Agenda and minutes

No declarations were received.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 13 July 2021 were correctly recorded and a paper copy be signed by the Chairman.

1.    Ms Annan-Veitch (Policy Advisor, Kent County Council) and Ms Westlake (Commissioner, Kent County Council) gave a presentation which updated the Partnership on local and national Domestic Abuse policy developments. Topics covered in the presentation included: the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and new statutory duties; Kent Integrated Domestic Abuse Service (KIDAS); new funding and commissioning; the progress and timeline of Kent’s Domestic Abuse strategy; and the development of a Kent and Medway Partnership Delivery Plan.

2.    The Chair asked how new funding would be discharged. Ms Westlake confirmed that additional staff would be recruited to meet the new duties and deliver the projects mentioned in the presentation.

3.    A Partnership Member asked how survivors input into the strategy. Ms Annan-Veitch reassured the Partnership that the public consultation had received extensive input and responses from survivors. The need to handle the issue delicately, especially when involving children, in order to avoid further trauma was noted.

4.    A Partnership Member asked how the sanctuary obligations in the Domestic Abuse Act would impact local authority housing. Ms Westlake confirmed that Strategic Commissioning were scoping the requirements. Ms Annan-Veitch informed the Partnership that the Act changed the priority order for public housing.

5.    Ms Annan-Veitch agreed to update the Partnership annually on Domestic Abuse developments.

RESOLVED to note the update.

1.    DCI Loose (Kent and Medway Violence Reduction Unit) gave verbal summary of the report. He asserted that counties with VRUs had shown a greater reduction in youth violence then those without. He confirmed that mapping and profiling on youth street gangs was ongoing and that a multi-agency response was required. He informed the partnership that a report on moderated knife imagery was expected for early 2022. Concerning the Serious Violence Duty, introduced as part of recent legislation, he noted the statutory responsibilities for reducing violence.

2.    Concerning funding, DCI Loose confirmed that the VRU had been successful in receiving £730,000 for two projects, which included a therapeutic intervention cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) service for individuals involved in serious violence, which started in October.

3.    DCI Loose was asked how prevention would be focused. He confirmed that a review of the community engagement process was underway and highlighted the Home Office’s requirements for prevention and intervention. He recognised the important role Kent Police’s 70 officer Schools Teams would play in prevention.

4.    DCI Loose was asked how the voice of young people were input into operations. He reassured the Partnership that young people’s views were accounted for in the commissioning of all services. Contributions from Young People’s Advisory Groups (YPAGs) were noted.

RESOLVED to note the contents of the report.

1.    Mr Peerbux (Head of Community Safety, Kent County Council) updated the Partnership on the Community Safety Agreement. He noted that it was Adult safeguarding awareness week and that a series of events have been promoted, with topics included digital safeguarding and adult grooming. He stressed the importance of raising awareness and prevention as part of the 16 Days of Action Against Domestic Violence. In relation to the progress made on strategic assessments, he confirmed that there had been a delay in sourcing data and that a new data workshop was planned for December, to aide with reviewing priorities.

RESOLVED to note the update.

1.    Mr Peerbux gave an update on crime reduction grant funding, which was given to the Community Safety Partnership by the Police and Crime Commissioner, to fund their programme of community safety projects. The progress of each project was shared with the Partnership. He confirmed that the Kent Community Safety team had continued providing community safety information sessions, with 3 delivered in 2021.

2.    The Chair asked whether there was any risk of losing tactical pot funding. Mr Peerbux acknowledged the risk and noted that the funding was out of the control of the Community Safety team.

3.    The Chair requested an update on Community safety team accommodation. Mr Peerbux agreed to report back to the Partnership at the appropriate time.

RESOLVED to note the progress and actions undertaken by the Working Group and the work of the KCST.

1.    Mr Wickins (Head of Policy Coordination and Research, Office of the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner) gave a verbal overview of the report, which detailed the findings of the Commissioner’s Inquiry into Mental Health and Covid-19, and updated the Partnership on developments since the last meeting. He confirmed that the Commissioner had stepped down as the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners mental health lead. He advised that the Mental Health and Covid-19: Phase Two Report had been published and was publicly available at www.apccs.police.uk/media/6493/apcc-mh-inquiry-phase-two-report-final.pdf.  In relation to Section 136 detentions, he noted the success of recent officer training and their advice helpline. Regarding the review of Safe Havens, he informed the Partnership that a recommendation had been made that they extend opening hours to 3am.

2.    The Chair asked whether Safe Havens had a positive impact on Kent Police. Mr Wickins recognised that Safe Havens had reduced demand on all emergency services. He added that the positive impact was linked to public awareness of the service.

3.    The Partnership agreed to retain the Kent Police and Crime Commissioners response to Mental Health as a standing item.

RESOLVED to note the update.

The next meeting of the Kent Community Safety Partnership will be held on 24 March 2022

RESOLVED that the future meeting date be noted.

1.    Mr Peerbux provided an update on the Kent and Medway Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) cases.

RESOLVED that the update and progress on all cases be noted.

1.    Members received an update on the PREVENT Duty Delivery Board.

2.    Mr Wilkinson shared the Resilience in Unity Project launch trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBihAJgTy80) with partners.

RESOLVED that the update on the PREVENT Duty Delivery Board be noted.

1.    Members received an update on the Kent and Medway Joint Exploitation Group.

RESOLVED that the update on the Kent and Medway Joint Exploitation Group be noted.