Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Martin Gay (Senior Probation Officer), Tony Harland (Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority), Steve Martlew (Interim Head of Communities) and Andrea Watts (Executive Director of People). 

Members are requested at a meeting where a disclosable pecuniary interest or personal interest arises, which is not already included in their Register of Members' Interests, todeclare any interests that relate to an item on the agenda.

Where a Member discloses a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, he/she must withdraw from the meeting room, including from the public gallery, during the whole consideration of any item of business in which he/she has an interest, except where he/she is permitted to remain as a result of a grant of a dispensation.

Where a Member discloses a personal interest he/she must seek advice from the Monitoring Officer or staff member representing the Monitoring Officer to determine whether the Member should withdraw from the meeting room, including from the public gallery, during the whole consideration of any item of business in which he/she has an interest or whether the Member can remain in the meeting or remain in the meeting and vote on the relevant decision.

No declarations of any disclosable pecuniary interests or personal interests were received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 10 June 2021.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 10 June, 2021 be confirmed as the correct record.

Localities Team Manager - North

Carol Ellwood-Clarke and Sara Wallwork gave a presentation on the Domestic Homicide Review of ‘Denise’. The presentation included the case details, methodology, family involvement, key issues and learning and subsequent recommendations.

The recommendations included:

·       A review of the MARAC protocol

·       An all agency review of their internal processes for documenting and flagging victims/perpetrators

·       A review of the support ‘offer’ to complex case victims of domestic abuse

·       Assurance and evidence of information sharing pathways from all agencies be provided to the Partnership

·       The provision of a learning document from the Partnership which captures the learning on this case

·       Consideration from all agencies on how to ensure their staff take cognisance of the Mental Capacity Act 2005

·       The provision of assurances from Merseyside Police and the National Probation Service that the Information Sharing Agreement was effectively embedded

Councillor Hardy called for a moment of reflection after the presentation and commented that there were lessons to learn from this review. Jan Marlow informed the Partnership that the CRC and National Probation Service were now combined, and staff would be subject to mandatory training when dealing with Domestic Abuse cases. Superintendent Graeme Robson praised the improvement in information sharing and outlined further positive action on behalf of the police.  Janette Maxwell discussed the complex elements of the case and reiterated the importance of attending meetings as opposed to sending reports. Neil Frackelton commented on SWACA’s (Sefton Women’s and Children’s Aid) role in the review and emphasised the importance of undertaking more work on coercion and control. Sara Wallwork and Carol Ellwood-Clarke underlined the challenges of putting the Mental Capacity Act 2005 into practice when dealing with future cases. Councillor Hardy stated that future cases and reviews would be tracked by the upcoming Domestic Abuse Partnership due to start in September.

RESOLVED:

That the presentation be noted.

Superintendent of Merseyside Police.

The Partnership received a verbal update from Superintendent Graeme Robson highlighting:

·       As restrictions eased, crimes that were less prevalent during the pandemic were making a return. Services needed to be provided to the night time economy and there had already been some violence at house parties and licensed premises. The Police were having to supply staff to football grounds after the return of full attendance. Operation Banger had been in planning for months however 10,000 officers were due to travel to Scotland over a 3-week period for COP26.Dispersal Zones had been implemented in Formby and more recently Southport Town Centre due to an increase in anti-social behaviour by young people.

·       Operation Venetic was leading to more arrests in the north of the borough, punishing and removing negative role models from the street. More officers were being distributed to Southport to deter drug related offences.

·       A fifth Safer Schools Officer had been recruited, completing the compliment of Officers in this role. The Superintendent reiterated the desire for integrating Schools and listening to their feedback.

·       The Officers recruited through Operation Uplift were nearing the end of their training, meaning more Officers in Merseyside.

·       A Street Safe Campaign had been circulated focusing on violence against women and girls in the borough.

Kevin Sexton highlighted a number of reports he had received of anti-social behaviour around Crosby and outlined the importance of protecting children on the periphery of anti-social behaviour. Superintendent Graeme Robson stated that Sale Sharks, Everton Football Club and Liverpool Football Club were getting involved with offering young people more opportunities and asked for reports of anti-social behaviour to be reported directly to the police or through Crime Stoppers. Chris White discussed the importance of a joined-up approach and used the example of recent anti-social behaviour in Seaforth which was deterred by a multi-agency approach and reassured the local community. Ian Parry stated how vital divergence was in helping young people and praised previous work with school officers. Councillor Hardy asked for Crosby to be prioritised in regard to resources and for a broader report on youth services and youth engagement to be prepared for the next Partnership meeting.

RESOLVED: That

Localities Team Manager – South.

Chris White gave a verbal update on PREVENT and outlined two current live cases;  and the need to consider the complexity of people’s lives that could lead them to make such decisions.

RESOLVED:

That the update be noted.

Localities Services Manager – South.

The Partnership considered a briefing paper on progress and achievements of Integrated Youth Services since March 2021. The Chair requested a report outlining the wider update of the service review in the context of community safety, how the work of the partnership supported that and how the community safety voice fitted into bigger, parallel service reviews.

RESOLVED: That

Natalie Hendry-Torrance stated her intention to circulate NHS Rapid Read and raised that Water Safety was raised at the recent North West Regional NHS meeting. Chris White stated that Green Sefton were the custodians of the coast and countryside and would be the best point of contact regarding Water Safety.

Jennifer Currie discussed the planning of Operation Banger and how there would be a more tolerant approach, compared to last year, for Bonfire Night. Chris White stated the importance of using the Community Engagement Team and social media to convey messages to the public for Bonfire Night.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 9 December, 2021, at Town Hall, Bootle, commencing at 9:30 am.

RESOLVED:

That the next meeting be held on 9 September, 2021 commencing at 10:00am. Members of the Partnership would be asked for their preference regarding meeting virtually or physically closer to the time.