Housing and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel – 19 March 2025
Safer New Forest Partnership – Consideration of crime and disorder figures
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Purpose |
For Review |
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Classification |
Public |
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Executive Summary |
Recorded crime for the period April 2023 to March 2024 shows an overall reduction of 12% with a significant reduction in the following crime types: · Reduction in violence without injury of 10% (from 3,264 to 2,954 reported incidents) · 36% reduction in residential burglary · Criminal damage has decreased by 21% of reported incidents · Reduction in reported Public Order offences of 25%. Offences of continued concern: · Possession of weapons increased by 32 reported incidents (26%) · Shoplifting incidents has increased from 627 incidents to 799 incidents (27%). The priorities identified through the Strategic Assessment 2024 and supported by the Safer New Forest Strategic Partnership are: · Shoplifting & burglary (business & community) · Serious violence / possession of weapons · Violence against women & girls including domestic abuse.
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Recommendation(s) |
1. To note the priorities as set by strategic partners of the Safer New Forest Strategy and Delivery Group and consider follow on member engagement. |
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Reasons for recommendation(s) |
Strategic partners of the Safer New Forest Partnership convened on 13th January 2025 and following a review of the data, identified and agreed the strategic partnership priorities contained within this report for 25/26. Traditionally the Strategic Assessment has been presented to the Housing and Communities Overview & Scrutiny Panel. Consideration is given to engaging with members in a wider forum given the corporate plan priorities. |
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Ward(s) |
All |
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Portfolio Holder(s) |
Councillor Dan Poole |
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Strategic Director(s) |
Richard Knott – Housing & Communities |
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Officer Contact |
Brian Byrne Brian.byrne@nfdc.gov.uk |
1. The Crime& Disorder Act 1998 requiresdistrict councils to have a crime and disorder committee whose functions are to review or scrutinise decisions made, or other action taken, in connection with the discharge by “responsible authorities” of their crime and disorder functions.
2. The “responsible authorities” for the area are:
· New Forest District Council
· Hampshire County Council
· Probation Services
· Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary
· Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service
· Integrated Care Boards
3. These authorities form the nucleus of the “Safer New Forest Strategy & Delivery Group” which co-ordinates the deliveryof the responsible authorities’ statutorycrime and disorder functions. They are assisted in this by the following partners who are additional members of the Strategy & Delivery Group:
· New Forest National Park Authority
· Hampshire CountyCouncil Children’s Services
· Hampshire CountyCouncil Adult Services
· Hampshire County Council YouthOffending Team
· Education Representative (secondary)
4. The responsible authorities’ statutory responsibilities include preparing annual strategies for:
· The reductionof crime and disorder in the area (including anti-social and other behaviour adversely affecting the local environment); and
· For combating the misuse of drugs, alcoholand other substances in the area; and
· For the reduction of re-offending in the area.
5. The Strategy &Delivery Group preparesan annual partnership plan setting out agreed strategies for the above.
6. The Strategy & Delivery Group is required to undertake an annual strategic assessment of crime and disorderusing available data to assistin revising and developing the priorities for the following year.
7. The draftstrategic assessment 2024 (Appendix 1) was considered and approvedby the Strategy & Delivery Group on 13th January 2025.
8. Safer New Forest partnersreconvened on 5th February as a working groupto develop the action plan for delivery during 2025/26.
9. The SaferNew Forest annualstrategic assessment and supporting partnership plan is supported in its delivery alongside, Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton (HIPS) Serious Violence Response Strategy.
Corporate plan priorities
10. The corporate plan 2024-2028 sets out the commitment of empowering our residents to live healthy, connected and fulfilling lives, supported by the delivery of the Safer New Forest annual strategic partnership plan.
11. The partnership plan sets out to reduce incidents of crime and disorder, working closely with public bodies to promote safety, tackling the perception of crime within our town and parishes.
Options appraisal
12. The Safer New Forest strategic assessment is compiled from the shared data of the responsible authorities which form the Safer New Forest partnership. The review of this data by the partners on 13th January 2025 informed the priorities for 2025/26.
13. The partnership plan and priorities was considered and formulated by the strategic partners of the Safer New Forest Strategy and Delivery Group. The plan is informed by the shared data contained within the report and the continued activity of the partnership agencies in tackling crime and disorder within the district.
Consultation undertaken
14. Information contained within this report is compiled by strategic partners of the Safer New Forest Strategy and Delivery Group who agreed to the priorities outline within the report on 13th January 2025.
15. The Safer New Forest Strategy and Delivery Group is chaired by Cllr Dan Poole, Portfolio holder for Community Safety and Wellbeing.
Financial and resource implications
16. The priorities as outlined within this assessment form part of the shared responsibilities of the responsible authorities that form the Safer New Forest Strategy and Delivery Group.
17. Where additional resources or finances are required, this is met within the existing staffing profile and budgets of partners. Additional funding where required for targeted interventions is sourced from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) through the communities grants and ASB funds.
Legal implications
18. As a responsible authority, New Forest District Council are required to prepare the annual strategic assessment for the reduction of crime and disorder, including anti-social behaviour affecting the local community within its district.
Risk assessment
19. As the priorities outlined within the assessment form part of a shared approach to addressing crime and disorder within the district, individual activities which form part of the work plan will have an associated risk assessment prior to activities commencing by the lead agency, where required.
Environmental / Climate and nature implications
20. None have been identified arising directly from this report.
Equalities implications
21. Plans and strategies are developed in accordance with New Forest District Council’s corporate equality objectives. This assessment seeks to support the responses to crime, as well as the prevention of crime by seeking to promote a positive impact on the victims and perpetrators of crimes, vulnerable people and vulnerable communities within the district.
Crime and disorder implications
22. The partnership plan is directed at achieving the points set out in paragraph 1 and as such is an important tool in addressing crime & disorder issues in the district.The strategic assessment is an assessment of performance against the Plan and therefore is significant in assessing the value of initiatives undertaken.
Data protection / Information governance / ICT implications
23. The data contained within the strategic assessment and partnership plan are for public dissemination and are to be published on the Safer New Forest website on April 1st 2025.
New Forest National Park / Cranborne Chase National Landscape implications
24. The annual strategic assessment and associated partnership plan set out the priorities of reducing crime and disorder within the New Forest District boundary area, inclusive of the National Park.
25. The National Park Authority are active partners within the Safer New Forest Strategy and Delivery Group and participated in the development of the priorities for 25/26.
Conclusion
26. In its role, HACOSP is asked to consider any matters arising from the 2024 strategic assessment and for their consideration of the Safer New Forest priorities for 2025/26.
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Appendices: |
Background Papers: |
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Appendix 1 – Strategic Assessment 2024
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None |