Minutes of the Dorset Community Safety Partnership - 23 June 2021

Attendance

Core Membership 

Attendees

Support

Attending for specific items - Sally Parsons (Item 5), Julie Howe (Item 5), Lindsey Dudfield (Item 5), Paula Golding (Item 5) and Jack Wiltshire (Item 6)

Apologies 

• Toni Shepherd (National Probation Service)

• Kristy Claughton (Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall Probation),

• Graham Duggan (Dorset Council),

• Andrea Breen (Dorset Council)

No 1

1. Welcome and Introductions

1.1 Cllr Carr Jones welcomed everyone to the meeting and introductions were made. David Sidwick, the newly elected Police and Crime Commissioner, was welcomed to the meeting.

No 2 

2. Responding to the Domestic Abuse Act 2021

2.1 Andy Frost introduced a paper regarding the response to the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 which became law on 29 April 2021. As the statutory guidance is still not finalised there remains a lack of clarity on some issues. As a result, it was noted that the response to the legislation will evolve as further guidance is produced.

2.2 The key requirements of the legislation were explained including the need to establish a Local Partnership Board (LPB), produce a needs assessment and a strategy relating to support in safe accommodation.

2.3 It was confirmed New Burdens funding (£650,000) for 2021/22 has been provided to Dorset Council to support people who are in safe accommodation. Allocating this funding is proving difficult as supporting those living within safe accommodation forms only one part of Dorset’s approach to domestic abuse. It was agreed there is a need to lobby government to widen the use of this funding and the leader of the Council will raise this with MPs later this week. Andy Frost agreed to also forward a briefing paper to David Sidwick so that he could raise the issue at a national level.

• Action - Andy Frost

2.4 It was clarified that the governance for this funding rests with Dorset Council although the funding will be spent in accordance with the shared strategy agreed with partners.

Local Partnership Board

2.5 It was previously agreed that the CSP would adopt the statutory functions of the LPB. The CSPs ToR have now been amended to reflect the requirements of a LPB and state that the CSP is responsible for the statutory function of the LPB. Cllr Molly Rennie will now attend the group as the Chair of the Domestic Abuse Forum.

Needs Assessment

2.6 Ian Grant introduced the needs assessment outlining it is a 3-year assessment with an annual refresh. This was produced with support from partners.

2.7 The needs assessment covered all aspects of domestic abuse including the need for a reactive and preventative approach. This was broader than required in the legislation which requires a focus on safe accommodation.

2.8 There are several recommendations within the assessment for safe accommodation and wider systems including a coordinated housing offer, further support for children and improving how we commission domestic abuse services.

2.9 The assessment was welcomed and supported by the group.

Domestic Abuse Strategy

2.10 The group considered the Domestic Abuse Strategy which reflects the needs assessment and the CSP’s current position statement on domestic abuse. The strategy also outlines a clear framework to take work forward.

2.11 Cllr Carr-Jones asked the group to consider how they support and use the strategy to develop their organisation’s response. It was recognised the strategy should be seen as a working document which will be built on with partners over time.

2.12 It was noted that the strategy is deliberately broad however the delivery plans which will sit under the strategy will be more detailed. The group asked that the delivery plans recognise the needs of children living with domestic abuse and the role of health in preventing and addressing domestic abuse.

2.13 Members supported the strategy recognising that it is an evolving document and it can be further developed in the future.

2.14 The group were asked to cascade the strategy within their organisations.

• Action - All

Resolved 

• the revised terms of reference and membership for the Community Safety Partnership so it fulfils the function of the Local Partnership Board were agreed
• the domestic abuse needs assessment was agreed
• the domestic abuse strategy was agreed

No 3

3. Election of Vice Chair

3.1 As stated in the Terms of Reference the group must appoint a Vice Chair annually. Cllr Carr-Jones proposed Supt. Richard Bell for the position and this was seconded by Cllr Quayle.

Resolved

• Supt. Richard Bell was appointed Vice Chair for 2021/22 financial year

No 4 

4. Minutes of Meeting Held on 10 March 2021 and Matters Arising

4.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 10 March 2021 were agreed with an amendment to paragraph 4.3. The acronym DICE should be replaced with DISS. At this point Liz Plastow invited partners to join the DISS working party.

4.2 1.3 Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO) Andy Frost explained that partners are now made aware of the DVPOs.

4.3 1.5 Domestic Abuse Communications Andy Frost outlined many of the communications and training opportunities that have been delivered since the last meeting. Messages will also be put on Council vehicles including library vans and refuse lorries.

4.4 2.5 Fire Service and Harbour Project It was confirmed that the Fire Service and Harbour Project have been linked.

4.5 2.8 Outcomes and consistent reporting across the strategic and local groups and 4.3 Analytical resources The group accepted that this area of work, including enhancing the group’s analytical capabilities needs further consideration.

4.6 5.3 - Raising awareness of the Community Safety Partnership Plan within organisations All partners to raise awareness of the CSP Plan and update at the next meeting how this has been achieved.

