There were no changes to committee membership.

To confirm and sign, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 28 March 2024.

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 March 2024 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor V Cunningham.

Members are invited to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests or other registrable and non-registrable interests in items on the agenda.

There was no declarations of interest.

The committee noted the borough commander’s presentation on policing in the borough, which focussed on the borough priorities around tackling anti-social behaviour, preventing violence against women and girls, targeting high harm and persistent offenders, preventing burglaries and road safety.

Anti-social behaviour had continued to fall on an annual basis, and the figures for the three months up until 1 June had revealed fewer incidents than neighbouring Spelthorne and Elmbridge.  Furthermore, it was believed that the borough’s highest type of anti-social behaviour – vehicle nuisance and misuse, owed largely to the proximity of the motorway connection and featured offenders passing through the borough.

The use of Community Protection Notices and Community Protection Warnings had increased as a tool to increase public protection, with court action available for breaching a warning.

Policing the general election and Euro 24 had been resource heavy.  Whilst there had been few incidents of note there had nonetheless been an increase in hate crimes, which was linked to the current political landscape.  Police remained actively pursuing those involved in those crimes.

Domestic violence teams continued to victims in the immediate aftermath of an incident to help build relationships, and incidents remained a key part of multi-agency meetings.

A recent innovation would result in the borough’s most wanted offenders having their details shared on a Crimestoppers van that would be positioned in prominent parts of the borough.

A new policing structure and shift pattern was in place to target offenders meaning the neighbourhood team was working a late shift in Runnymede every Friday and Saturday where demand was highest.

The overall relative safety of the borough was emphasised given its population of around 85,000 residents.  A member queried the cost of living crisis as a possible motive for an increase in burglaries, and whilst it was acknowledged that economic strains contributed to reports of theft of basic products, this would not be categorised as a burglary, and many such incidents have involved business burglaries involving theft of high value tools.

In response to a member query, the borough commander confirmed that he had productive, quarterly meetings the borough’s neighbourhood watch coordinator, and talks were underway about increasing their engagement with Royal Holloway University.

The Committee were advised that dialling 999 remained the most appropriate course of action where an urgent police presence was required, however residents were signposted to the website for reporting antisocial behaviour.  Responding to concerns about those residents without internet access, the borough commander would liaise with the neighbourhood watch coordinator with a view to distributing material to those residents.

The committee thanked the borough commander for his attendance.

It was resolved that Councillor Jaz Mavi would be the Crime and Disorder Committee appointment to the Community Safety Partnership for 2024/25.