We want to keep you informed in relation to some of the partnership's work and hope you find this both informative and useful. This complements our bi-monthly newsletter which will continue to provide a more in depth look at our priority areas.
Following a review of the team's communication methods, this e-bulletin will now be sent on a monthly basis rather than fortnightly.
Serious Organised Crime
The team are continuing to scope relevant opportunities to link in with the work being done around Serious Organised Crime (SOC).
We have met with partners and have formed a 'Scams Working Group' which includes representation from Sussex Police, Adult Social Care, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, Public Health, Trading Standards and The Office of The Police and Crime Commissioner. During the initial meeting the action plan was signed off and we focussed on the possibility of collating the different data held by individual organisations to provide a detailed picture of those deemed to be 'vulnerable adults' and to help inform targeted interventions. We are currently drafting an Information Sharing Agreement for the group as well as some Terms Of Reference which will be agreed at the next meeting.
Cuckooing and County Lines
'Cuckooing' is the name given to drug dealers taking over the properties of local vulnerable drug users to either use to deal class A drugs from or using the tenants to deal for them. We held a professionals meeting with representation from STAR, Sussex Police, Brighton Housing Trust, Eastbourne Borough Council, Homeworks, Salvation Army and Matthew 25 to discuss how to facilitate effective information sharing, and to look at what practical steps could be taken to help disrupt this activity from taking place. Another meeting will be planned for June to progress things further.
Useful Resources in relation to serious organised crime
Regularly update their website with news of the latest scams and frauds that come to light across the country. For the latest on frauds and scams please click here
Click on the image to the left to read the third edition of the SOC Local Partnerships Bulletin, developed to share good practice from across law enforcement and the public, private and voluntary sectors to work together to tackle serious and organised crime.
The Little Book of Big Scams, Business Edition offers fraud prevention advice to safeguard businesses and is for small and medium sized businesses as well as being relevant to larger organisations and individuals.
Modern Crime Prevention Strategy
The modern crime prevention strategy builds on new research, techniques and technology to update the way we think about crime prevention. This national policy document will help to form the basis of community safety work in the future.
Sussex Police providing support to vulnerable victims of telephone scams
Police in East Sussex are helping protect those most vulnerable to telephone scams by issuing a number of call blockers free of charge.
The True Call devices work by automatically ensuring that only trusted callers already known to the user can get through. Unrecognised callers are asked for their identity before they are put through to the recipient, meaning that unknown or 'cold' callers can be refused. With the owner's permission, data from the devices can also be used to assist with investigations of fraud.
Recipients of the devices will be selected based on their level of vulnerability as part of the Force's Operation Signature initiative, aimed at preventing scams and fraud and supporting vulnerable victims. Devices are also available to purchase for residents wishing to block unwanted callers.
Since Operation Signature was launched in 2014, it has been found that scam fraudsters persistently target victims identified as vulnerable. Telephone fraud is the most prolific method and across Sussex, between August and October 2015, telephone scam fraud represented 56.7% of all reports under Operation Signature.
For more information about call blockers, which are also available to purchase, visit www.truecall.co.uk or call 0800 0336 339.
Further information about Operation Signature can be found here.
If you or someone you know is vulnerable and has been a victim of fraud or scams call Sussex Police on 101 or visit www.sussex.police.uk.
Street Communities
There have been two further client drop in's at the Salvation Army Citadel, the first saw 9 people attend and access the services and the more recent one was accessed by 6 clients. In recognition of the pressure on agencies, we are trialling a new approach-rather than fortnightly meetings they will now be held monthly, with the professionals group meeting directly after the client drop-in. This will help facilitate real time case management and tasking.
The Health Needs Audit draft report is nearing completion, and this will be circulated to partners once finalised. Partners from Public Health, Homeless Link, Homeworks, Fulfilling Lives and St. Johns Ambulance Homeless Service are currently looking at the final recommendations of the report.
