Community Safety and Crime Reduction Strategy

2020 – 2023

 

Final draft, March 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contents
		page
The Partnership and its work		3
Brighton & Hove and the people in the city		5
Crime and disorder overview		8
Current landscape		11
Identifying and progressing priorities		13
Relevant work of key partners		16
Our priorities:
Violence, exploitation and abuse		19
·        Serious violence, including the night-time economy ·        Exploitation ·        Domestic violence & abuse, sexual violence and other forms of violence against women & girls
Anti-social behaviour		30
Community cohesion and resilience		33
·        Hate incidents/crimes ·        Challenging extremism ·        Prevent
Appendix: About the Partnership		44

 

If you would like to provide any feedback on this document, you can do so by email to:  community.safety@brighton-hove.gov.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Partnership and its work

 

 

 

 

 

The Partnership’s aims

The Community Safety Partnership’s overarching duty is to:

·        reduce crime and disorder,

·        improve community safety, and

·        reduce re-offending

in Brighton & Hove.

This will serve to improve the quality of life for everyone who lives in, works in or visits the city. 

The focus is on:

·        taking early action to prevent crime and disorder

·        tackling the issues which have the biggest impact on people

·        reducing fear of crime and meeting the needs of victims

About this strategy

This strategy lays out the Brighton & Hove Community Safety Partnership’s plans for the three year period from 2020-2023.  It is a requirement of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and will be reviewed on an annual basis. 

Statutory and other partners

The city is much better placed to tackle crime and disorder if everyone – local residents and businesses, community and voluntary groups, and city services – work together in a coordinated way.  The local authority, police, health, probation and fire services are statutory partners under the 1998 Act.  However, in practice, the Community Safety Partnership works across a much wider range of partners at different levels and on different topics to work out what needs doing, who can help and to take action. 

There is a need for good information exchange between those concerned, including with residents, so that agencies can listen and respond to the needs of local people.  At the same time local people need to be able find a route through to the services they need or identify ways in which they can respond within their own communities.

Setting our work in context

As well as the impact on individuals, the negative effects of crime and disorder draw widely on public services. Working in partnership and adopting a ‘whole system approach’ is essential.  Our work contributes to the Police & Crime Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan[1], to the council’s Corporate Plan[2], and to measures in the Public Health Outcomes Framework to name a few examples.

Politicians and legislators can impact broadly on the legal and social setting in which we all live.  The work of central government departments is also important in our wider partnership.  In March 2016 the Home Office issued their ‘Modern Crime Prevention Strategy’[3].  This argued that although crime is changing in its nature, for example with a growth in ‘cyber crime’, the reasons behind people committing crime – ‘drivers of crime’, listed as opportunity; character; profit; drugs; alcohol and the criminal justice system – are the same. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brighton & Hove and the people in the city

 

 

 

 

 

Our residents and visitors

People with many different characteristics contribute to the makeup of the local population, and crime and disorder issues affect people differently. 

The 2011 census found that the city had 273,400 residents and this was estimated to have increased to 290,400 by 2018.  It is predicted that by 2028 it will have reached 307,900.

Compared with England and the South East, Brighton & Hove has fewer children and older people, and more younger adults, particularly in their 20s and early 30s.  Contributing to people in this age group are those who come to the city to study; in 2018/19 there were 39,355 students attending the two local universities.  Also, Brighton & Hove was estimated to have 1,800 short term[4] international students in 2017, with many more visiting for a shorter period.

At the time of the 2011 census, there were 147 residents employed by the armed services, and in 2018 547 veterans were receiving pension or compensation related to military service, proportionately lower than the South East or England.

In 2017 around 9.4 million trips were estimated to have been made to the city by day visitors, down 2% on 2016, with over 4.9 million overnight stays.

According to the 2011 census, 19.5% of the resident population belonged to a non-White British ethnic group (53,400 people), defined here as Black or Minority Ethnic or BME, an increase of 12% on the 2001 census.  37% of BME residents were ‘White Other than British’, 21% Asian/Asian British and the mixed/multiple ethnic group made up 20%.

The lesbian, gay, and bisexual population makes up between an estimated 11-15% of our population, equating to between 27,000 and 36,800 residents based on 2018 population estimates.  It is estimated that there are at least 2,760 trans adults living in Brighton & Hove.

In 2017, there were an estimated 18,000 residents aged 18-64 with moderate or severe physical disabilities.  There were an estimated 5,700 people aged over 18 with a learning disability in 2017. 

In 2017/18 7% of city residents surveyed reported low levels of happiness and one in four (26%) reported high levels of anxiety, both measures higher than the South East and England. 

The day-to-day activities of 16% of city residents are ‘limited a little’ or ‘limited a lot’ by health problems (Census 2011).  These residents are on average less likely to feel safe in the city.

Regarding children, there were 2,039 Children in Need and 316 children who were the subject of a child protection plan in the city as of March 2019, both proportionally higher than the South East and England.  National evidence shows that people who have been looked after as children are more likely to be unemployed, be involved in crime and be identified as having a substance misuse problem.

Social and economic factors

The Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019 ranked Brighton & Hove as a whole 131^st out of 326 of all local authorities in England, slightly more deprived than the England average.  However, there is a wide range of deprivation levels across the city, with some of the more deprived being in the east.

There were an estimated 7,500 unemployed people in the city in the 12 months ending June 2019.[5]  This represents 4.6% of all those who were economically active[6] and is higher than the position nationally (4.1%) and in the South East (3.1%).

One in five (21%) respondents to the City Tracker survey 2018 reported that they did not feel they would have enough money, after meeting housing costs, in the next year to meet basic living costs such as food and heating.

Between 3% and 5% of 16-17 year olds (up to 220 young people) were not in education, training or employment at the end of 2018. 

Housing and homelessness

Brighton & Hove had 126,827 homes at the time of the 2011 census, with an average household size of 2.2 occupants. 

The city has fewer owner occupiers and more people renting from private landlords than the average for the South East and England as a whole.  Rents in the private sector have risen steadily over the last five years[7], and lower income working households may find it increasingly difficult to afford to rent privately.

There were 178 people estimated to be sleeping rough in Brighton & Hove on a single night in October 2017[8], an increase from 78 in 2015, but had dropped back to 64 in 2018. 

…and what we don’t know

We need to remain aware that not all of the people in the city will feature in the various statistics at our disposal, or come to the attention of services.  This ‘invisible’ or unidentified population may be among the most vulnerable to crime and community safety problems and extra focus is needed in order get help to them if they need it.

Meeting our equalities duty

The Equality Act 2010 requires that public sector bodies consider and take account of how different types of people – those with ‘protected characteristics’ – are impacted by their work.  Our Strategic Assessment reports on how different people are affected by crime and safety issues and the process of determining our priorities and actions takes these findings into account.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crime and disorder overview

 

 

 

 

 

Nature and scale of crimes

There were 26,940 police-recorded crimes in 2018/19.  The crime rate per 1,000 population was 93.5, similar to the average of our group of 15 ‘matched’ partnerships (94.2).  The pie chart below shows that violence against the person made up 40% of all recorded crime, with theft offences (incl. vehicle crime) being the next biggest crime group (32%), followed by criminal damage (10%), burglary (5%) and sexual offences (4%).  12% of all crimes were related to domestic violence or abuse.