• Action - All

4.7 6.1 - Update on Probation Services This item has been added to Forward Plan.

4.8 7.4 - Local Partnership Board This matter arising is on the agenda.

4.9 8.2 - Forward Plan The Forward Plan has been updated.

4.10 8.3 - Future Meeting Dates This has been completed and future dates circulated.

No 5

5. Progress against Strategic Priorities

5.1 Andy Frost introduced a report detailing progress against strategic priorities. A focus was given to domestic abuse and the work that has been taken forward including the development of toolkits for professionals within children services, various training offers and an audit on domestic abuse and older people.

5.2 Supt. Bell requested further data to measure progress against priorities. Andy Frost confirmed that at present only limited data is given due to the lack of analytical capacity and this needs to be addressed.

5.3 It was noted that action plans were still being delivered and that work needed to be undertaken to assess the impact of activity.

5.4 Supt. Bell and Vanessa Read asked that the frequency of the CSP meetings was increased due to the large amount of work. It was agreed Andy Frost would look into this. David Webb and Andy Frost will also look at communication from the strategic priority group to the Youth Offending Service.

5.5 Drive Programme Julie Howe and Sally Parsons introduced the DRIVE programme. The DRIVE programme works with the perpetrators of domestic abuse, challenging their beliefs and behaviours with the aim of reducing their abusive behaviour. It was confirmed that on average the programme would complete 10 months of work with each perpetrator. It was confirmed that the work required a multi-agency approach and a Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Panel (DAPP) had been established.

5.6 The group welcomed the approach and was very supportive of DRIVE programme.

5.7 Prevention Department and Safety Education Services to Schools – Lindsey Dudfield – Dorset Police Lindsey Dudfield described the current structure of the Prevention Department and confirmed there will be a restructure in the future focused on three tiers of prevention – primary, secondary and tertiary. The CSP would fit within the secondary tier and when established it would be important to align priorities.

5.8 A Prevention Strategy 2030 and beyond will be produced and signed off by the Police Service by the end of 2021. This will be delivered by the Prevention Department and wider partners.

5.9 The provision of Safety Education in Schools was reviewed by an external provider in early 2020. From this review there is a better understanding of what is needed in terms of safety education and the revised provision should be in place by January 2022. It was agreed the Dorset CSP and PCC should be included in the ongoing discussions regarding the new provision.

5.10 Contextual Safeguarding – Paula Golding Paula Golding introduced Dorset’s roll out of the Contextual Safeguarding system. Contextual Safeguarding is safeguarding that responds to children’s experience of abuse outside of the home.

5.11 Dorset will have a two-tier model – tier 1 safeguarding for children and families and tier 2 working with peer group, schools and neighbourhoods. Targeted youth work will lead for Tier 2 and links will be made with locations and specific interventions based on need.

5.12 Cllr Carr-Jones thanked everyone for their presentations.

Resolved

• progress against strategic priorities through the work of the Strategic Priority Delivery Group was considered and noted

No 6

6. Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs)

6.1 Cllr Carr Jones amended the agenda to discuss the report concerning domestic homicide reviews (DHRs) next and excused himself from this item due to personal knowledge of one of the cases. Supt. Richard Bell took the Chair for this item.

6.2 Kay Wilson White outlined that the CSP has specific legal responsibilities regarding DHRs and it is important that CSP members were aware of these and decisions documented appropriately.

6.3 The group acknowledged that there were 6 cases ongoing at the moment and noted progress regarding each of the DHRs.

6.4 Kay Wilson White outlined the role of the DHR Review Panel which oversees the completion of the action plans relating to DHRs. Following a recent meeting the Review Panel recommended that the CSP formally conclude DHR D5.

6.5 It was noted DHR D5 is an example of why DHRs are important and how lessons can be learnt in the short term, leading to improvements in supporting victims and holding perpetrators to account. The group agreed to formally conclude the DHR.

6.6 In future finalised action plans will be appended to CSP reports. CSP members also asked that the Review Group consider how agencies sustain changes driven by reviews.

• Action - Kay Wilson White

6.7 The group acknowledged the need to extend the timetable two DHRs (DHR D12 and DHR D13) as it would not be possible to meet the 6 month timescale set in statutory guidance. The delay was due to criminal investigations, the complexities of undertaking a DHR when it is suspected someone takes their own life and the lack of a Coroner’s Inquest.

6.8 In the report under 2.11 it stated that DHR D12 should be presented to the CSP late Summer however it will be later in 2021. Members agreed the revised timetables supporting the aim to present both reports later in 2021.

6.9 Since the last meeting the CSP had received two further requests to consider a DHR. In both cases either the CSP Chair or Vice Chair agreed with the DHR Panel’s recommendations to proceed with reviews. The group noted these decisions and also agreed the recommendation to pend both DHRs whilst there are criminal investigations ongoing.

