Safer Communities Triennial Crime and Disorder Audit and Strategy 2004

Purpose of the Audit The law requires that statutory Crime, Disorder and Drugs Misuse Reduction Partnerships* (in conjunction with cooperating partners) undertake an audit every three years which will lead to the development and implementation of a strategy to reduce crime and disorder and combat the misuse of drugs. *Hackney Council, Metropolitan Police, Fire Service, Primary Care Trust, Probation Service, Police Authority

AUDIT/STRATEGY Timetable Audit development Jan-Dec 2004 Data Analysis and write up August September 2004 Publish Audit Oct/Nov 2004 Consult on findings Nov/Dec 2004 Strategy development Jan/Mar 2005 Strategy Publication April 2005

Data used Recorded crime data (not allegations) Recorded police emergency 999 callouts and British Transport Police recorded crime London Ambulance Service incidents London Fire Brigade incidents Youth, Truancy and exclusion information Drug misuse and treatment information Census 2001 statistics and mapping data Probation Data

Importance of Consultation We need to know whether the crime information is accurate Whether the analysis fits with partners understanding of the issues Whether emerging trends and strategic priorities are appropriate How we will gain the support and commitment of key partners and sections of the community.

Audit Overall picture is of the success of the previous 3 year strategy in reducing crime in Hackney. Consistent reductions in key crimes during the audit period Compared to 6 neighbouring boroughs our crime has continued to reduce and we have gone from 2nd to 3rd in terms of borough crime rates HO research indicates that Hackney has begun to reduce the economic costs of crime and our performance was 4 th best in London

Strategic Priorities and Target Areas The current crime, disorder and drugs misuse are analysed in detail to arrive at an understanding of the levels, trends and how we in Hackney compare with other boroughs. Having assessed these issues we must then systematically assess what our strategic priorities should be and what specific areas of work we need to undertake to make the maximum impact and to achieve a reduction in all crime in Hackney by a minimum of 15% during the next three year period

Street Crime - statistics

Street Crime - analysis Has reduced by 10% over the audit period Increase in number of police on the streets and targeted police and partner activities seem to have major impact Ways forward 1. Continuing successful targeting through multi agency work and policing priority 2. Further develop prevention work based upon Home Office guidelines. Cross Cutting Themes 1. Youth. 2. Drugs Misusers 3. Media and Communications

Residential Burglary - statistics

Residential Burglary - analysis Has reduced by 10% during but increased by 4.6% over three year audit period. Downward trend continues in 2004/05 High crime residential areas continue to exist but success identified. Ways Forward 1. Continue targeting through multi agency work and policing priority 2. Develop work programme for council burglary reduction officer Cross cutting themes 1. Vulnerable Victims 2. Youth/Young Adult Offenders 3. Media and Communications

Motor Vehicle Crime - statistics

Motor Vehicle Crime - analysis Has reduced by 13% over the audit period Decrease attributed mainly to increase in motor vehicle security May also relate to drop in drugs linked crime and effective media/leafleting campaign Ways forward 1. Continuing targeting through multi agency work 2. Media and leafleting in hotspots 3. Further develop prevention work based upon Home Office guidelines. Cross Cutting Themes 1. Media and communications 2. Drugs Misusers

Drugs and Alcohol Misuse - analysis Estimated up to 5,300 problematic drugs user in Hackney. Metropolitan Police statistics for the audit period indicated that there was an increase of over 40% in drugs related crime – over 85% of which were for drug possession. There was a 12% increase in drugs trafficking across the period Over 50% tested by the police for drugs after arrest for burglary, robbery and m/v crime positive for ‘hard drugs’. There is a close relationship between alcohol misuse and crime. The numbers accessing treatment have increased by 50% during the audit period Ways forward 1. Continue to develop comprehensive drugs and alcohol misuse work through the work of the Borough’s Drug Action Team. 2. Further develop Home Office funded Criminal Justice Intervention Programme. Cross Cutting Themes 1. Persistent Offenders 2. Vulnerable Victims

Violent Crime - statistics

Violent Crime - analysis Has increased over the audit period by 1.6%. However in 2003/05 increase was 4.8%. The trend continues to rise in current year. Closer analysis indicates assaults remain roughly the same as previous years, but Harassment and Offensive Weapons have increased. Harassment is now a commonly reported offence, which was not always the case and offensive weapons are only recorded on arrest, (which have increased due to additional resources on the borough). Ways forward 1. Develop multi agency work to target violent crime reduction 2. Target Resources and develop youth violent crime diversion Cross Cutting Themes 1. Youth 2. Vulnerable victims

Anti Social Behaviour - analysis Anti social behaviour covers a broad range of offensive behaviour some of which is criminal and some of which is civil. It is a major contributor to the fear of crime and has a significant impact upon the likelihood of an area turning into a crime hotspot. The audit contains detailed information on the various forms of anti social behaviour and their hotspots. What is clear is that anti social behaviour is prevalent and that we as yet do not have the ability to co-ordinate our work in reducing it. Ways forward 1. Develop effective co-ordination and management of the reduction of Anti Social Behaviour 2. Target Partnership resources and develop enforcement and reduction through application of Home Office Action Area Programme. Cross Cutting Themes 1. Youth 2. Vulnerable victims 3. Sustainability

Fear of Crime The fear of becoming a victim of crime in Hackney does not reflect the reducing crime experience amongst the adult population The fear of crime is higher amongst certain specific sections of the Hackney population (older people, specific ethnic minorities and ‘hard to reach groups’) Fear of crime amongst the Hackney youth population is lower than the average and has improved over the audit period. However, a specific fear of ‘gangs’ has emerged. Cross Cutting Themes 1. Sustainability 2. Media and Communications 3. Vulnerable ‘Victims’ 4. Youth

Strategic Priorities, Targets and Cross Cutting Themes Recommended Strategic Priorities Property Crime, Violent Crime, Drugs and Alcohol, Anti Social Behaviour Why? 1. Cover the key local crime, disorder and drugs misuse problems 2. Cover the crimes where Hackney is above the London average 3. Cover key national priorities Cross Cutting Themes 1. Youth 2. Vulnerable ‘Victims’ 3. Media and Communications 4. Sustainability

Proposed Hackney Strategic Priorities, Targets and Cross Cutting Themes 2005/08 Strategic Priorities (Recommended) 1.Property Crime 1.Violent Crime1.Drugs and Alcohol 1.Anti Social Behaviour Target Areas (Recommended) BurglaryAssault/Harassme nt and Offensive Weapons Drug MisuseIntensive Individual Anti Social Behaviour (ASBO’s/ABC’s, Mediation) Street Crime (Robbery and Snatch Theft) Hate Crime – Domestic Violence, Racial and Homophobic Harassment and Assault Alcohol MisuseHousing and Estate Based Anti Social Behaviour (Crack Houses, Squatting, Pirate Radios, Dispersal Orders) Motor Vehicle Crime Gun CrimeTreatmentEnvirocrime (criminal damage, abandoned vehicles, noise nuisance, graffiti). Arson and False Alarm Calls Retail CrimeSex OffencesDiversion from Crime Prostitution Cross Cutting Themes YouthVulnerable Victims (Equalities) Media and Communications Persistent Offenders Sustainability

What Happens Next Publish full and Summary audits October 2004 Consult on findings/Priorities November December 2004 Strategy development January- Feb 05 – based upon Home Office guidelines. Strategy Published April 2005

Questions Do the Audit findings fit with what you know of these issues in Hackney? Do the suggested strategic priorities, targets and cross cutting themes form a firm foundation for future work? What other work needs to be undertaken in Hackney to make it a Safer Community?