Agenda and draft minutes

The Committee noted the Minutes.

Members resolved to act as the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committee.

Update by Inspector Declan Cahill

The committee received a verbal update from Chief Inspector Cahill of South Wales Police in relation to anti-social behaviour.

Chief Inspector Declan Cahill summarised the reasons for the conception of Operation Grey Denver. Chief Inspector Declan Cahill continued by informing the committee that there had been a loss of trust and confidence following issues in Neath Town Centre around anti-behaviour and substance misuse. Chief Inspector Cahill stated that Inspector Roy Portlock had devised an effective Patrol Strategy for Neath Town Centre to address the issues raised. Chief Inspector Cahill commented that a media strategy had been set up jointly between South Wales Police and Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council which informed the public via social media of the good work being done to resolve the problems being encountered. Chief Inspector Cahill stated that a Street Vulnerable Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) had been set up with partner agencies to deal with any issues immediately. Chief Inspector Cahill reported that 17 third sector partners had attended the previous meeting. Chief Inspector Cahill informed the committee that 27 referrals had been received to date and fifty percent had accepted some form of assistance from partner agencies.

Chief Inspector Cahill reported that three Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) were ongoing while the Police were gathering evidence. Chief Inspector Cahill commented that the order stipulated that an individual had to work closely with partners to address any issues with addictions to substances. Chief Inspector Cahill informed the committee that one individual who had gone through the process was now a reformed character and was now employed and wanted to apologise to the retailers where he had caused disruption. Chief Inspector Cahill reported that sharing resources amongst partners and working together was producing good results, and this was a good example.

Chief Inspector Declan Cahill updated the committee on the diverted giving scheme that had been implemented in Neath Town Centre, and informed Members that citizens were now being encouraged not to give donations directly to homeless individuals, but to place their contribution into a box where the money would be distributed according to need. Chief Inspector Declan Cahill stated that on the 8^th December 2017 that staff from South Wales Police were permitted to collect money on behalf of homeless people at an Ospreys game. Chief Inspector Cahill added that partnership work was growing in strength but there was still more to do.

Members acknowledged the good work being carried out by South Wales Police and partners. Members added that they were aware that Santander would match contributions made by citizens as part of the diverted giving scheme. Members raised fears and concerns that a new gang were now congregating outside the Neath train station that they had not seen before.

Members queried whether action was being taken to prevent under age people from purchasing alcohol in licensed establishments. Chief Inspector Declan Cahill reported that South Wales Police had inspected licensed premises and each one visited had passed.

Members queried  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2a

Update by Inspector Declan Cahill

The committee received a verbal update from Chief Inspector Cahill of South Wales Police in relation to cyber-crime.

Chief Inspector Cahill informed the committee that cyber crime was a difficult area to address currently. Chief Inspector Cahill reported that 188 cyber related crimes had taken place in Neath Port Talbot between August 2017 and July 2018, and that 316 incidents had been reported to Trading Standards. Chief Inspector Cahill stated that an officer had been especially appointed to educate parents on the dangers of cyber crime and to raise awareness. Chief Inspector Cahill stated that the officer was responsible for meeting with victims and following up within three to six months to ensure that they had put the advice received into practice and were being vigilant while online. Chief Inspector Cahill explained that the Police were trying to raise awareness of the risks by targeting parents and students. Chief Inspector Cahill informed members that an awareness campaign was planned for Black Friday utilising social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. Inspector Cahill stated that two officers were currently covering Neath Port Talbot and Swansea and dealing with cyber crime by going to care homes and supported housing to educate elderly citizens. Chief Inspector Cahill informed the committee that a lot of work was taking place to address the issue of cyber crime.

Members commented that it was important that the Authority worked with the Police to push their messages to a wider audience via the Council’s own communication channels. Chief Inspector Cahill explained that Operation Signature was working in partnership with all responsible authorities to circulate and distribute these messages as far possible.

