To consider the report of the Community Safety Manager (Blaby District Council) and the Community Services and Safeguarding Manager (Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council).

The Joint Committee was provided with an update on the three priorities of the Community Safety Strategy 2023-26, the serious violence duty, areas of focus, successful initiatives, performance of the partnership, crime, anti-social behaviour and fire statistics, and current challenges. Representatives of Leicestershire Police were in attendance to answer questions.

During discussion and in response to questions, the following points were raised:

·         Working with perpetrators  of domestic violence – funding for this initiative has now ended.

·         The remit of Martyn’s Law (which is currently in draft bill stage).

·         Crime statistics and the changes in the way some crimes are recorded.

·         Fire and safety checks – which have risen to 5^th nationally on the number of checks completed.

·         Street-vibe and how it is assessed on where the groups will be held. They are currently being held in Hinckley, but can moved to where the need is.

·         2022/23 and this year has seen a period of community tensions including the unrest in East Leicester, war in Ukraine and pro-Palestine protests at sites in Blaby District. As shown earlier in the report, whilst hate crimes have significantly decreased in 2023/24, the ongoing Hamas/Israel conflict has led to a rise in anti-Semitic and Islamophobic incidents nationally and it is expected that this will be reflected in continued tension and rise in hate crimes locally.

·         Engagement with schools regarding child sexual exploitation.

·         Fraud and the number of incidents that target older, vulnerable people. There are lots of preventative initiatives which are carried out all year round, working with Trading Standards and other agencies highlighting how to keep safe.

The Police Inspectors also provided an update to changes in the local service. For the Hinckley and Blaby Neighbourhood Policing Area (NPA) this means that there is now one Inspector for Blaby District (Inspector Mat Allingham) and one Inspector for Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Inspector Neil Whittle). The NPA remains as one NPA with both Inspectors covering for each other for leave and absence.

Members thanked Officers and representatives from the Police for attending the meeting.