Probation Service Update

The committee was provided with background information and a presentation on the delivery of probation services in County Durham and Darlington. The Probation Delivery Unit (PDU) for the area is the largest in the North East and covers a diverse range of functions, including four prisons and four report centres. The PDU manages approximately 2,863 current caseloads. A recent HMIP inspection rated the PDU as Inadequate, identifying areas for improvement such as staffing levels (at 73% of requirement), high workloads leading to sickness, and inconsistent risk management and safeguarding checks. Recommendations included staff training, ensuring complete and analysed information on domestic abuse and child safeguarding, improving the use of interventions, and providing middle managers with capacity for oversight. Challenges for the probation service included early release schemes, the Sentencing Act 2026, and staff security and wellbeing. The report also touched upon the complexities of managing offenders with mental health issues, personality disorders, and those who move into the area from other parts of the country.