Members queried whether fraud was the main issue in relation to cyber crime. Chief Inspector Cahill explained that bullying and online grooming were also key issues as well as fraud. Officers explained that cyber crime was going to be one of the Community Safety Partnership’s main priorities for the coming year. Officers added that the focus was on putting preventative measures in place, because once the crime had been committed it was difficult to track down the perpetrators as many operated from different countries from around the world.

Members questioned whether there had been any successful enforcements following online fraud. Chief Inspector Cahill explained that it was difficult to tell as online fraud was dealt with by banks and Action Fraud. Chief Inspector Cahill added that the Police did have officers that investigated online paedophile rings, but it could take years to build up robust cases for these crimes and to identify individual perpetrators.

Members commented that the nature of the different types of cyber crimes being committed cross cut many areas of public services. Members queried how joined up were the services in responding to cyber crime. Chief Inspector Cahill explained that work was in progress to ensure that there was a more joined up approach from partners to cyber crime. Chief Inspector Cahill stated that the Police were working with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2b

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Digital Officer

The Committee received information in relation to Substance Misuse as contained within the circulated report.

Officers informed the committee that following serious concerns regarding risks, threats and harm associated with substance misuse, including a rise in violence and preventable deaths that the Public Service Board had created a Critical Incident Group (CIG) made of members from partner organisations. Officers stated that the group were looking at issues across the local authority areas of Neath Port Talbot and Swansea. Officers explained that an action plan had been developed by the group and that the main priorities included freeing up Police capacity to deal with issues in relation to county lines by releasing police officers from hospitals sooner, and by minimising the amount of time spent on dealing with issues regarding Looked After Children. Officers stated that a dedicated officer from Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board (ABMU) was now sitting in the South Wales Police call centre to provide advice on drug related issues and how to assist addicts.  Officers explained that a lot of work was ongoing over the next few months, and that communication over the radio, digital and traditional means would take place so that communities and citizens knew what to look out for and how to report any issues. Officers stated that this would send a message to the crime gangs that partners were taking the matter seriously.

Officers reported that there were real concerns over the number of drug related deaths in Neath Port Talbot and Swansea. Officers stated that the group had identified a need to develop an outreach programme to identify and engage with people who were not receiving help through services provided by partner organisations. Officers stated that it was important to find, keep and treat these people. Officers explained that those who did engage with services and had addiction to various substances could wait up to two years for treatment, by which time they are taking a concoction of different substances to satisfy their addictions which were harmful and sometimes fatal. Officers stated that there needed to be swifter and immediate action taken. Officers explained that communication and reporting of rogue batches of substances between agencies in a timely manner would also save lives.

Officers reported some services needed to be re-commissioned in future to meet the need. Officers explained that school and universities had very universal programmes to educate young people when it was possible that a more targeted approach was required.

Officers informed the committee that the Area Planning Board (APB) had re-focused their priorities. Officers stated that drug related deaths had doubled in the past 10 years and that arrangements needed to be made fit for purpose.  Officers informed the committee that there was a follow up meeting planned for December and that the Board would then assess the impact at the end of February. Officers suggested that the committee may want an update from the Board at some point to hold the APB to account.

Members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

The committee requested for representatives from the APB and particularly ABMU to be present for the next Substance Misuse update in order to provide a position statement on what was being done to tackle drug related deaths in the county borough.

The committee requested that it would like to look at issues regarding Cybercrime at a future meeting.

The committee requested for the report on CCTV to be brought back to the next meeting. The committee also requested for the consultant’s report to be circulate to Members in the meantime.

Officers queried whether the committee still wished to embark on a task and finish group to look at substance misuse/anti social behavior issues in Aberavon and Port Talbot following targeted efforts made by the Police in Aberavon. Officers added that an action group had now been set up in Aberavon and Local Members were involved. The committee confirmed that it no longer wished to set up a task and finish group following recent Police efforts. Members queried whether the action group looked at issues within the Port Talbot ward also. Officers stated that the action group only looked at issues within the Aberavon ward; however the suggestion for an action group in the Port Talbot ward would be fed back to the Police.