6.10 It was confirmed that early learning from DHRs is taken forward either by individual agencies or collectively following the initial scoping exercise. It was agreed that early learning would be included in future CSP reports.

• Action - Kay Wilson White

6.11 The group then considered the issue of sharing personal information regarding domestic abuse for standard and medium risk cases. For high risk cases, information is shared routinely but not for standard and medium risk cases despite legislation to support this. Lessons from DHRs have found that individual agencies had information that was not shared with other agencies working with the family. As a result, agencies do not have the whole picture and therefore the level of risk is not known or adequately assessed.

6.12 The CSP supported work to explore options for sharing information and intelligence with the police regarding medium and standard risk cases and agreed to work with the Safeguarding Boards to take this work forward.

• Action - Andy Frost

6.13 The final recommendation in the report focused on DHRs where an individual is believed to have taken their own life and the circumstances give rise to concerns. The need to undertake reviews in these circumstances was introduced in 2016 but unfortunately the statutory guidance for DHRs is not adequate for managing these reviews.

6.14 The Home Office intends to strengthen the guidance however in the meantime the DHR Panel in Dorset has found these reviews difficult to conduct for various reasons highlighted in the report.  In addition, cases cannot be referred to as a ‘suicide’ until determined by the Coroner. In Dorset the Coroner usually pauses the inquest whilst waiting for the outcome of a DHR, causing an obvious predicament. 

6.15 The CSP noted that these factors may compromise the quality of a review and agreed that in Dorset when a suicide meets the criteria for a review, a DHR will be undertaken but not published. This will remain the case until statutory guidance is made clearer.

6.16 The group also supported the need for the Coroner, in these circumstances, to undertake an inquest and determine the cause of death ahead of any DHR. A meeting would be held with the Senior Coroner shortly to discuss this. The CSP also requested the Suicide Prevention Group are made aware of the requirement to undertake a review in these circumstances.

• Action - Kay Wilson White

Resolved 

• all recommendations in the report were agreed

No 7 

7. Progress Against Local Priorities

7.1 John Newcombe gave an update regarding the co-ordination, oversight and progress of specific local priorities as identified at the six area Partnership Co-ordinating Group (PCG) Meetings.

7.2 The group noted the Community Safety Team based in Dorset Council’s Place Directorate remains busy dealing with a heavy workload, many cases were ongoing and of a complex nature. Operation Luscombe has good engagement with service users involved with homelessness, ASB and street drinking.

7.3 As stated at a previous meeting, analytical support is needed to ensure the PCGs are driven by data and evidence. The group recognised there are researchers and analysts within our organisations and it’s important that partners consider how we can collectively use these resources.

7.4 John Newcombe referenced some of the highlights from the report.

• reduction in many types of crime and ASB across many PCGs
• an increased use of Community Protection Warnings and Community Protection Notices
• key successes in tackling rural crime thefts
• every front-line officer in Dorset Police has received domestic abuse training over the last year, as well as significant roll out of modern slavery training and the increased effectiveness of the National Referral mechanism
• some excellent work by targeted youth workers
• PCGs are well attended by a wide range of agencies
• working on the application for the Safer Streets bid though support is needed to write bids in the future
• review of Public Protection Orders and the role of CSAS accredited patrol officers

7.5 Issues raised by the Local Priority Delivery Group included increases in the number of catalytic converter thefts from unattended motor vehicles. Dorset Police had allocated extra resources to this issue. John confirmed they are currently working to address issues and will come back to the CSP if further support is needed.

7.6 It was confirmed Supt. Richard Bell would attend the next Local Priority Delivery Group.

7.7 The group discussed national funding bids, the short timescales and the focus on crisis interventions. David Sidwick explained his concern about only acting when areas had reached high levels of crime and stressed the importance of supporting areas to stop crime from escalating.

7.8 Liz Plastow asked about the impact of mental health, and in particular dementia, on policing resources. John Newcombe said that the PCGS spent a considerable amount of time dealing with people with mental health needs. It was recognised that this was a national issue and not easily resolved. Andy Frost will ensure this is raised with the Health and Wellbeing Boards and Safeguarding Boards as one of the areas where we need a coordinated approach.

7.9 Jack Wiltshire presented the multi agency operational response to predicted increased visitor numbers in the summer months. It was confirmed that there is a You Tube video summarising this response and it was agreed the link would be emailed to the group.

• Action - Andy Frost

Resolved

• progress regarding the work of the Local Priority Delivery Group Operational plan and the PCGs was considered and noted

No 8 

8. Forward Plan

8.1 Andy Frost confirmed the forward plan had been updated.

8.2 Cllr Rennie asked that there was an update at the October meeting concerning the New Burdens Funding and our continued response to the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

• Action - Andy Frost 

No 9 

9. Any Other Business 

9.1 Cllr Carr Jones invited David Sidwick attend future CSP meetings and the PCC confirmed he would attend the next meeting on October 6th to discuss the links between youth and ASB.