URL: https://democracy.arun.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=902

Decision Maker: Housing and Wellbeing Committee

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose:

Content: The Chair welcomed Chief Inspector Keating-Jones and Inspector Wickings to the meeting and invited them to give a general presentation on how the Police are contributing to the Safer Arun Partnership Plan 2023-2025 and local policing priorities.   Ch Insp Keating-Jones gave a presentation covering his areas of responsibility.  He referred to the policing priorities in the Chichester and Arun District, which broadly reflected those set by Police headquarters and the wider police priorities.  These included delivery of an outstanding service to victims and the public, to catch criminals and protect our communities, and the strategies of the headquarters that filter into the District as an overarching Police strategy.  Divisional and District priorities were predominantly centred around domestic abuse increases and providing better safeguards for victims.  Prioritisation was also given to residential burglaries and robberies, as well as the protection of women and girls and to reduce violence against them, and to increase reporting where possible.  This was carried out mindfully and ethically in line with the Police Race Action Plan and to protect minority and underrepresented communities.    Referring to District level policing, priorities were in place to solve the more inquisitive crimes, particularly surrounding theft from shops, tackling youth violence   and anti-social behaviour.  A number of operations were in place under the leadership Insp Wickings and would be addressed under the questions submitted by members in advance of the meeting.  A pressing priority was managing the Police response to unauthorised traveller encampments, which were encroaching more on Arun.  He drew attention to the Chichester District that had a disproportionately higher number of unauthorised encampments advising that a great deal of work was being done to facilitate their way of life and to utilise Police powers where appropriate.  However, the potential unintended consequences of moving the encampments on means they could move into other council areas instead.  Insp Wickings was involved in the detail of the operation and would be able to answer questions on the subject as well.   The Committee then asked Ch Insp Keating-Jones and Insp Wickings a number of questions that had been submitted in advance.   Cllr Cooper: My ward in Rustington has seen successive month on month rises in crime (or reported crime) up to June 2024. ·      I have checked a few other wards and have seen a similar picture. ·      Is this a consistent picture across most Arun Wards, and has there been a comparable increase in available PCSO or Officers to deal with this rise? ·      Would it also be possible to receive rates on crimes solved/dealt with on a local level?   Insp Wickings explained that the Police had undertaken research of their own.  Arun District has had a slight increase in crime of approximately 7% year on year, which was not significantly higher than expected. In relation to solved crimes, Rustington has had a slight reduction of 1%.  From a Police perspective there had not been a significant increase particularly when taking into account the number of crimes being reported.  Rustington currently had a 12% solved crime rate, which although this did not sound a high amount it was a 4.5% increase.  The Police had seen an increase in solved crimes, which may be linked to a recruitment drive over the last two years.  The number of  PCSOs was now almost at full establishment levels and, unlike some other police authorities, had almost a full complement of police constables who were utilised to target those crimes across the District.    Cllr Cooper: Referring to the 7% year on year crime increase, it was asked if this was compound growth.  Whilst this did not look good if looked at in graph form, following the Police response that crime rates were reducing this was looked forward to.  It was considered that the crime increase was significant  even if the Police felt that it was not.   Insp Wickings recognised that members may view the increase as significant and explained that perception in the community was important to the Police.  A District Engagement Officer was now in place who would communicate to the public the action the Police were taking and crime prevention advice to alleviate fear and perception around crimes and anti-social behaviour.   Chair: Recently we have seen travellers moving onto public places in Arun. There has been considerable concern from members of the public as they have witnessed shoplifting and been made to feel unsafe on the parks that they normally use. Local shops and cafes have had to close, as there has been criminal activity.  What approach has the police used and have there been any charges brought against any of the travellers?   Insp Wickings explained that encampments were dealt with by Police on a case by case basis and was aware that in Arun there had recently been a number of them.  Both Arun and Chichester districts had experienced the most in Sussex over a season.  In taking action, any current criminality was taken into account.  The neighbourhood policing teams had a good direction of response in terms of the course of action they could take including engagement with businesses.  He was not aware of any prosecutions that had taken place concerning encampments.  When reviewing the Police powers he looked at the crimes that had been reported and his experience was that often people are not willing to support a Police investigation or there was not enough evidence.  