Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 11 March 2014.

It was AGREED that the minutes of the meeting of the Public Protection Policy Development and Review Panel held on 11 March 2014 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

To receive any declarations of interest from members in accordance with Standing Orders and the Council’s Code of Conduct and disclosures of advice or directions received from Group Leaders or Political Groups, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

There were no declarations of interest or disclosures of advice or directions made at this meeting.

To receive any deputations of which notice has been lodged.

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

To receive a presentation from Hampshire Constabulary on the reorganisation of the police locally.

The Panel received a presentation from Inspector Kevin Cuffe of Hampshire Constabulary on the reorganisation of the Police, with particular reference to the Fareham area.

It was noted that Hampshire Constabulary had been required to make £55 million savings between 2010 and 2014 and, additionally, a further £25 million. The force’s focus was to ring-fence front line services and support for them. To date, a total of 456 police officer and 520 support services posts had been lost. A further 535 posts (officers and support service) would be lost by April 2016.

Hampshire’s focus was on neighbourhood policing, although this was not necessarily the case with other police forces in the country. There had been reductions in the number of neighbourhood officers. This was being offset by a reduction in the number of abstractions to other forces and a reduction in staff turnover by increasing the time officers spent in post.

Policing boundaries had been changed again and there would be a single officer in charge of each district. The Fareham district would coincide with the Borough boundaries and the district commander would be a Chief Inspector.

The Constabulary’s estates section had been reviewing all the force’s properties and Fareham and Gosport police stations would be closed in due course; Park Gate would, however remain.

The use of technology, in particular mobile data technology such as laptops and body worn video cameras was reducing the amount of time officers had to spend in an office.

Southampton police had addressed an increase in drug-related violence with Operation Fortress, which was now being rolled out across the County. This would involve restricting supply, reducing demand and rebuilding communities. It was fortunate that the Anti-Social Behaviour Panel was in existence, as this was made up of many of the partner agencies that could contribute to the operation, particularly to focusing on people that might be targeted.

The current commitment to Fareham neighbourhood policing was 3 sergeants, 17 constables and 16 PCSOs (Police Community Support Officers). This would be changing to 2 sergeants, 10 constables and 12 PCSOs. The district would be divided into two areas, with one team based at Fareham Police Station (until it closed) dealing with Fareham East (the Portchester and Fareham town areas) and the other, based at Park Gate, dealing with Fareham West (the area west of the Titchfield gyratory system). The estates team was currently looking into an alternative location for the Fareham East Team for when Fareham Police Station closed.

A new custody facility to cover the whole of South-East Hampshire would be built by April 2016. There would be a transitional phase where the use of the custody facilities at Fareham Police Station would be reduced, with prisoners only being accepted at weekends.

The new Chief Inspector for the Fareham district would be appointed by October 2014 and was likely to be a newly-promoted officer. All current officers would go through a posting preference exercise and would find out the results of this in September. It was anticipated that some redeployments would be needed.

It had been decided that the role of officers at Henry Cort, Cams Hill and Portchester schools was not sustainable and the officers concerned would return to their neighbourhood teams at the end of the current term. It was felt that the presentation packages they had been carrying out in schools would be better carried out by school teachers

Inspector Cuffe then answered members’ questions on his presentation. It was further noted that: the preferred location for the Fareham East Neighbourhood Team following the closure of Fareham Police Station would be the Civic Offices at Fareham and that this option was currently being investigated; the response teams currently based in Gosport and Park Gate stations would move by March 2015 to one base, probably at Fareham Reach; the new custody facility due to be constructed by April 2016 would be located in the Northarbour area of Portsmouth; other police stations in the area would also be closing, including Fratton in Portsmouth; there would be further reductions in police station front office functions, with greater emphasis on communication vie telephone; Park Gate and Waterlooville police stations were the only current district police stations that would be retained.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor Cartwright addressed the Panel during the consideration of this item.

It was AGREED that Inspector Cuffe be thanked for his presentation.

To receive a presentation from the Director of Community and the Director of Environmental Services on the services falling within the Public Protection Remit.

The Panel received a presentation from the Director of Community, the Community Safety Manager and the Head of Parking and Enforcement on the services falling within the Public Protection remit.

The presentation made reference to the Role of the Panel and the areas of work undertaken within the Public Protection Portfolio, including: Environmental Health and the Fareham and Gosport Environmental Health Partnership, incorporating Food Safety, Air Quality, Contaminated Land, Pollution, Out of Hours Service, Dog Control and Pest Control;  Community Safety, incorporating Fareham's Community Safety Partnership, Anti-Social Behaviour, Initiatives & Projects, Diversionary Activities and Fareham Supporting Families; and Emergency Planning, Enforcement Team, Parking and Traffic Management, Litter/Dog Fouling Complaints, Fly-Tipping, Abandoned Vehicles and CCTV, including the BRT route.

It was AGREED that:-

(a)       members be supplied with copies of the presentation slides;

(b)       it be noted that details of Access All Areas 2014 activities were on the Safer Fareham website and that details of dates and venues would be distributed to members;

(c)       it be noted that a presentation would be submitted to a future meeting on the Emergency Planning Exercise carried out in December 2013; and

(d)       that members wishing to visit the CCTV Control Room give their names to the Democratic Services Officer.

To consider a report by the Director of Community on the Panel’s Work Programme for 2014/15.

The Panel considered a report by the Director of Community on the Panel’s work programme for 2014/15.

It was AGREED that:-

(a)       the emergency planning item on the work programme for 22 July 2014 be changed from an annual report to a presentation on the Emergency Planning Exercise that took place in December 2013 (minute 7(c) above refers);

(b)       the programme items as set out in Appendix A to the report be confirmed; and

(c)       the progress on actions since the last meeting, as set out in Appendix B to the report, be noted.