Fig. 1. Total crime breakdown, 2018/19

The line graph below shows the trend in total police recorded crime over the last nine years. 

Fig. 2. Total crime, 2010/11 - 2018/19

Numbers since 2010/11 showed a slight decline until 2012/13 and there was a steeper drop of 8.4% in 2013/14.

However, there was a turnaround in 2014/15 with an increase of 4.6% compared with 2013/14, and a further increase of 4.5% in 2015/16.  The increase seen from 2014/15 onwards is influenced by the Sussex Police response to the national HMIC inspection programme on data integrity which was undertaken during 2013/14 aimed at improving police recording practices.  This work had an impact on the recording of violent and sexual offences in particular.  From recorded crime data it is therefore difficult to understand the underlying trend in crimes actually taking place with any certainty.[9]

There were 7,901 police recorded ASB incidents in 2018/19.  This continues a long term decline, down from over 22,000 in 2007/08.  The improvement in crime recording practices mentioned above is likely to have played a part in the decline in the number of occurrences classed as incidents.

More information on recorded crimes and incidents can be found in the Strategic Assessment.14

Crime patterns

The retail and leisure area in the city centre is also the geographical centre for much of the city’s crime and disorder. 

Seasonal patterns often coincide with the peak visitor season when there are more people in the city to both perpetrate and be victims of crime, and when people tend to spend more time outdoors. Certain crimes are more likely to take place at particular times of day, for example violence occurs more frequently on Friday and Saturday nights, linking with the night-time economy.

Offending and reoffending

There were a total of 2,346 offenders (2,285 adults and 61 young people) in the 12 months ending March 2018 in Brighton & Hove.  36% of adult offenders and 44% of young offenders in the city in this period went on to reoffend in the following 12 months.  These are higher rates than for England & Wales as a whole (29% and 39% respectively).

Alcohol and drug use

Health profiles for Brighton & Hove show that problems associated with alcohol are on the whole more acute compared with the South East and England, although are more in line with our statistical matched authorities.  Measures of alcohol availability and consumption are also higher than the average of our matched authorities.[10]

Estimates based on modelling from 2016/17 show that, compared with the South East and with England, the proportion of the resident population using opiates or crack cocaine is higher.[11]

Violent crime is frequently associated with alcohol misuse and habitual drug use can be a driver for acquisitive crimes.3

Hidden crime and criminal groups

It is necessary to remain aware that crimes may be hidden from sight.  Criminal behaviour continues to evolve while pressures on victims to remain silent can persist.  Organised crime groups can widen the geography of both perpetrators and victims in areas such as child sexual abuse, drug dealing and human trafficking.  Partnerships play an important role in addressing these issues.

Impact on quality of life

National research found that in 2018/19 9% of survey respondents reported feeling a high level of worry about violent crime, 10% about burglary, 19% about fraud, and 7% of car owners had a high level of worry about car crime.[12] 

Locally, nearly all residents (96%) surveyed in the 2018 City Tracker survey reported feeling safe in their local area during the day, but after dark this dropped to 80% in their local area and 64% in the city centre.  Females, those with not enough money to meet basic needs, and those with a long term illness or disability reported feeling comparatively less safe than average, especially after dark.

Financial impact

The financial impact of crime is significant.  Estimated costs of crime have been provided by the Home Office and cover, for example, physical/emotional harm, lost output, value of property stolen/damaged, and the cost of health, police and other public services in response to crime.[13] 

Estimated average costs of each crime that takes place include:

·         £14,100 for a violent crime with injury/£5,900 without injury;

·         £5,900 for a domestic burglary;

·         £10,300 for a theft of a vehicle/£870 for a theft from a vehicle;

·         £8,400 for arson/£1,400 for other criminal damage;

·         £39,400 for rape and £6,500 for other sexual offences. 

Costs are generally higher if they relate to commercial crimes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current landscape

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The last three years have seen some particularly significant national and international developments which have affected the landscape in which our work to reduce crime and disorder is set. 

Following a long term decline in overall crime as reported nationally in the Crime Survey England & Wales, data for the year up to June 2019 remained at a similar level to the previous 12 months, although the overall figure masked different trends in some crime types.

The Home Office serious and organised crime strategy 2018 pointed to a rise in the threat from low volume, but high impact, crimes.  ‘County Lines’ which has been exploiting vulnerable people to supply the drugs market is a local as well as a national example.  A need to tackle serious violence and knife crime has been identified as a priority by national government and Sussex was one of 18 areas to receive funding to work to tackle the issue in 2019/20.

The European Union membership referendum in 2016, which resulted in the UK voting to leave the EU, provided an opportunity for the voicing of different views around immigration, and people are reporting a sense that the expression of far right views is becoming ‘normalised’.

In November 2019 the Home Office lowered the terrorist threat level to ‘substantial’, meaning that an attack is likely.  (For the previous five years the threat level was assigned ‘severe’, meaning an attack is highly likely.) Brighton & Hove continues to receive dedicated resources to identify and support individuals at risk of being drawn into terrorism.

Changes in national legislation have affected income for many people on benefits.  These included the introduction of a benefit cap putting a limit on the total payment available for some families.  At the same time, the cost of housing in Brighton & Hove is making access to suitable housing for those on lower incomes very difficult.  Inadequate housing may contribute to pressures on those at risk of offending.  There is currently a national pilot in three prisons as part of the government’s Rough Sleeping Strategy with the potential for wider implementation if the evaluation is successful.  This provides targeted support to prisoners in the weeks before they are released and then ensures access to secure and stable accommodation and support for up to two years to seek to reduce reoffending.

Financial and other pressures impact on individuals and families, which can contribute to demand for statutory services.  However, the capacity to meet demand has been decreasing with ongoing budget cuts.  Creative ideas which lead to new ways of working effectively, but which cost less or are cost neutral, are always being sought.  For example, the penetration of the internet and social media into daily lives changes the nature of risks, while it can also offer new opportunities for public services to engage with communities. 

While there have been numerous examples of support from our local communities to help others in need, including a wide range of offers from the wider community to assist refugees who arrive in the city, there is a risk that community cohesion may suffer in these changing times.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identifying and progressing priorities

 

 

 

 

 

Local analysis

Our plans for the three year period from April 2020 to March 2023 have been informed by the Brighton & Hove Strategic Assessment of Crime and Community Safety 2019[14].  This looked at the crime and community safety picture in the city.  It took into account the mature and scale of problems, trends, the impact on communities and individuals, and so on.

