Members will receive a report and presentation which propose additional resources to support the Council’s response to community safety issues in Central Bedfordshire.

The Head of Community Safety welcomed representatives from Bedfordshire Police and delivered a presentation which set out proposals for additional community safety resources. Members were appraised of the key points and changing priorities for the service in order that tangible outcomes could be realised, highlighting feedback from a resident survey which strongly indicated that respondents felt less safe than they had previously. There was a need to redress the balance, returning to a community safety model similar to that of the past and continue strong partnership working in order that statutory duties be addressed. Proposals included seeking additional delegated enforcement powers for community safety officers as well as increased resources, with those officers directly situated within the community. It was anticipated that the new model would engender a far more preventative approach rather than reactive as had been experienced in recent years and the Chief Superintendent from Bedfordshire Police highlighted a recent drive within the force to re-establish community policing, which would be complemented by the community safety team’s approach.

In light of the presentation Members discussed the following in summary:-

·         That the new approach was an excellent opportunity to make a difference within the community.

·         That participatory budgeting between the police and the Council would allow the seizure of assets from criminals to fund future initiatives in helping prevent crime.

·         That the additional resource required had been sourced from the current mid-term financial plan (MTFP) and a need to carefully consider the allocation of officers across the region.

·         That the additional resource had been proposed as a result of resident feedback suggesting that the Council had not done enough to address community safety issues, despite its statutory responsibilities to do so.

·         That Ward Members be appraised of the roles and responsibilities of each particular community safety officer and that robust communications with Town and Parish Councils and the rural community was essential.

·         That any increase in CCTV across the region would be separate from the current proposals.

·         That the police be invited to provide a briefing to all Members in relation to the policing model and their resource allocation, particularly given that perceptions were that much of the resource was deployed elsewhere in Bedfordshire .

RECOMMENDED that the Committee support the proposal for additional community safety resources and that the Executive include the required funding within the Council’s current MTFP for 2019/20.