He provided details of the work taking place with the Council that included a post season review, a councillor questionnaire, assessment of the sites and locations that had been impacted this season by encampments to see what improvements can be made.  A briefing will be provided to all parish councils in March 20225, in preparation for the new season, to explain the powers available to the Police and the action they are able to take.    Ch Insp Keating-Jones advised that he was unsure of the number of successful prosecutions.  There was a need to strike balance with the communities wishing to move the travellers on, either by using Police powers or their moving on voluntarily, and wanting to successfully prosecute, which was often difficult to achieve simultaneously.  However, when the Police did arrest a suspect, other family members often stayed in the  area until the outcome was known and if a suspect has already left the District when they were returned this could risk another incursion.  Therefore, a decision needed to be made whether or not to prosecute a crime, such as shoplifting theft, which although important had to be weighed up with allowing the group to move on without causing further issues or delays.  He was happy to be guided by the communities’ expectations on the action they would like taken.   He raised the importance of working across districts and advised that as District Commander he had powers to remove encampments but a consequence of this could result in moving the issues to another District.  Under his powers he had recently  removed an encampment from the Cattle Market Car Park, Chichester following meetings with Chichester District Council and residents.  Following their eviction the travellers relocated to other places where he also used his powers before they had settled at the Bognor Regis Rugby Club.  He suggested that both Arun and Chichester district councils could do more to work together to manage the communities concerns and ease the pressure on the decision makers to use their powers by working collaboratively.  He suggested that traveller groups could be contained in a hard standing car park if they are causing relatively little community tensions and crime, to prevent them causing further issues elsewhere.    The Chair commented that this was an interesting point and that she was sure that officers would take the issues away to consider.   Cllr Cooper: Rustington has suffered (along with other wards) from unauthorised encampments.  With many local authorities carrying out preventative measures, partly due to the successful workshops held by Insp Wickings, to secure their land,  the result has been that vulnerable elderly communities who own leasehold properties (managed by an agent) found themselves confronted with Antisocial Behaviour and large clean up costs in the aftermath.  I am aware of the difficulties faced by Police in using their powers in these circumstances, which I am aware stay as your responsibility. However, understanding the SAP’s responsibility for community safety what measures can be taken by the Police and the statutory partners of the partnership to assist in these cases that decimate quiet neighbourhoods and scare the elderly?  For her that had resulted in her being called out at 8.00pm  because a group of people were worried that  travellers would move onto land in her Ward after being moved on from other land twice previously.  She had provided advice to the group, who were primarily elderly, on how to deter the travellers.  Details were provided of the issues that had occurred at The Martlets flats, Rustington caused by an unauthorised encampment.   Insp Wickings replied that the pre-season review and post season briefing included, wherever possible, briefings for private companies and agencies that owned land.  The biggest challenge was encouraging private landowners to take action against unauthorised encampments and their lack of understanding of the processes.  However, if we keep moving them on their final location may be a less suitable than where they were previously located.  He acknowledged that the issues that had occurred at The Martlets flats, Rustington had not been very pleasant for the residents concerned.  Local authorities were the lead agency for unauthorised encampments with support provided from the Police but the biggest issue was to educate people and to manage their fears.  Some of the communities’ fears were potentially heightened due to media uproar as opposed to the facts of the situation.    Cllr Cooper: I have recently seen very disturbing reports of witnesses who have seen shops being  “looted” or largescale theft and staff unable to challenge.  Can you advise if stores such as Tescos/Co-op and garages have been reporting this type of incident across the District? It was difficult to know if the reports about issues on social media had been reported to the Police.  Alarming suggestions are that because nothing can be done, they are not reported?  It would be helpful to understand Sussex Police's view on this type of crime and how it can stop the public perception of lawlessness?   Insp Wickings replied that social media sites, such as Facebook, created an issue for the Police.  Often comments were made online about incidents and the lack of a Police response, but if these incidents are not reported then no Police action can be taken, as it was difficult to understand the full picture.  It was understandable that residents felt the Police were not doing anything about the issues.  He referred to the Felpham playing field encampment which had resulted in shop lifting at the Tesco Express.  