Who has contributed

The work for the Strategic Assessment was carried out jointly by officers with lead responsibility for each priority area and analysts in the council’s Public Health Intelligence Team.

A stakeholder workshop was held in December 2019 to help determine the areas of focus for the Partnership over the three year period 2020-23.  The workshop was attended by statutory and voluntary organisations and other members of the Community Safety Partnership Board, as well as representatives from city neighbourhoods and communities of interest.

Following this, proposals for the Strategy were drafted and made publically available online for comment.

National direction

A number of the priorities in our strategy, eg. violence against women and girls; violence, vulnerability and exploitation; counter-extremism and Prevent align with central government strategies and we are laying out in this Strategy our local plans for work in these areas. 

The focus of our partnership strategy

The priorities in this strategy focus on areas where working in partnership is fundamental to achieving progress.  It prioritises work where added value is achieved by working in partnership.

There are three overarching themes in this strategy: violence, abuse and exploitation, anti-social behaviour and community cohesion and resilience, and there are subsections which sit beneath these headings.  The priority areas have been selected taking into account a mix of local and national priorities, particularly where the consequence on victims has a high impact.

Considerations around resources

Budgets of public organisations have been reducing and budgets remain tight. Difficult decisions need to be made about whether to allocate scarce resources to prevention work or to responding to the impact of crimes and supporting victims after they have occurred.  Without investment in prevention work, there is the risk that significant problems will be stored up for the future. The impact of allocating resources therefore needs to be considered not only in the immediate term, but also in the longer term.

Partnership resources are currently supporting an experienced and skilled workforce.  Withdrawing financial support for the work they carry out risks resulting in a break in continuity of services which will take considerable effort to re-establish.

Monitoring the effectiveness of our work

The impact that we are aiming to achieve through our partnership work is laid out at the beginning of each priority area in this strategy. 

Action plans are drawn up for each of our priority areas to lay out specific planned work and to assign responsibility for taking forward.  Progress will be monitored through thematic steering groups or forums.  The Community Safety Partnership Board will also keep progress under review at a more strategic level.

Individual measures of crime and community safety are rarely able to describe the complete picture of underlying problems and do not allow us to fully understand the effectiveness of our work.  Our approach to this is to monitor groups of performance indicators for each priority area which together contribute to the overall picture.  The data also need to be carefully interpreted to avoid drawing misplaced conclusions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Relevant work of key partners

 

 

 

 

 

The work of key partners

There are a number of statutory agencies whose core business is to tackle crime – the police, youth offending service, courts, probation and prison services are some significant ones.  The work of other agencies, for example health and social services, is also key to reducing the ‘drivers’ of crime. 

These partners have their own plans/strategies, and may work across wider geographical areas.  Community Safety Partnerships also exist in East and West Sussex and in some areas of work projects work across these boundaries.

Mentioned below are some important areas of work which are managed by our partners and not described in detail in this strategy document.

Relevant work streams led by others

Youth offending.  Youth Justice Plan 2018/19 has the following aims:

·    preventing youth crime and reducing offending;

·    reducing reoffending;

·    keeping the number of children and young people in custody to a minimum;

·    ensuring that victims are at the heart youth offending services and the voice of victims is heard; and

·    reducing the number of vulnerable young people in the youth justice system, with a focus on looked after children and those at risk of exploitation.

The work of the Youth Offending Service is overseen by the YOS Adolescent Board which reports to the Community Safety Partnership Board.

Integrated Offender Management (IOM).  There is pan-Sussex operational guidance for the management of adult offenders to reduce reoffending with a Brighton & Hove IOM delivery group.  This sets out how police, probation, courts, prisons, health, local authorities and others can support the needs of offenders.  The work is overseen by the Sussex Criminal Justice Board.  The structuring of probation services nationally (Community Rehabilitation Companies and the National Probation Service) is currently being reviewed.

Alcohol misuse.  The Alcohol Programme Board takes a strategic lead.  Work is structured around the themes of:

·    health promotion and reducing harmful drinking;

·    treatment and recovery; and

·    licensing and the night-time economy.

Drugs misuse.  The Substance Misuse Programme Board oversees work around drugs misuse.  The group’s work is structured around the themes of:

·    health promotion;

·    harm reduction for users;

·    responding to emerging trends; and

·    the availability of drugs.

Mental health services. Many offenders have needs around mental health, often compounded by alcohol and/or drugs misuse. The Police and Court Liaison and Diversion Scheme is a scheme whereby people who are arrested or held in custody are assessed for needs around mental health, alcohol or substance misuse, and can be referred to treatment services.

Homelessness and rough sleeping.  A Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy up to 2024 is, at time of writing, under final consultation, with drafted priorities under the headings of prevention, interventions and sustainability.

Private sector housing.  The licensing of private landlords includes clauses to manage anti-social behaviour.

Serious and Organised Crime

Sussex Police take the lead on tackling serious and organised crime which impacts across communities and is associated with, for example, drugs, fraud, acquisitive crime, child sexual exploitation and abuse, modern slavery and human trafficking. The cost to society of serious and organised crime is estimated at many billions of pounds a year[15].

Adult and child safeguarding.  The city’s multi-agency Safeguarding Adults Board works across agencies to raise awareness and promote the welfare of vulnerable adults, and enable people to live safe and secure lives.

The Safeguarding Children Partnership (BHSCP) co-ordinates work by all agencies and individuals to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. 

Work across Sussex led by the police also seeks to protect children from sexual exploitation by helping people recognise signs and encourage reporting.

East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service.  Core business of ESFRS is to reduce the risk of and harm from fires in people’s homes and in communities.  They work closely with partners, including housing providers, and local communities to provide awareness and education on fire safety in the home and fit smoke alarms where appropriate.

ESFRS works in the context of a mixed and ageing housing stock, an ageing population and vulnerabilities of some residents, overlapping with key populations of interest in the wider community safety context.

Their work in the city is part of the overarching ESFRS Safer Communities Strategy (2018-2021).

Road safety.  The subject of road safety is often high on the agenda of local residents.  The council’s long term Local Transport Plan includes goals to create streets and neighbourhoods that are safe and welcoming for people to move around and use socially.  A shorter term delivery plan summarises how the council plans to achieve this in a section entitled ‘Safer people, safer roads and safer neighbourhoods’.

The council also has a ‘Safer Roads’ Strategy (2014-2020) which is focused on the development of safer roads and roadsides; the promotion of safer vehicles; safer road users; and safer road traffic speeds.  The council is a member of the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership [SSRP].

‘Cyber crime’.  There is a joint police Surrey and Sussex Cyber Crime Unit which focuses on crimes which are enabled or perpetrated using communication technologies and the internet.

Regulatory services. Regulatory services and other teams within the local authority, eg. environmental health, may help to address issues such as anti-social behaviour. 

