Agenda item

To consider and review the Safer New Forest Strategic Assessment for 2024.

The Service Manager, Community Safety & Support presented the Safer New Forest Partnership crime and disorder figures for 2023/24 and the priorities identified though the Strategic Assessment 2024.  This was a piece of work carried out on an annual basis and the data contained within the assessment had been used to shape and inform the partnership plan priorities for 2025/26.

There were 28 key crime types recorded in the assessment and out of these, there had been a reduction in 20 of the crime types with 1 remaining static which was positive news.  The recorded crime over the period showed an overall reduction in crime by 12% from the previous year, as well as, for example a 10% reduction in violence without injury.

It was highlighted that 32% of all violence without injury incidents and 35% of recorded violence with injury incidents related to domestic abuse.  It was recognised that the harm of domestic abuse was extended wider than that of the victim.  In the New Forest, it was estimated that between 7,085 and 7,418 individuals were subjected to domestic abuse in 2023-24.

Possession of weapons incidents, whilst relatively low, had shown an increase of 32 incidents from the previous year.  The highest areas being in Totton and New Milton.  However, data from November 2024 to January 2025, compared to the same period last year, showed a 24% reduction in weapons possession.

There had been an increase in reported occurrences of shoplifting by 172 incidents overall.  The highest occurring incidents being in New Milton and Totton, and there had been a reduction in recorded incidents in Lymington.  It was explained that an increase in incidents had been expected, due to all reports now being followed up with a visit from the police, whereas previously this had not occurred.

A Panel Member recognised that weapons and knife crime was widely reported on the national news and it was questioned what interventions were taking place in the District, particularly for young people to make them aware of the dangers of carrying a weapon.  In response the Service Manager, Community, Safety and Support clarified that the crime data in relation to weapons offences clearly showed that adults were responsible for two thirds of offences, rather than juveniles.  It was noted that young people in possession of knives and catapults was found to be a localised issue.  Work was taking place to address this with ‘Train the Trainer’ partner education sessions on the possession of weapons planned for April and May across the forest.  The success of this would be measured looking at the crime data in the local area and those taken through the Criminal Justice route.  This was just one strand of work being carried out to reduce weapons crime.  Members requested that feedback on the key findings of this intervention and preventative work be reported back to the Panel at a future meeting.

In response to a question about the support provided to local retailers in relation to shoplifting, it was noted that all shoplifting offences had an impact.  A pilot project had been launched in Lymington and Pennington and 60 retailers had registered to attend an event with the aim to prevent shoplifting.  The project proposed an information sharing platform, similar to the Pubwatch scheme, where retailers would be able to share active information.  It was anticipated that lessons would be learnt from the pilot and it could then be launched District wide.

A Panel member questioned the response times in relation to domestic abuse.  It was noted that there was a zero tolerance approach and that the police acted proactively to remove the responsibility from the victims to ensure they were safe.  Legislative changes had enabled the police to act in this way.  It was possible for the perpetrator of domestic abuse to be removed from the home for 28 days without going to court.  The victim could then be supported and work would be carried out to help them recognise that what they had been subjected to was wrong.

It was recognised that within the Strategic Assessment there had been an increase in rape incidents.  It was explained that a number of these reported offences were historical, and it was positive that these were being reported and responded to by the police.

A Panel member asked whether there had been any increase in reporting of incidents and response times with the reopening of the police station in Totton.  It was noted that this information was not available at the meeting, but it was being reviewed and it would be fed back at a future meeting.

It was noted that drug and alcohol harm was not recognised to be a key priority within the Strategic Assessment, yet the numbers were increasing.  It was confirmed that this had not been identified as a top priority, as these were driven by the data which pointed to higher priorities.  However, the Panel noted that work was ongoing with the police and key partners to target offenders and to work with young people at risk of exploitation.

RESOLVED:

1.     That the priorities, as set by the strategic partners of the Safer New Forest Strategy and Delivery Group be noted.