Agenda item

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

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Dale Broughton, presented a report by the Assistant Director – Communities & Housing Services, who was in attendance, which set out the refreshed South & East Lincolnshire Community Safety Strategy following a comprehensive strategic review undertaken across the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership.

The Leader explained that the Strategy detailed how Boston Borough Council, South Holland District Council and East Lindsey District Council would continue to work collaboratively with key statutory partners, including Lincolnshire Police, Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue, public health bodies and the voluntary and community sector, to reduce crime, anti?social behaviour and the fear of crime across the sub?region.

Members were advised that the Strategy fulfilled the Partnership’s statutory responsibilities under Sections 5–7 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and complemented county?level activity delivered through the Safer Lincolnshire Partnership, which discharged several duties on behalf of responsible authorities, such as public consultation and domestic abuse?related death reviews.

The Leader highlighted that the Strategy had been developed using a wide evidence base, including police data, local health information, the Lincolnshire Strategic Needs Assessment, and findings from recent consultation and engagement exercises. This process identified four clear priorities for the Partnership:

1. Tackling anti?social behaviour, particularly neighbour?related issues;
2. Improving understanding of fear of crime and wider perceptions;
3. Supporting the Safer Lincolnshire Partnership’s place?based, project?driven approach; and
4. Encouraging increased reporting to strengthen the local intelligence picture.

The Leader further noted that the Strategy had been reviewed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee as part of the annual Crime and Disorder review, receiving support for its aims, evidence base and alignment with local priorities.

During discussion, Members conveyed their best wishes to a colleague who was absent following a recent operation.

The meeting recognised the substantial contribution made by the Community Safety Officers since taking up their posts. It was noted that between August and December they had undertaken extensive patrols, during which 38 individuals had been approached for drinking alcohol within the Public Spaces Protection Order area, and 32 pieces of intelligence had been passed to Lincolnshire Police to support ongoing enforcement and problem?solving activity.

Members referred to recent information provided by the Chief Constable at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which indicated overall crime in Boston was down 1.7% year on year, with serious violence with injury down 13% and violence without injury down 13.3%. These figures were regarded as encouraging evidence of the impact of joint working and targeted activity.

The meeting further noted that the Community Safety Officers were regarded as approachable and visible within the community, regularly engaging with residents, local businesses and visitors to the town. Their work extended beyond the town centre, with patrols also taking place in surrounding neighbourhoods and parish areas, contributing to wider reassurance and early intervention.

Members discussed the importance of maintaining an intelligence?led approach to policing. It was emphasised that accurate and timely reporting of incidents by the public was essential, as failure to report concerns could create a misleading picture of local crime levels and potentially affect resourcing decisions. The meeting encouraged residents to report any issues and to obtain a crime reference number to ensure incidents were formally recorded, helping to strengthen the intelligence base and support future bids for police funding where relevant.

Overall, Members felt that the Strategy aligned well with the evidence presented and supported the continuation of collaborative work to tackle crime, anti?social behaviour and perceptions of safety across the area.

The recommendations were moved by Councillor Dale Broughton and seconded by Councillor Sandeep Ghosh.

Resolved:

1.    That the contents of the report and the work of partners in addressing crime and disorder in South and East Lincolnshire and Lincolnshire as a whole be noted;

2.    That Full Council be recommended to adopt the Community Safety Strategy which sets out the areas of focus identified by the South and East Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership; and

3.    That Full Council be recommended to delegate authority to the executive of the authority to make any future amendments to the Strategy as required to meet emerging needs identified and that subject to Full Council authorisation the Cabinet delegates authority to the Assistant Director – Communities and Housing Services, in consultation with relevant Portfolio Holders, to amend the Strategy.