Agenda item

(A report by Emily Spicer, Assistant Director – Communities & Housing Services)

The Committee received the statutory annual Crime and Disorder report from the Safer Communities Manager, supported by Inspector Ian Cotton of Lincolnshire Police and other officers from the Safer Communities Team. The report provided a comprehensive overview of strategic developments, operational enforcement, partnership working, and future priorities across Boston Borough during the 2024/25 financial year.

Members were informed that Boston Borough Council operated under the South and East Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership (SELCSP) and the Safer Lincolnshire Partnership (SLP). The report outlined the statutory duties discharged through both partnerships, including strategic assessments, public engagement, and domestic homicide reviews, , as set out in Appendix 1 – South and East Lincolnshire Community Safety Strategy 2025–28 and Appendix 6 – Safer Lincolnshire Partnership Strategy 2025–28 within the report.

The Committee noted that Boston Borough Council continued to deliver key operational services, including CCTV monitoring, Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) enforcement, Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) enforcement, and the Noxious Odours Procedure. These activities were aligned with the priorities and actions set out in Appendix 2 – Community Safety Strategy Action Plan 2024–25 within the report.

Details of enforcement activity were provided in Appendix 3 – Enforcement Action Taken by Boston Borough Council to Address Anti-Social Behaviour within the report.

The Committee was briefed on several initiatives delivered under Operation Plotting, including:

·       Deployment of Community Rangers, who undertook over 965 actions addressing ASB, supporting police operations, and engaging with the public.

·       Outreach work by the Community Engagement Officer, including engagement with ESOL students and diverse communities.

·       Environmental improvements such as planting schemes and hanging baskets, delivered in partnership with local groups and North Sea Camp.

·       Installation of interactive digital screens in Central Park and Market Place to promote safety messages.

·       Upgrades to CCTV infrastructure, with a further £150,000 investment committed for additional coverage.

The Committee also noted the impact of Hot Spot Policing, which resulted in:

·       6,000 additional patrol hours

·       169 stop and searches

·       72 uses of ASB powers

·       116 arreasts across Lincolnshire, with Boston Town Centre identified as a priority area

Annual campaigns supported by the partnership included:

·       ASB Awareness Week

·       Hate Crime Awareness Week

·       Scam Awareness Week

·       White Ribbon Day

The work of Domestic Abuse Officers was commended, with training delivered to staff and targeted awareness campaigns addressing coercive behaviour, male victims, and older victims.

The Committee reviewed enforcement data relating to the PSPO and Noxious Odours Procedure, noting a significant increase in PSPO enforcement attributed to the Community Rangers’ presence.

The CCTV performance report was presented by the CCTV Manager, highlighting incident categories including violent and sexual offences, criminal damage, and traffic offences. Over 100 incidents were recorded under “violent and sexual” categories, and members requested further breakdowns in future reports. Reference was made to Appendix 4 – CCTV Service Annual Statistical Report 2024–25 and Appendix 5 – Boston Borough Council CCTV Policy within the report.

The Committee was advised of the SLP’s revised strategic approach for 2025–2028, which now adopted a project-based model underpinned by regular data analysis. The SLP’s Annual General Meeting held on 11^th July 2025 was noted as a key engagement event.

Members raised several queries and observations relating to community safety and partnership working.

The formal adoption of the Noxious Odours Procedure was welcomed, and its effectiveness was queried. Officers advised that no cases had progressed to court, indicating that early intervention measures had been successful.

A request was made for a breakdown of CCTV incident categories and statistics relating to drink and drug driving. Officers confirmed that this data would be included in future reporting.

Clarification was sought on the division of responsibilities between the Council and Lincolnshire Police. Officers outlined the joint working arrangements in place and explained the incremental enforcement approach used to address issues.

The effectiveness of the Community Speed Watch initiative was queried. Officers confirmed its value and shared data on the number of warning letters issued and levels of volunteer engagement.

Positive feedback was given regarding increased police visibility and the reassurance this had provided to the local community.

Concerns were raised about the prevalence of uninsured vehicles and enforcement activity. Lincolnshire Police confirmed that proactive policing measures were in place and offered to provide relevant figures.

The Committee welcomed the report and acknowledged the breadth of work undertaken by the Safer Communities Team and Lincolnshire Police. Members expressed appreciation for the collaborative approach and requested further data to support future scrutiny.

Resolved:

1.     That the report be noted; and

2.     That the following areas of focus be included in future reporting:

·       A breakdown of CCTV incident categories and outcomes.

·       Data on drink and drug driving offences.

·       Updates on the effectiveness of the Noxious Odours Procedure.

·       Community Speed Watch activity and volunteer engagement.

·       Enforcement figures relating to uninsured vehicles.

·       Progress against the SLP’s strategic priorities and project-based delivery model.