The police and council licensing teams and other responsible authorities under the Licensing Act have a responsibility to ensure the licensed premises operate in such a way that they do not cause public nuisance or compromise public safety

 

 

 

 

 

Priority theme

 

 

 

Violence, exploitation and abuse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Serious violence

 

 

 

What we want to achieve

·         Fewer people harmed by serious violence

·         Less crime involving weapons

·         All parts of the community to be free of the fear of violence and confident to report

·         A thriving night-time economy free from alcohol-related violence.

·         A stronger preventative approach to serious violence through the better use of all available data.

 

 

 

Why this is a priority

Serious violence, or the threat of violence, can have a negative impact on individuals, communities and the city as a whole.  It can undermine how safe people feel and their wellbeing.  Out of a range of crime groups, offences of violence with injury are estimated have the highest cost impact for the city when the costs to individuals and services are all taken into account.  If fear of violence deters residents and visitors from engaging in what the city has to offer in terms of leisure or commerce, that poses an economic cost to the city.

Serious violence happens in different contexts: alcohol-related violence, including in connection with the night-time economy, domestic violence, and organised violence (eg. drug-related violence and exploitation).  These latter two subjects are covered in other sections of this strategy.

In 2018 the government published a Serious Violence Strategy and is seeking to ensure that key agencies in all local areas tackle serious violence in partnership.

Key facts

According to police records, there were 239 serious violence offences (GBH and more serious offences), 437 robberies (392 personal robberies and 45 business robberies) and 92 serious knife crimes recorded in the Brighton & Hove in 2018/19.  Serious violence offences and robberies have been steadily rising between 2014/15 and 2018/19.  Crimes involving weapons have shown a recent increase, rising steeply in 2019.  Per resident there are more robberies and possession of weapons offences in the city than the South East or England & Wales as a whole, although this comparison does not take account of the number of visitors to the city.

Nearly half of serious knife crimes (47%) in 2018/19 in the city were robbery offences, with a similar proportion (45%) violence against the person offences.  The remaining 8% were sexual offences.

Some people who suffer injuries from serious violence will present to A&E; only some of these people will also come to the attention of the police, so A&E provides a useful complementary data source.  According to local A&E records, there were 1,195 attendances related to assault in 2018/19 and these are showing a slight downwards trend.  A&E records have the potential to provide further information about demographic characteristics of people who attend A&E due to assault, the injuries sustained and the violent incident itself, all of which can inform preventative action.

Who’s affected

From police data (12 month period ending June 2019) the group with the highest number of robbery victims are males in the 10-19 old year range, with the number of victims declining progressively in older age groups.  Robbery offences tended to show coincide the night-time economy in terms of time and location of offences.  Males made up 82% of victims.

10-19 year olds were also most frequently victims of serious knife crimes, followed by 30-39 year olds, and again victims tended to be male.

Our plans

Partners will work together to develop a more strategic and preventative approach to tackling serious violence.  Better use of data from a range of agencies and sources to be developed to inform this approach.

Working with partners we will create and develop a violence reduction unit in the city which will co-ordinate work regarding serious violence and organised crime that occurs in a public place, causes or is intended to cause serious injury, involves the use of a weapon, or has a victim, suspect or offender under the age of 25.

It is envisaged that this will link into the Partnership Tactical Tasking and Coordination Group so that priorities can be agreed and resources allocated to address these.

Using diversionary activities, we will offer alternatives to young people at risk of being drawn into serious organised crime that may include violence. Key to this is work with third sector organisations.

The Statement of Licensing Policy will be reviewed to ensure that the city is safe for people to enjoy the night-time economy.

Our work will align and complement the Sussex Multi-Agency Delivery Group for reduction in serious violence and link to Home Office priorities in this area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exploitation

(including modern slavery and human trafficking)

 

 

What we want to achieve

·         Prevent children, young people and vulnerable adults from becoming involved with organised crime groups and gangs

·         Safeguard children, young people and vulnerable adults who are being exploited

·         Provide a safe, effective pathway to enable children, young people and vulnerable adults to exit involvement with organised crime networks

·         Decrease drug gang related activity in the city

·         Increase awareness of the signs and risks of all forms of exploitation among agencies and the wider community

 

 

Why this is a priority

Brighton & Hove Community Safety Partnership invited the Home Office Violence and Vulnerability Unit to undertake a review of the scale and impact of all forms of exploitation in the city in March 2018.  This led to violence, vulnerability and exploitation being included into the previous Community Safety and Crime Reduction Strategy in 2018.  In addition to this, Brighton & Hove City Council has undertaken an internal review of its compliance in adhering to statutory duties under the Modern Slavery Act 2015. 

Crimes involving exploitation tend to be committed in private spaces and often involve the criminal exploitation of children, young people and vulnerable adults on a physical, sexual or financial basis.  This is a major concern nationally and within Brighton & Hove. Gang activity based around ‘county lines’, where drug dealers from London and elsewhere set up in areas like this city, leads to anti-social behaviour, violence and safeguarding concerns.  This often involves the criminal exploitation of children, young people and vulnerable adults.  There is national recognition that the links between criminal exploitation, modern slavery and human trafficking are significant so these crime types have been absorbed into a wider exploitation agenda.

Key facts

There are many factors which make someone vulnerable to exploitation, with more than one factor present increasing the risk. These may include poor mental health, substance misuse, poverty or debt, school exclusion, experience of coercion or abuse, isolation and homelessness.

Exploitation can take various forms, but mostly involves coercion and control of one person or group over another into criminality for the profit of an organised crime group or gang.  There can be high levels of violence involved, including the use of weapons to intimidate and control members and associated victims, so this priority area crosses over with the previous section on serious violence.

In terms of county lines, gangs may establish a local base, typically by taking over the homes of local vulnerable adults (such as drugs users, older people, people with mental health issues or a learning disability) by force or coercion in a practice referred to as cuckooing. 

They then use the premises to deal drugs from and recruit local children, young people and vulnerable adults as drugs runners.  There is evidence of this in Brighton & Hove, with 108 cases of cuckooing investigated between April and November 2019.  Approximately one third of the cases are identified as cuckooed properties after investigation.

Who’s affected

As of November 2019 there were 46 children receiving support or services from Brighton & Hove City Council’s children’s social care who were identified as at risk of or engaged in criminal exploitation, and the same number at risk of or engaged in sexual exploitation (NB. some individuals may be included in both counts).

Being controlled by gangs is one form of modern slavery.  Bearing in mind that modern slavery is a ‘hidden crime’, 21 crimes of modern slavery were recorded in the city in 2018/19, including 9 females and 8 males, and with 10-19 year olds being the most common victim age group.  Brighton & Hove City Council has made a total of seven ‘potential victims of trafficking’ referrals to the National Referral Mechanism between April 2019 and March 2020 relating to six children and one adult. 