These shoplifting incidences had been reported only because PCSOs had visited Tesco Express to check up on staff wellbeing and were advised there had been some incidences but not reported.  So there was a challenge around the lack of reporting and this will be balanced with the needs of the community and moving travellers on.  If a crime has been reported the Police will  look to deal with it where they can.  In relation to general opinion around shoplifting, Operation Precinct in Barnham and Yapton was introduced following significant crime reports received from Tesco Express and the Co-op.  The operation had significantly reduced crime with individuals prosecuted, issued cautions and community resolutions, some had gone to court and their anti-social behaviour powers had been used.  Businesses had a responsibility to protect their staff and should be encouraged to report crime, as for a long time a number of businesses had not done so for varying reasons.  The Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner was a supporter of the Project Pegasus business crime scheme.   Cllr Cooper gave her thanks to Insp Wickings for his comments.  She ran a local Facebook page where she encouraged people who posted about incidents on social media to report them to the Police and encouraged the media to do so as well.  Referring to the issue of the lack of prosecutions, so as not to encourage a traveller to stay in the locality, it was suggested that the Safer Arun Partnership could take up this matter.   Insp Wickings confirmed that the gypsy and traveller transit site located in Stane Street, Chichester was still in operation. However, as it was a small site the Police had taken a policy decision not to split up larger family groups when using their powers, due to the distress this sometimes caused.  Even though no prosecutions had taken place, the public should still report crimes as when carrying out the rationale for deciding to prosecute or not he reviewed all the related crime reports to build an intelligence picture of the impact on the local community.       Chair: In Arun, there are frequent incidents of bike theft.  What is the approach being taken to tackle this type of crime?   Insp Wickings provided details of the bike marking schemes periodically offered to the public.  Where a high number of thefts had been identified, they were tailored to the location, such as train stations.  He reported a 14% decrease in bike thefts in Arun on a rolling year by year basis. The Police would continue working with partners, including the Council, to see what can be done to reduce this crime further.   Chair: County lines and other activity by drug gangs have been a problem across the UK.  Could you outline the work currently being done to counter illegal distribution on drugs?   Insp Wickings replied that search warrants were issued if intelligence received about drug related activity met the threshold.  Sussex Police took part in the County Lines Intensification week that targeted known locations, working with other police authorities including the Metropolitan Police.  A hub intelligence meeting took place fortnightly where individuals known to the Police were discussed concerning County Lines, which could result in cuckooing.  A vulnerable persons check list was in place that assisted the Police to look out for their welfare.   Ch Insp Keating-Jones added that the county lines work inherently included covert tactics carried out by specialist units, such as regional organised crime units and the Sussex Police Community Investigation Team.  He advised it was not possible to share publicly the work taking place within the District due to the specialist nature of the inquiries but confirmed that work was happening on a daily basis.   Actions from the meetings were carried out by the most appropriate team, either locally or by the Serious Crime Unit or similar for more specialised crimes.   Chair: Violence against women and girls is a serious problem across Arun, what support is given to victims of these crimes in Arun?   Ch Insp Keating-Jones acknowledged that this type of crime was clearly a serious issue and a priority taken seriously.  However, there was not a serious problem in Arun and asked the questioner if there were issues that   she was aware of.   The Chair clarified that her question arose from the general number of domestic abuse incidents released and whether action was taken and victims had the confidence to report them.   Ch Insp Keating-Jones advised that people should have the confidence to report incidents.  All victims were offered support by Victim Services with enhanced specialist support offered for victims of violence and sexual offences.  He provided details of the Sussex Police Violence and Aggression Against Girls and Women Working Group, where particular hot spots were highlighted and the correct action undertaken.  The force was also led by nationally identified themes.  In particular following the nighttime economy decline the focus has changed with less time spent dealing with altercations outside pubs.  Attention now focused on other vulnerabilities such as men and women walking home on their own.  Sussex Police intended to increase solved rates involving domestic abuse.  Details of intelligence information concerning rape and sexual offences with hot spots assessed and case studies discussed and actioned accordingly at the fortnightly hub intelligence meeting.   Insp Wickings provided details of Operation Soteria that involved the Police working with a charity concerning sex for gain crimes, as well as liaising with Arun District Council.  The Neighbourhood Policing Team had received training on this issue to help their understanding when dealing with these crimes.  