Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted from Superintendent Dawn McNally and Chief Inspector Tracie Trubshaw (Merseyside Police), Helen Armitage, Simon Burnett, Tricia Davies and Andrea Watts (Sefton MBC).

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.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 June 2022 be approved as a correct record subject to the removal of the words “by SWACCA” in the first paragraph of Minute No. 6.

Mary Mason and Monica Touhey the joint chairs of the DHR to report to SST providing an overview of the case and the key findings.

The Partnership received a presentation by Mary Mason and Monica Touhey, the joint chairs of the Domestic Homicide Review.

The Presentation gave full details of the review and set out Key Learning areas and Recommendations which had ensued from the review.

The Joint Chairs indicated their appreciation of the assistance and transparent approach they had received from all agencies involved in the review.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted and Mary Mason and Monica Touhey be thanked for their informative review.

Simon Burnett/Steve Martlew

Further to Minute No.4 of 22 June 2022 the Partnership considered a report regarding the current position with regards to Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs) in Sefton, the funding arrangements for Domestic Homicide Reviews and options for recruitment of DHR chairs for the future.

Arising from the discussion reference was made to representation at the screening panel and it was suggested that this could be considered by the Domestic Abuse Board.

RESLOVED: That

(1)           The report be noted; and

(2)           Statutory Agencies from the Partnership be requested to undertake to financially support the cost of future Domestic Homicide Reviews.

Steve Martlew

The partnership considered a report giving an update on Prevent which was a statutory duty placed on Local Authorities via section 26 of the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015. The duty to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism” rested with Safer Sefton Together.

A sub-group would deliver the majority of the work as directed by a recent health check and the Home Office Regional Advisor would continue to provide support where required. It was proposed that the sub group would report back to each SST meeting and it was therefore suggest that Prevent became a standing item on the agenda.

Arising from the discussion it was considered that it would be useful to have a High School representative on the sub group and Kevin Sexton indicated that he would pursue that.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

Simon Burnett/Steve Martlew

Further to Minute No. 36 of 17 March 2022 and Minute No. 6 of 22 June 2022, the Partnership considered a report giving an update on the responses from partners in relation to their work in combatting Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and the development of several strategic priorities for action over the coming year(s).

The report set out the following proposed statement for Safer Sefton Together in relation to Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG):-

“Safer Sefton Together is committed to ending Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and is determined to ensure that Sefton is a place where women and girls are safe and feel safe to pursue their lives free from fear and harassment. We believe that with effective earlier intervention, joint working and a drive to challenge the culture and attitudes that give rise to all forms of abuse, we can make Sefton a safe place for women and girls to live, work and enjoy their leisure time.”

Arising from the discussion reference was made to the importance of involving young people and it was suggested that the issue could be raised at the Sefton Association of Secondary Heads(SASH) meeting with a view to assessing and co-ordinating what was available to schools.

RESOLVED: That

(1)              the priorities for a Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) action plan as set out in the report be agreed;

(2)              the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) statement as set out above be agreed; and

(3)      update reports be submitted to future meetings of Safer Sefton Together.

Report to follow.

Further to Minute No.9 of 22 June 2022, members were reminded that the proposed Strategy report and excel spreadsheet had been circulated for comment on the report and to populate the spreadsheet with the services offered by partners within the proposed strategy themes with a view to a draft Strategy being produced. However, a number of responses remained outstanding.

It was suggested that the information be re-sent to partners and Members were requested to complete this as a matter of urgency in order that the draft Strategy could be finalised as soon as possible. It was hoped that a Draft Strategy could be circulated following receipt of the information with a view to it being formally approved by Safer Sefton Together at the next meeting on 8 December 2022.

RESOLVED: that comments on the report and Members and Partners be requested to provide any comments and the completed spreadsheet as soon as possible.

Simon Burnett/Steve Martlew

The Partnership considered a report giving an update on the Serious Violence Duty and the impact it would have on the Council and Partners

Following public consultation in July 2019, the Government had announced that it would introduce legislation relating to a serious violence duty. The purpose of this was to ensure that relevant services worked together to share information to target interventions, where possible through existing partnership structures, in order to prevent and reduce serious violence within their local communities. The Government had also announced that it would amend the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to ensure that serious violence was an explicit priority for Community Safety Partnerships and by making sure they had a strategy in place to explicitly tackle serious violence.

Whilst the guidance did not specify a particular partnership to lead, given the categories classed as “Serious Violence” would be contained with the Community Safety Strategy, it was considered sensible that Safer Sefton Together should be the partnership lead for Sefton. This would be an ideal subject for a small sub-group with the relevant statutory organisations to take responsibility for.

Arising from the discussion it was reported that the Violence Reduction Partnership had already carried out much work in this area and would be a useful contact so that work was not duplicated.

RESOLVED: that the report be noted.

Report on the Draft Bill published by the MOJ

The Partnership considered a report giving an update on the Draft Victims Bill and the impact it would have on Council and Partners.

The purpose of the Draft Victims Bill was to improve the end-to-end support for victims of crime so that they received the support needed to cope and recover from the impact of crime and felt able to engage and remain engaged in the criminal justice system. Together the measures would amplify victims’ voices in the criminal justice process, strengthen transparency and accountability of criminal justice agencies and improve support for victims.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

Report on the different boards and how they connect with each other.

The Partnership considered a report giving an update on the strategic and governance interdependencies of the partnership with other boards and strategies.

A diagram appended to the report aimed to demonstrate where these interdependencies occurred and how the Partnership maintained governance, strategic oversight and influence.

The Partnership had a significant level of complex interdependencies with other strategies and governance structures.  Partners were requested to ensure all governance structures were accounted for and to consider how best to strengthen the governance and strategic oversight.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

Report of Rosanna Stanley.

Ros Stanley presented a briefing paper highlighting the performance and key issues for the Integrated Youth Justice Service.

The report set out specific details of the following :-

·       Custody;

·       Critical Learning Reviews;

·       Violent Offences – Case Mapping; and

·       Mapping of Girls with Mental Health Concerns.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 8 December 2022, commencing at 10:00 am.

RESOLVED:

That the next meeting be held on Thursday, 8 December 2022 commencing at 10.00 am.