Our plans

Brighton & Hove Safeguarding Children Partnership has an exploitation subgroup made up of representatives from statutory and other relevant stakeholders to direct activity to tackle these forms of exploitation.  This subgroup is jointly supported by the city’s Safeguarding Adults Board and Community Safety Partnership Board.  Work will be informed by Home Office guidance, Sussex Police working groups for county lines and modern slavery, and by national reviews, Local Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews and Safeguarding Adult Reviews.

This exploitation subgroup will develop a multi-agency communications strategy and action plan led by the local authority, police and health (Clinical Commissioning Group) to deliver regular, clear messaging, ensuring children, young people and vulnerable adults are aware of the support services available and how to access them.  This will include training, learning and development opportunities for people with lived experience, front-line workers and professionals.  Work will continue to embed a contextual safeguarding approach[16] to ensure people involved in gangs / local crime groups are supported and their needs met.  It will also seek to prevent vulnerable people becoming involved with gangs / local crime groups through peer support and workshops for children, young people, parents, carers and guardians.

There will be ongoing work to disrupt criminal activity via multi-agency tactical operations and focused weeks of action for emerging vulnerable locations or issues.  Enforcement activity will continue to use tools and powers against those who exploit children, young people and vulnerable adults, for example Child Abduction Warning Notices.

Pan-Sussex partnership work will continue to improve the quality and quantity of local data to better inform strategic assessments, commissioning and campaigns to increase understanding of the impact of exploitation.  We will maximise the use of available funding opportunities for joint commissioning with the community and voluntary sector including specialist providers.

Brighton & Hove City Council is a member of the Sussex Anti-Slavery Network which brings stakeholders together from multiple agencies across Sussex to work in partnership to tackle modern slavery and trafficking.  The local authority will seek opportunities to continue the modern slavery learning events for community and voluntary sector workers involved with homelessness in partnership with the Passage, who provide services to prevent homelessness in Brighton & Hove.  At present there are no specialist modern slavery and trafficking services in Brighton & Hove, but we will work with national services to enhance local capacity and understanding to meet the needs of those who have experienced modern slavery or have been trafficked.

Our stakeholder and public consultation in 2019 highlighted a need to ensure fixed-term school exclusions are managed carefully, particularly for those with additional needs / protected characteristics including Black, Asian and minority ethnic children, children with ADHD, dyspraxia, autism, dyslexia or those with mental health issues; these exclusions often increase the risk of a child or young person to exploitation.  Plans will be strengthened around work with parents as partners in safeguarding children, and work with the community and voluntary sector to support particular groups in the city, including sex workers, drug users, people with learning disabilities and people in particular occupations. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Domestic & sexual violence and abuse and other forms of violence against women and girls

 

 

What we want to achieve

·         A city where domestic and sexual violence and abuse is not tolerated by our communities or our organisations.

·         Victims to be believed and not blamed, treated with dignity and respect, and supported to feel safe within their community, knowing that their offenders are being worked with to change their behaviour and/or brought to justice.

·         All sectors, services, neighbourhoods and communities across the city to recognise that domestic and sexual violence is everyone’s business and to overcome barriers to progress.  Responsibility for tackling the issue needs to be truly shared.

·         More prevention and early intervention work.  Evidence based approaches are needed to change attitudes and challenge behaviours in our communities so victims are protected and the cycle of offending is broken.

·         High quality trauma-informed service pathways.  Coordinated and accessible interventions and support to reflect what people tell us they want and need.

·         A stronger criminal and civil justice response to perpetrators, and the development of sustainable proactive intervention and preventative programmes.

·         Robust partnership working at both a strategic and operational level across a broad coalition of partners to enable consistent quality services, working across services and sectors and focusing on positive outcomes for victims.

Why this is a priority

We have seen an unprecedented increase in the reported incidents of domestic violence and abuse, and sexual violence and abuse (including stalking and harassment and harmful practices), and are seeing worrying evidence of abuse taking place within our younger generations.

There are long standing and newly developing societal norms that perpetuate acceptance of abusive and controlling behaviour, and an often unconscious acceptance of these behaviours that most often affect women and girls. Despite under reporting, the number of incidents which come to the attention of services is high.  There are cycles of repeat offending and repeat victimisation and only a small fraction of perpetrators are convicted.

Nationally, domestic homicides sadly occur at a steady rate, and show a trend where the risk to a victim prior to the homicide is less visible or recognised.  Given resources to do so, there are opportunities across all sectors to increase awareness of the signs of domestic and sexual abuse and to provide support with confidence. 

We know that the long term impact of experiencing domestic or sexual violence and abuse, whether directly or indirectly within a family situation, as an adult or as a child, can have a devastating effect on people’s ability to cope throughout their life.

Key facts

Domestic violence and abuse is a prolific crime and the last few years has seen increasing numbers of people come forward to report to services.  Setting aside the many incidents which remain unreported, there were 3,202 crimes and 2,051 incidents which came to the attention of the police in Brighton & Hove in 2018/19.  During that same year RISE worked with 1,121 adults in the city (not counting therapeutic work, or work with children).  More than 3 in 10 had suffered suffocation or strangulation, 1 in 4 had received threats to kill and 1 in 4 had had thoughts of suicide. 

In 2018/19 there were 964 sexual offences recorded in the city.  Both police recorded offences, and the numbers presenting at support services (for both females and males) have also increased over the last few years and services have needed to find the most effective way of managing demands on their services.  Sexual offences often happen in the context of the night-time economy as demonstrated by location and temporal patterns.

There were 11 police recorded crimes of honour based violence in 2018/19, a majority committed by an intimate partner and with female victims.  Local evidence of other harmful practices (ie. FGM and forced marriage) is scarce but it is necessary to remain vigilant to pick up on any cases where support can be provided to those affected.

Who’s affected

76% of domestic violence offences had a female victim and the same percentage a male perpetrator.  55% of RISE clients above had children, and the presence of domestic violence and abuse can have lasting impacts on these children’s lives. 

In the case of police recorded sexual offences in 2018/19, 85% of victims were female and 15% were male. 98% of perpetrators were male. of whom 43% were strangers and 33% were acquaintances. The peak age for victims was between 10 and 19 years old.  15% were recorded as domestic abuse, and the most common vulnerabilities for people attending the Sussex Sexual Assault Referral Centre were mental health, self harm and domestic violence.  The fear of sexual violence extends beyond people who have experienced it, also affecting the lives of others in the wider community.

Problems are already evident in young people’s relationships; the 2018 Safe and Well at School Survey found that half of 14-16 year olds who had ever had a boy/girlfriend had experienced a problem behaviour in their relationship.

Our plans

A Sussex-wide Strategic Framework for response to Domestic and Sexual Violence and Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls (including stalking and harassment and harmful practices) has been developed during 2019 following comprehensive consultation and engagement with victims/survivors and service providers.  There will be a delivery plan for Brighton & Hove. However, local stakeholder engagement tells us the following key themes and actions are important:

Improved access to and location of services. Data and insight from victims and service providers tell us that services need to be more flexible to accommodate differing needs, providing simpler pathways into services that maintains a focus on the victim’s experience.

