Labour Group Amendment

Urgent review of Council’s policies for tackling crime and

antisocial behaviour

That changes are made as shown in bold italics and strikethrough below.

This Committee:

1. Notes that certain parts of central Brighton LSOA has been ranked 8th worst poorly out of 33,000 areas across England and Wales for crime and antisocial behaviour and impact this has on residents’ lives.

2. Notes that since 20109 funding to Sussex Police has been cut by Central Government by over 13 million pounds and 500 officers which has had this Council has significantly weakened its policies for tackling impact on crime and anti-social behaviour rates. including:

a. Failing to renew the City’s Public Space Protection Orders for Parks and Open Spaces;

b. Declining an opportunity to join an application for Safer Streets Funds when approached by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner;

c. Failing to keep a full complement of Field Officers employed;

d. Becoming the only Council in the country to introduce a Homeless Bill of Rights that allows begging and tents in public spaces;

e. Choosing not to enforce by-laws at its disposal, including at Old Steine Gardens;

f. Not prioritising safety in the public domain, with 9/10 street lamps at Old Steine Gardens left broken for over a year;

g. Maintaining only 95 public space CCTV cameras across the city.

3.Notes that the above policies have put the Council out of step with neighbouring local authorities.

3. Notes that these policies are a major issue for women who feel unsafe in parts of the City, including at Pavilion Gardens and surrounds where there have been 7 incidents of rape recorded within three years.

4. Notes the multiple examples of unlawful conduct by the Prime Minister and his Government during the lockdown which sets a terrible example to our young people and communities.

5. Notes the recruitment of a new anti-drugs officer and planning of an anti-drug summit in Brighton & Hove, following Labour’s budget amendment.

6. Calls on Sussex Police to take a zero-tolerance approach to address repeated drug and alcohol crime in St James St, Tarner Area and other central parts of the City.

7. Calls on the Police and Crime Commissioner to re-prioritise funding to tackle the unacceptable crime rates in parts of central Brighton as well as tackling hate crime.

8. Calls for an urgent review of the City’s policies, practices and commitment towards tackling crime and antisocial behaviour, with a report to be provided to the next meeting of this Committee, and asks Sussex Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office to participate in that review.

Proposed by: Cllr Evans                                        Seconded by: Cllr Childs

Recommendations to read if carried:

This Committee:

1. Notes that certain parts of central Brighton LSOA has been ranked poorly out of 33,000 areas across England and Wales for crime and antisocial behaviour and impact this has on residents’ lives.

2. Notes that since 2010 funding to Sussex Police has been cut by Central Government by over 13 million pounds and 500 officers which has had significant impact on crime and anti-social behaviour rates.

3. Notes that these policies are a major issue for women who feel unsafe in parts of the City, including at Pavilion Gardens and surrounds where there have been 7 incidents of rape recorded within three years.

4. Notes the multiple examples of unlawful conduct by the Prime Minister and his Government during the lockdown which sets a terrible example to our young people and communities.

5. Notes the recruitment of a new anti-drugs officer and planning of an anti-drug summit in Brighton & Hove, following Labour’s budget amendment.

6. Calls on Sussex Police to take a zero-tolerance approach to address repeated drug and alcohol crime in St James St, Tarner Area and other central parts of the City.

7. Calls on the Police and Crime Commissioner to re-prioritise funding to tackle the unacceptable crime rates in parts of central Brighton as well as tackling hate crime.

8. Calls for an urgent review of the City’s policies, practices and commitment towards tackling crime and antisocial behaviour, with a report to be provided to the next meeting of this Committee, and asks Sussex Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office to participate in that review.