Autumn 2014 Welcome Welcome our autumn Partnership Update for Lichfield District, produced by Lichfield District Council (LDC) on behalf of Lichfield District Safer Community Partnership.
As well as introducing the new Anti‐social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, in this issue we focus on a reduction in road accidents and grass fires, as well as an ongoing operation to combat rogue scrap metal dealers. To contribute to the next issue of Partnership Update, due out in the New Year, please contact us.
Contact Call Jenni Coleman, Community Safety Manager, on 01543 308005 Call Bob Haynes or Lucie Ferneyough, Community Safety Officers, on 01543 308777 Email: community.safety@lichfielddc.gov.uk To find out more, visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/communitysafety
Anti‐social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 The Anti‐social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 received royal assent on 13 March 2014 and comes into force from 20 October 2014. The act will introduce simpler, more effective powers to tackle anti‐social behaviour, providing better protection for victims and communities.
The new community trigger and community remedy will empower victims and communities, giving them a greater say in how agencies respond to complaints of anti‐social behaviour and in out‐of‐court sanctions for offenders.
One of the main changes is that Anti‐social Behaviour Orders have been replaced with Injunctions to Prevent Nuisance and Annoyance. These will be obtained through the county courts and, as district councils are now empowered to apply for these orders, we will have to review our procedures to meet with the new demands.
Community Safety Trigger The Community Trigger allows members of the community to ask community safety partnerships to review their responses to complaints of anti‐social behaviour. It goes live on 20 October 2014.
The Trigger is designed to ensure we work together to try and resolve any complaints about anti‐social behaviour. We will do this by talking about the problem, sharing information and using our resources to try and reach an agreeable outcome.
The Trigger should be used if a person believes their complaint has not been appropriately addressed or no action has been taken. The Trigger cannot be used to report general acts of crime, including hate crime. Continues on page 2
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The Trigger does not replace the complaints procedures of individual organisations, or the opportunity to complain to the Local Government Ombudsman or Independent Police Complaints Commission.
Community safety news April to August has seen a slight increase in the number of anti‐social behaviour (or ASB) cases we are dealing with. We have 38 live cases and 20 in the process of being handed over to other agencies or sleeping. Sleeping means no reports from the complainant in the last three months. We will continue to phone back until the complainant is happy for us to close the case. This is in keeping with the annual trend and not unexpected.
When can I trigger? The Community Trigger can be used if an individual has complained to the council, police or a registered housing provider (social landlord) about three incidents in the Neighbour disputes still form the basis of the work we get last six months, and they consider that no involved with and one or two cases have escalated into action has been taken. referrals to the Victim Support Officer, Tracey Eyley. Tracey Eyley has 16 cases based in Lichfield District. Civil Injunction This is a civil power to deal with anti‐social individuals. The injunction can offer fast and effective protection to victims and communities and sets a clear standard of behaviour for perpetrators, stopping a person’s behaviour from escalating. It can be applied for by the district council, social landlords and the police. This will replace Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs). They will come into power by the end of January 2015 at the latest.
Community Remedy This gives the victims of low‐level crime and anti‐social behaviour a say in the punishment of offenders out of court. This means victims will get justice quickly, and the offender has to face immediate and meaningful consequences of their actions.
Dispersal Order This will enable police officers to require a person who has committed, or is likely to commit, anti‐social behaviour to leave an area and not return for up to 48 hours.
Elected Member Training Training on the new legislation for members will take place in November 2014. This will be a brief overview of the new powers and the implications to LDC, the police and social landlords.
E‐CINS, our new computer based software package, is very useful, not only for keeping records electronically but also for sharing information with partner agencies.
HUB meetings are now held on Thursdays and continue to allow the exchange of important and urgent information between partner agencies. Attendance at these meetings is improving with Mental Health, Defence Medical Services (Whittington), Youth Offending, Domestic Violence, Pathways along with Lichfield District Council, Fire & Rescue Service and the Staffordshire Police. Late Night Listeners continues to provide an outstanding service. A number of potential incidents involving late night revellers have been defused with the offer of a hot drink and a friendly face. Regrettably one of the team was pushed to the ground in a scuffle but has not been deterred. The police continue to praise the service and confirm the difference they make to the night time economy around the city.
ASB hotspots – The only hotspot we are able to share, due to operational confidentiality, is Tesco, where we continue to have calls from neighbouring houses regarding the use of the car park late into the night by youths congregating. Noise being the predominant issue. The police is powerless to take action as it is not illegal for a group of legal drivers to use the car park. Police officers have been called out (through the non emergency number 101) but have found the drivers talking, which does not qualify as a statutory noise nuisance. However, one motorcycle driver has been required to repair his noisy exhaust.