This crime often also involved violence against girls and women in that industry.   The Chair invited members to ask any further questions:   Cllr Pendleton: Referring to residential burglaries, from her own experience personally and from talking with residents there had been non-attendance and little focus on this type of crime.  She asked for details of improvements that had been made and what residents’ expectations should be.    Ch Insp Keating-Jones said he was surprised to hear this information and would be interested in seeing the reporting details.  Sussex Police had changed its policy following a national direction a year ago and will now attend all incidents. He explained that crime scene investigation work and crime prevention advice received from a PCSO could also class as attendance.  However, in theory a warrant officer should take a statement in every residential incidence, although it may not include garages and non-primary residence buildings.  He would be interested to see where they had fallen down.   Cllr Pendleton: It was agreed she would send him the details that included CCTV footage and the Police correspondence received.   Ch Insp Keating-Jones added that all victims had the right to make a complaint about the level of service received.  Complaints were dealt with by the public confidence team, as well as himself and Insp Wickings and any necessary action would be taken.   Cllr Bicknell: He referred to the large area of his ward being located within the South Downs National Park and reduction of the PCSO service to 0.5 of a post in that area.   He had previously worked closely with the PCSOs but no longer had any contact details for them.  He asked if there was any assistance, such as the facilitation of a forum for  farmers and owners of open land that could be accessed by travellers in the future, to provide them with protection and guidance.   Insp Wickings provided details of the Police Rural Crime Team who worked with landowners concerning rural crime, which was very different to urban crime.  He advised that the PSCO team was back up to full employment and undertook to provide Cllr Bicknell with the Team’s contact details.   Cllr Gunner: He referred to the cyber enabled fraud figure for 2021 of £1 million and asked if there were more up to date figures available.  He was aware that his residents were increasingly fearful of this type of crime, which was becoming more sophisticated.  He asked for details of what the Police were doing to protect residents.   Insp Wickings advised that talks about scams were provided to the public. A member of the Cyber Crime team attended engagement events distributing leaflets and providing advice, which included to Police staff so they could also cascade information to the public.  He encouraged members to let him or the PCSO Team know if they were aware of vulnerable groups of people, so that prevention advice could be arranged.   Cllr Butcher: We have heard about the focus on the issues in Littlehampton town centre, which have helped resolve the problems, but there were still a large number of incidents. He sought reassurance that the work carried out so far to reduce the number of incidents in towns would be continued and given time to have an impact.  He felt the issues were underreported but hoped that the work taking place would give confidence to the public.  This was a blot on the town centres which had led to people not feeling safe in those areas and that the policing of these areas should form a large part of making people feel safe again.   Insp Wickings advised that this work related to Operation Sonar and the work of Sergeant Georgia Hudson who had been very involved in the Littlehampton Action Group.  The project was initially for one year, allowing enough time to start making a difference due to it being a deep seated issue.  Improvements had been made with a number of individuals removed from the area and officers were prepared for a recent influx of unknowns into the area.  There was no intention to remove the project, which was still working to its end goal of reducing crime and making people feel safe in that area.   Ch Insp Keating-Jones confirmed that the town centre project had his full support.  He reiterated the importance of reporting incidents and the reasons why people may not do so. He advised that  the new 101 system had reduced caller waiting times and the online reporting system was relatively simple to use.  There had been a great deal of time and effort to ensure the contact centre performed well and people needed to be encouraged to report incidents so that action can be taken.   Cllr Yeates: She referred to Station Square located outside Bognor Regis train station, which was a hotspot for anti-social behaviour.  She was aware of social media postings commenting that the role of the public spaces protection order (PSPO) was too general and not strong enough and asked if there was any more that could be done.   Insp Wickings agreed the issues were a perpetual problem in Bognor Regis.  Sergeant Sam Fenner had started working with partners to find a solution to the issues that had increased again.  The PSPO could play a key role but he would have to liaise with both the Arun Community Safety Officer and Community and Wellbeing Manager and look at the contents of the PSPO for the Bognor Regis area to understand the comments made that it was not effective.   The Chair thanked both Ch Insp Keating-Jones and Insp Wickings for attending the meeting and for answering the variety of questions, which she thought would instil confidence in the public for answering them.

Date of Decision: September 10, 2024