Better communication and signposting.  Data and insight from victims and service providers tell us that our collective services are not visible enough to facilitate access to services. This applies to both victims and service providers who refer.

Work to improve prevention through work with perpetrators, including disruption, early intervention, and training and awareness. We need to address the problem at its root.

Policy, performance and safeguarding. Our governance for collective review and development of efficient local response needs to be more robust.  This will facilitate effective partnership working, make best use of resources, and ensure multi-agency support and response pathways are working efficiently.

Multi-agency working to secure new resources for sustained services.  In particular we need to hold perpetrators to account, working together to find the resources to provide perpetrator programmes in Brighton & Hove.  Priorities to address gaps locally include:

§  Work with perpetrators

§  Work with children and young people affected by domestic and sexual violence and abuse, including violence and abuse within young people’s relationships

§  Work with older people affected by domestic and sexual violence and abuse – it is more hidden

§  Work with people with multiple and complex needs

§  Recovery support, including sufficient provision of talking therapies and peer support.

 

 

 

 

Priority theme

 

 

Anti-social behaviour

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anti-social behaviour

 

 

 

What we want to achieve

·     Anti-social behaviour (ASB) is addressed appropriately and consistently, making best use of available tools and powers

·     Successes are communicated to key partners and communities

·     Harm caused by ASB to our most vulnerable residents is reduced

·     ASB committed by priority and repeat perpetrators is reduced

·     ASB, risk and harm associated with the street community and unauthorised encampments is reduced

·     Youth ASB is reduced.

Why this is a priority

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) can adversely affect individuals, communities, and the environment. 

ASB affects quality of life and, at its worst, can have a significant negative impact on people’s lives and feelings of wellbeing. 

Persons committing ASB often have their own vulnerabilities such as substance misuse and/or mental health issues.

Key facts

In 2018/19 a daily average of 22 ASB incidents were recorded by the police in Brighton & Hove (86% described as nuisance ASB, 9% as personal ASB, and 6% environmental ASB).  There were around 17 ‘ASB crimes’ per day. There is a higher rate of ASB incidents recorded in Brighton & Hove than in the South East or nationally, but all areas record a declining trend.  There is a strong seasonal trend in police recorded ASB incidents in the city, with more recorded in the summer months. The number of reports will always be an underestimate of the actual number of incidents.

The number of reports of ASB to the Community Safety Casework Team has increased over recent years with 549 reports in 2018/19.  This increase is in part due to a steep increase in the number of ASB reports linked to the street community and unauthorised encampments, which have included reports of public place injecting and associated drug litter.  Council services found around 4,250 needles in 2018/19, an increase of about a thousand on the previous year.

In high risk and complex cases discussed at a monthly multi-agency forum, substance misuse and/or mental health concerns featured as a contributory factor nearly all cases.  Seven in ten cases discussed had a single perpetrator, 85% had more than one victim household.

Who’s affected

The hotspot for police recorded ‘ASB crime’ in 2018/19 is located in the city centre in an area covering North Laine, the Lanes and Churchill Square, as well as the Old Steine and part of Kemptown.  There are also ‘corridors’ of offences stretching west along Western Road and North along London Road and at the Level.  Analysis of peak times showed a link to the night-time economy.

In the first 7 months of 2019, compared to all council housing tenants, the 284 tenants involved in an ASB case were more likely to:

·    be younger than average

·    live in flats or bedsits/studios

·    live alone

·    be vulnerable and/or disabled

There was little to no variation in sex/gender and race/ethnic group.

Nationally, people with certain demographic characteristics were more likely to report perceiving high levels of ASB.  These include non-White ethnic groups, people with long or short term illness, the long term unemployed, those on lower household incomes, people renting social housing, and people living in flats or maisonettes.[17]

Our plans

The Safer Communities Team will continue to co-ordinate strategic work to tackle ASB across the city in partnership with the police and other key partners.  The Community Safety Casework Team will provide advice and guidance to a wide range of professionals, eg. local social housing providers and supported accommodation providers, on best practice in addressing ASB and reducing harm.

The ASB, Crime and Policing Act 2014 introduced powers which we will make use of where appropriate, particularly to address behaviour which causes the most harm, eg. cuckooing and associated ASB, ASB associated with the street community and unauthorised encampments, graffiti, and also to address the behaviour of repeat perpetrators. We will also use restorative practice where appropriate to reduce harm. 

Multi-agency work to address harm associated with the street community will be managed through the monthly Street Community Partnership Meeting, and the monthly Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Tasking (MARAT) meeting will manage the harm caused to victims of ASB and address the behaviour of priority and repeat perpetrators. 

Work to address youth ASB and to stop young people involved in ASB becoming prolific offenders will be undertaken by providing diversionary activities in partnership with local third sector support services and the REBOOT programme.

The monthly Partnership Tactical Tasking Command Group will agree and review Community Safety Partnership operational priorities and ensure that available resources are appropriately deployed.

Work with partners, whether from the community, voluntary or statutory sector is central to our effectiveness.  This includes keeping in close communication with elected members and local residents through Local Action Teams and residents’ and community groups.

 

 

 

Priority theme

 

 

Community cohesion and resilience

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hate incidents and crimes

 

 

 

 

What we want to achieve

·           Trust and confidence in local services is increased so that individuals and communities feel confident to engage with those services

·           Hate incidents and crimes and the harm they cause is reduced

·           Hate incidents are addressed appropriately and consistently, making best use of available tools and powers

·           Hate incidents committed by repeat perpetrators are reduced

·           Successes are communicated to key partners and communities

 

 

 

Why this is a priority

Those harmed by incidents where people are targeted because of personal attributes relating to disability, ethnicity/race, religion/faith, sexual orientation or transgender identity tell us that this has a significant effect on their quality of life and wellbeing.

People harmed by hate crimes are often more emotionally impacted than persons harmed by other types of crime.

Key facts

In the Brighton & Hove in 2018/19 there were 535 racist, 78 religiously motivated, 223 homophobic, 68 transphobic and 62 disability hate related incidents and crimes recorded by the police.  The total number of incidents and crimes is less than the sum of these figures because some incidents and crimes are flagged as having more than one motivation.  90% of hate crimes are violence against the person crimes. 

There was an upward trend in recorded hate incidents and crimes until 2016/17 in parallel to a general increase in recorded violence against the person crimes, but this has stabilised in the last two years.  It is important to remember, though, that not all hate incidents and crimes that happen are reported to the police; the Crime Survey England & Wales found that in the three years ending March 2018 53% of hate incidents (all strands combined) came to the attention of the police, an increase from 48% in the previous three year period.

The hotspot location of recorded hate crimes is the city centre, with more offences on Friday and Saturdays.  There is a seasonal pattern in hate incidents, with more happening in the summer months.  Of the 108 hate incidents reported to the Community Safety Casework Team, 22% occurred in Regency and St Peter’s & North Laine wards, while 21% happened in Moulsecoomb & Bevendean and East Brighton wards.