Offending
Transforming Rehabilitation
The report below from the National Audit Office outlines the progress made to date in relation to the reforms introduced by the Ministry of Justice. It identifies that probation services have been restructured on time and within cost targets during a period of major change but operational problems and risks to further service transformation need to be resolved if re-offending levels are to reduce. Please click on the image to view the full report.
A word from our analysts
Analysis is being carried out on Police and partner agency referrals to the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference) MARAC in East Sussex. We will be looking at which agencies are referring and how these numbers/ percentages compare with Safe Lives recommended levels, national figures, most similar force groups and the other MARACs in Sussex.
Update from the District and Borough Community Safety Partnerships
At the end of May the Safer Hastings Partnership will trial its first ‘joint’ strategic board meeting with the Safer Rother Partnership. The results of this trial will be evaluated in October 2016 and a decision then made regarding the future of this arrangement. The trial merger will impact on the functionality of the Joint Action Groups (JAGs) that deliver a range of interventions to address local community safety concerns.
By far the largest area of resident’s concern in Hastings, at the moment, is the increase seen in the numbers of rough sleepers and associated street drinkers. This is a complex and sensitive issue and requires both enforcement action and support, as many of these individuals have complex health conditions, including their alcohol addiction. Discussions are well advanced in the use of a Pubic Space Protection Order, although final arrangements have still to be finalised before wider consultation begins.
The Safer Hasting Partnership and Hastings BC websites are currently undergoing a major overhaul so the information will be a great deal more useful to residents in future months. In addition to this the new police NeighbourHood Watch (NHW) alert system is changing the way information is provided to members.
Advice is always available on precautions to take as the weather is set to improve now from police and the Safer Hastings Partnership
Update from the Office of the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner
Whilst there is no update this month given the fact that elections have been taking place and we are currently in purdah, we would like to bring to your attention to the PCCs discretionary fund that is held by the Resources and Performance group and totals £52 thousand. More information can be found here
Other Useful Resources
Research and analysis: Road injury prevention: resources to support schools
Useful information from the Government in relation to trying to address those who are killed or seriously injured and some useful resources for schools to promote safe active travel.
Sexual and domestic violence prevention in universities: evidence review
This literature review, from Public Health England, is intended to be useful to a range of audiences. The aims of the review include setting out the rationale for using a bystander approach in sexual and domestic violence prevention work at English universities
as well as verifying that all current evidence for best practice has been assimilated in the preparation of an ‘intervention initiative’ toolkit for English universities, commissioned by PHE and being developed by the research team undertaking the review.
Alcohol use and the over 50's in the UK
This report presents research from a survey of more than 16,700 people exploring alcohol use and behaviours in the over 50s population. The report explores a number of themes including an analysis of why older adults may engage in drinking that puts them at risk from alcohol-related harm and an analysis of the population groups that require particular attention.
And in other news...
Research Project: Women's reaction to online sexism
The School of Psychology at Sussex University is running a research project on Women's Reactions to Online Sexism.
They are looking for women to take part in an online activity that involves reading facebook posts, writing a bit about them and answering some questions.
Key information:
Should take no more than 15-20 minutes
Engaging online activities
Opportunity to provide your opinions on sexism on social media
You will be entered into a £20 Prize draw at the end
If you would like to participate and support this then please follow the link below:
Domestic Violence & Abuse, and Stalking Prevent and Hate Crime Road Safety Rape & Sexual violence, and abuse Street Communities Serious Organised Crime
Contact Us:
01323 466549 (Contact us by telephone for secure encrypted email details)
Regularly update their website with news of the latest scams and frauds that come to light across the country. For the latest on frauds and scams please click 
At the end of May the Safer Hastings Partnership will trial its first ‘joint’ strategic board meeting with the Safer Rother Partnership. The results of this trial will be evaluated in October 2016 and a decision then made regarding the future of this arrangement. The trial merger will impact on the functionality of the Joint Action Groups (JAGs) that deliver a range of interventions to address local community safety concerns. 