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Accidents on Staffordshire roads at lowest level Accidents resulting in death or serious injury on Staffordshire and Stoke‐on‐Trent roads are at the lowest rate since records began in 1984. Figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) have revealed the number of people killed or seriously injured is down 85%, from 1,395 in 1984 to 213 in 2013. These figures place the county’s roads among the top three safest in the country ‐ a significant achievement given the increase in the number of cars from 23.5 million in 1984 to 32 million in 2013. Commenting on behalf of the Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership, Councillor Mark Winnington, Cabinet Member for Economy and Infrastructure at Staffordshire County Council, said: “We use lots of different activities to improve road safety, including a mix of education, enforcement and awareness raising. Our 20mph speed indicator devices that have already been rolled out to over 160 schools are encouraging motorists to slow down. “We have more than 120 walking buses, where parents or communities meet at a safe location to walk pupils to school. Our ‘Bikers Beware’ campaign is also encouraging motorcyclists to ride responsibly and helping to reduce the number of accidents.” Staffordshire’s Chief Constable Mike Cunningham said: “Our officers are out on the roads everyday proactively targeting motorists who drive irresponsibly by not wearing a seatbelt, using mobile devices or drink driving. “However, the role we play extends beyond enforcement. Through initiatives like RideBy5 we work with motorcyclists to discuss safety issues and make sure their bikes are visible, ridden safely and roadworthy. The Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership is led by Staffordshire County Council, Stoke‐on‐Trent City Council, Staffordshire Police, and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service. This collaboration has worked together to improve the safety of roads in the region through education and training programmes, enforcement, road engineering, and publicity. Community Safety Lead with Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Stephanie Cooley, said: “The fact that we have achieved our lowest figure for 30 years is a testament to the hard work that has been put in by the partners as well as the vigilance of motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. We will continue to drive home our road safety message in a bid to further reduce accidents and make Staffordshire’s roads even safer.”
Lichfield landlord prosecuted This September, Natalie Reilly pleaded guilty to failing to obtain a licence for a house in multiple occupation at Stafford Magistrates’ Court, in a prosecution brought by Lichfield District Council. Miss Reilly had been renting out the spare rooms in her Lichfield house to four tenants without obtaining an appropriate licence from the council. Officers also identified fire safety and heating issues. Since April 2006, the Housing Act 2004 has placed a duty on local authorities to implement mandatory licensing for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), which pose the greatest health and safety risks to tenants. Compulsory licensing applies to properties of three or more storeys occupied by five or more unrelated people who share some facilities. The court fined Miss Reilly £1,625, ordered her to pay court costs of £1,613 and a victim surcharge of £120, a total of £3,358. If landlords in Lichfield District think their houses need to be licensed, they should contact the council’s private sector housing team by calling 01543 308714.
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Action on scrap metal dealers Since a change in legislation gave councils more legal powers to take action against unlicensed scrap metal dealers, Lichfield District Council has taken a tough stance, with environmental health officers carrying out unannounced patrols with the police, supported by Neighbourhood Watch and Owl coordinators.
We’ve targeted people operating without scrap metal licenses, not having the correct paperwork on scrap collection and disposal, and also on those using loud speakers. As a result, some dealers that previously operated in the area are now off the road.
Action taken since January 2014 includes: six stop and search patrols, one caution, and we’ve successfully prosecuted four scrap metal dealers.
Councillor Colin Greatorex, Cabinet Member for Community, Housing & Health, said: “It is so important that scrap metal dealers are operating within the law, which includes not broadcasting from loud speakers, as well as being able to prove that they are properly licensed and provide records to show where they have collected any scrap metal from. This is why we are taking a tough stance and are continuing to work in partnership to tackle any rogue scrap metal dealers.”
Joint patrols will continue in 2015. Please report any issues to the council on 01543 308999.
Dramatic drop in grass fires following campaign The high profile Flames Aren’t Games campaign has once again proved a success across the county with fewer small fires reported this summer compared to 2013.
The number of grass and bin fires has seen a dramatic decrease from 1,281 between 1 April and 31 August 2013 to 866 during the same period this year. This is a reduction of around 32%. And compared to 2011, when the initiative was launched, the figure has fallen by around 55% from 1,906.
Station Manager for Staffordshire Fire & Rescue and Head of Risk Reduction, Glynn Luznyj, said: “The Flames Aren’t Games message has once again hit home with young people and there have been far fewer deliberate grass and bin fires during the summer months."
An animated video featuring the ‘Teenage Caveman’ formed a major part of the campaign. Take a look at www.teenagecaveman.co.uk
Partnership work, including sharing information with Lichfield District Council and the police is also having an impact. Local officers are continuing to report incidents, trends and potential issues.
The below table shows the number of secondary fires in 2013 and 2014. Numbers have gone down significantly in all areas.
Local Authority 2013‐2014
2014‐2015
Deliberate 2013‐14
Deliberate 2014‐15
East Staffs
20
14
10
9
Lichfield
16
5
12
2
Tamworth
43
11
37
10
Grand Total
79
30
59
21
www.staffordshirefire.gov.uk
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