The ratio of hate crimes recorded to the perpetrator being identified was about 1 in 7, while fewer than 1 in 10 crimes resulted in a charge being made by the police.  However, once at court, the likelihood of the defendant being convicted is high.

Who’s affected

Racist or religiously motivated, homophobic and transphobic hate crimes/incidents are most likely to occur on the street and be committed by a stranger.  Disability hate crimes are more likely to occur in a dwelling, and to be perpetrated by someone known to the victim. Except for transphobic crimes, victims are more often male.  About 6 out of 10 racist and homophobic crimes are perpetrated by city residents. 

Our plans

The Housing, Neighbourhoods & Communities directorate will continue to co-ordinate strategic work to reduce the harm caused by hate incidents across the city in partnership with the police and other key partners. The Community Safety Casework Team and the Communities, Equalities and Third Sector Team will provide advice and guidance to a wide range of professionals regarding best practice in addressing hate incidents and reducing harm.

The Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 introduced powers which we will make use of where appropriate, particularly to address behaviour of repeat hate incident perpetrators. We will also use restorative practice where appropriate to reduce harm. 

The monthly Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Tasking (MARAT) meeting will manage the harm caused to victims of hate incidents and address the behaviour of priority and repeat perpetrators. 

We will seek to increase community and individual knowledge of and trust and confidence in statutory services so as to increase the reporting of hate incidents, and establish third party reporting mechanisms across the city.

We will work with education providers to ensure that bullying is consistently addressed using best hate incident practice and develop preventative educational programmes for hate incident perpetrators.

Working with partners, whether from the community, voluntary or statutory sector is central to our work, and this will include keeping in close communication with elected members and local residents through Local Action Teams and residents’ and community groups and facilitating dialogue and joint working among diverse community groups.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Challenging extremism

 

 

 

What we want to achieve

·         Services and partnerships understand the nature of extremism occurring in our city and work together effectively to reduce the risk and harm of extremism.

·         Empowered individuals, community groups and communities recognise extremist narratives and are confident and able to challenge these narratives

·         Diverse community groups work collaboratively and visibly together and with services to stand against all forms of extremism, building cohesion and resilience against divisive extremist narratives. 

 

 

Why this is a priority

Extremism causes widespread and significant harm to individuals and communities.  This harm is seen in the rise of hate, intolerance and violence.  Where this results in hate incidents it has significant impact on the quality of life and wellbeing of those targeted.  The damaging impact is magnified as these become mainstreamed and normalised.

Extremists seek to create and exploit divisions between communities.  Where extremism takes root this leads to segregation, social isolation and exclusion.  This affects access to services and quality of life for marginalised and vulnerable groups.  Community tensions and divisions also lead to wider instability which impacts our city as a whole.

Key facts

In the national Counter-Extremism Strategy 2015, extremism is defined as ‘vocal or active opposition to fundamental values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and the mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs’.  The strategy relates to all forms of extremism, and is distinct but complementary to the Prevent strategy and work programme.

The findings from the national Call for Evidence by the Commission for Countering Extremism 2019 reported that 52% of respondents had witnessed some form of extremism.  Of these, 45% had seen in online, and 39% had seen it in their local area. 

The national Counter-Extremism Strategy describes hate incidents as a key harm of extremism.  Nationally there are observable spikes in hate incidents seemingly in response to significant national or international events.  Locally police recorded hate crimes have been on a long term rising trend, although at least some of this increase is associated with improved recording practices.  Locally there are also growing and emerging risks seen in reports of stickering by Far Right groups, increased reports of transphobic narratives and incidents, and some criminal activity (such as criminal damage) related to animal rights extremism.

Who’s affected

Extremism, and the manifestation of extremism in hate incidents and the impact on cohesion, affects individuals, groups and our community as a whole.  The Call for Evidence mentioned above found that 83% of practitioner respondents were concerned that extremism is causing harm to our wider society and democracy. The report also found that over three quarters of those working to counter extremism face some degree of abuse for the work that they do.

Where extremism manifests in hate incidents this has significant impact on the individuals and communities targeted.  Nationally, the Community Security Trust has seen a threefold increase in reports of anti-Semitic incidents since 2007 and 2018 was the third year in a row they saw a record high.  Tell Mamma have seen reports of Islamophobic incidents almost double since 2012/13.

Our plans

We will build community and individual knowledge of, and trust and confidence in, work being undertaken and planned to counter extremism and seek to increase reporting of extremist incidents, including incidents of extremist stickering and graffiti. We will ensure mechanisms are in place to respond to these incidents appropriately to reduce risk and harm.

We will develop community tension monitoring mechanisms and build effective partnership processes to respond to these tensions.  Effective communication methods with communities are needed so we can work together to reduce divisions which may be exploited by extremists.

Work will be undertaken to empower individuals and community groups with the knowledge and skills to identify extremist narratives and content and to be able to challenge it.  This includes challenging extremism in the online space, and raising awareness of options to respond to hate and extremism where this occurs in the community. 

We will facilitate network building across diverse community groups and services, and support collaborative projects and events which build cohesion and offer a positive alternative narrative to extremism. 

We will continue to develop work to reduce the harm caused by hate incidents as outlined elsewhere in this strategy.

We need to reach out widely to communities and communicate the successes of work to counter extremism and provide reassurance.  

The above plans are subject to confirmation of local resource and direction set by national strategy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prevent

 

 

What we want to achieve

·         Terrorisms and extremisms are better understood, and frontline staff, partners and communities are better equipped to challenge them

·         Individuals vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism and extremism are identified at an early stage and supported to reduce risk

·         Individuals at risk of re-engaging in terrorism related activities are identified and supported to reduce risks and rehabilitation

·         Key sectors and institutions are better able to manage risks including those posed by extremist speakers, events and groups

·         Improved compliance with the Prevent Duty is achieved

·         Cohesive communities are resilient to the challenges posed by international, national and local critical incidents, and the risk of harm caused to individuals and communities is reduced.

 

 

Why this is a priority

Prevent is a statutory duty and requires ‘specified authorities’ ‘to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism’.  The Channel Duty requires vulnerable individuals to be supported early before the risk of illegality occurs. 

Terrorism remains one of the most direct and immediate risks to the UK’s national security.  A step change in terrorist threat was noted in 2017 with five terrorist incidents in the UK, two in 2018, and one in 2019.  Additionally, 25 terrorist plots (at least 16 international terrorism plots and eight extreme right-wing plots) have been successfully disrupted by the police and security agencies in the UK since March 2017.  Half of the extreme right-wing plots in 2019 were disrupted evidencing an increase in this type of threat.  Furthermore, there has been an increase in the number of arrests and counter terrorism investigations.

On 4^th November 2019, the terrorist threat level was lowered for the first time in five years from ‘Severe’ to ‘Substantial meaning a terrorist attack is likely’.  Nonetheless, the current threat level at ‘Substantial’ continues to indicate a high level of threat and that an attack might well occur without further warning, as seen with the terrorist incident on London Bridge on 29^th November 2019.  Northern Ireland related terrorism remains a serious threat, particularly in Northern Ireland itself. 

Terrorist attacks not only cause loss of life and economic damage but they also fuel community tensions, damage public confidence and community cohesion.  International and national incidents impact on inter-community relations locally.  Right-wing and Daesh/ Al-Qaida-inspired terrorist groups feed off one another.  The most damaging impact is seen in ‘normalisation’ of these discourses and an associated reduction in challenges/ oppositional voices.  Unless the ideologies and the ideologue are challenged and recruitment to these groups stopped, the cycle of violence, criminality and hate incidents will continue with significant resource implications across partners and a significant impact on communities.

Key facts

The updated national Counter Terrorism Strategy (CONTEST) responds to the heightened, complex and evolving threat picture seen in the number of terrorist incidents, plots and investigations.  The Prevent Strategy aims to reduce the threat to the UK from terrorism and ‘to safeguard and support those vulnerable to radicalisation, to stop them from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism’.  The revised objectives are:

1.    Tackle the causes of radicalisation and respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism.

2.    Safeguard and support those most at risk of radicalisation through early intervention, identifying them and offering support.

3.    Enable those who have already engaged in terrorism to disengage and rehabilitate.

The Prevent Strategy addresses all forms of terrorism, including right-wing and Daesh or Al-Qaida-inspired and associated terrorisms, but prioritises these according to the threat they pose to our national security.  Prevent also addresses some aspects of non-violent extremism that create an environment conducive to terrorism and can popularise views which terrorists exploit.

The UK faces a diverse terrorist threat.  Although Daesh and Al-Qaida have reported territorial and leadership losses, both these groups and their affiliates continue to pose a threat through their social media capability, and calls to inspire lone actor attacks.  Online space has provided a major platform in the growth of right-wing terrorisms.  Online-networked social movements including forums and imageboard platforms are essential in understanding right-wing terrorist threats.  Advancement in social media has accelerated terrorists’ abilities to communicate use of violence both in terms of deepening the impact of terrorist violence to create fear, and incentivising the use of violence to further recruit.  The terrorist incident in Christchurch in March 2019 seems to have established a pattern of ‘livestreaming’ the attack, and of lone actors creating a manifesto featuring racist, Islamophobic, anti-Semitic and misogynistic content.  This increased pace and sophistication of terrorist communication and narrative requires resources to challenge these.  It is assessed that most future terrorist plots in the UK will employ simple methods that can be developed with ease and at speed.  However, terrorists still have the intent to mount complex, potentially more destructive attacks. 

National Channel data published by the Home Office show a decline in overall referrals in 2018/19, with 5,738 individuals referred due to concerns that they were vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism, the lowest number of referrals since 2015/16.  In 2018/19, 561 people received Channel support, more than in the two previous years.  The proportion of individuals who received Channel support due to right-wing extremism has increased steadily over the years reaching 45% in 2018/19.

Who’s affected

There is no single route to terrorism, nor a simple profile of those who become involved. The decision of an individual to become involved in extremist activities may reflect a complex interplay of the following causes: exposure to an ideology that seems to sanction violence; exposure to people who persuasively articulate that ideology and then relate it to an individual’s life circumstances; and vulnerabilities in people which make them susceptible to a message of violence. 

In 2018/19 (as in previous years) the majority of individuals referred to Channel and who consented to receive support were aged 20 years or under and male.  The internet has emerged as a key resource in facilitating the radicalisation process with some direct personal contact.  Young people are found to be at an increased risk as digital content is made very attractive and persuasive and can be quickly and widely shared.

Fewer women were arrested in 2018 (31) than in 2017 (63), although this was still above the annual average (24) since the data collection began in 2001.  6% of those arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences in 2018 were young people under the age of 18, a similar level to 2017, and the highest on record.  The arrest of 118 White people (43% of arrests) was the third highest since 2001.  These patterns continued during the first half of 2019.

An overall increase in reported hate incidents, anti-Semitic and Islamophobic incidents continues in the UK.  There have been significant spikes in anti-Muslim hate incidents after major national terrorist events; though these can be mitigated by strong locally co-ordinated community messaging that is quick and responsive.  The political and economic landscape globally and in the UK (eg. linked to Brexit and austerity) may potential lead to an increase in community tensions and increase risks of getting drawn into terrorism.  The associated reduction in resources risks compounding the impact on communities. 

Our plans

We will continue to build on existing best practice in coordinating Prevent delivery locally, our successful engagement with diverse communities and partners, and strive to mainstream Prevent work. 

Jointly with police, key partners and communities we will monitor levels of risks, vulnerabilities, and threat to direct local work strategically and develop our action plan to be flexible and responsive in tackling specific risks and emerging threats including community tensions. 

We will continue to raise awareness of diverse ideologies, groups and risks amongst staff and communities to strengthen their capabilities, increase their confidence to challenge ideologies and counter terrorist narratives, and to support individuals appropriately. 

We will support individuals vulnerable to being drawn into terrorist related activities including through the multi-agency Channel programme, and develop effective interventions to reduce risks.  We will strive to increase the number of referrals from communities and the third sector and work to develop models of productive partnership with communities to develop supportive interventions. 

We will support vulnerable institutions to build their resilience and will continue to learn from national best practice and prepare to deliver on the objectives of reducing re-offending aligned to the national direction.  Through improved communications of Prevent work and its impact, we will improve trust and confidence amongst partners and communities.  Empowered individuals and communities are at the heart of effective Prevent delivery.

 

 

Appendix 1. About the Partnership

 

The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 specifies that community safety strategies must be delivered by Community Safety Partnerships.  The ‘responsible authorities’ who are required by legislation to participate in our Community Safety Partnership are the local authority, police, probation, health, and fire and rescue services.  However, many other partners from the statutory, community/voluntary and business sectors, including the Police and Crime Commissioner are fully involved in the Partnership’s work.  Local residents also play a key role.

The diagram shows the structure of the Community Safety Partnership.  The Community Safety Partnership Board has overall responsibility for the work of the Partnership, while the individual priority areas within this strategy are supported by multi-agency working groups made up of specialists in the relevant area.  In some areas there are also dedicated staff to drive forward the work. 

Local Action Teams exists across the city and these are an important part of the Partnership.  LATs involve residents, local businesses and agencies working together and they provide a key route through which community safety issues for local neighbourhoods are taken forward.  LATs meet together via the LAT Forum where issues of common concern can be discussed and ideas shared.

The Community Safety Partnership links with the democratic process through the Tourism, Equalities, Communities and Culture Committee.  Integrated working with the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner is being achieved through having regard to each other’s priorities and providing reciprocal support for delivery.

Further information is available at www.safeinthecity.info