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Community Safety Monthly Update- Issue 22
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Welcome from the team

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.

Serious Organised Crime
 
The team are continuing to scope relevant opportunities to link in with the work being done around Serious Organised Crime (SOC). 
 
The 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 met on the 20th June 2016.

The group discussed key vulnerabilities which make people more susceptible to scams, and discussed how this could be incorporated into data collection to help inform targeted interventions to those who are most vulnerable. 

The group also touched on a new scheme being launched by the National Scams Team ‘Friends Against Scams’ and are hoping to invite someone to the next meeting to see how this initiative can be supported locally.


Sussex Police under ‘Operation Signature' have produced a short film entitled ‘Fraud and Scams, Know the Warning Signs’ and the film can be found by clicking the image.
Domestic, Sexual Violence and Abuse and Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG)

 
East Sussex has been chosen as one of the pilot areas for Women’s Aid and Welsh Women’s Aid ‘Ask Me’ scheme. The scheme aims to provide more opportunities for survivors of domestic violence and abuse to access help from their local community.

Across Brighton & Hove and East Sussex fifty ambassadors from the community will be trained to understand domestic violence and abuse, know how to spot the signs and help people identify where they can go if they need additional help and support.

 
Locally, the pilot is being delivered by RISE and CGL, who provide ‘The Portal’ (http://theportal.org.uk/), which helps people affected by domestic or sexual abuse or violence in Brighton & Hove or East Sussex.
Community Development and Substance Misuse
 
A plan looking at work around offending is being developed.  This work incorporates members of the SEST, Sussex Police, National Probation Service (NPS), Kent Surrey and Sussex Community Rehabilitation Company (KSS CRC) and Brighton Women’s Centre. 

The plan will focus on women offenders, serious organised crime, education, employment and training support for offenders. This will give consideration to how processes affecting offenders can be improved. 

This work aims to reduce the impact of offending on communities, improving the life chances for offenders and will look at reducing re-offending.  The plan will identify services available, needs for this groups and gaps in the services available.  The plan will be drawn up by an operational working group.
Cuckooing and County Lines

Criminal gangs are targeting the homes of vulnerable people to be used for drug dealing – a process known as “cuckooing” (after the bird that invades other bird’s nests) and victims are often left with little choice but to co-operate. 

Dealers often approach the vulnerable person offering free drugs to use their home for dealing or in some instances after providing ‘free’ drugs, will then force the person to deal for them in order to ‘re-pay’ their drug debts.
 
People will be fearful of going to the police for being suspected of involvement in drug dealing or being identified as a member of the group, which could result in being arrested themselves and this could lead to them losing their tenancy. 

There is a real threat of violence/use of force from these criminal gangs in order to ensure the person remains quiet from the drug dealing gang in question.  In some instances, victims caught up with cuckooing can also be linked with sexual exploitation of victims.
 
In order to try and address this, we have drafted an information sharing agreement which will be shared with key partners from support services including housing providers, drug and alcohol treatment services and local day centres which are accessed by vulnerable clients. 

The IOM Manager is currently drafting an operational response from Sussex Police in relation to this which will include looking at the person being cuckooed as a victim and ensuring effective safeguarding processes are in place.
 
We are also developing some literature for professionals which will highlight the signs to look for and how to report it.  Also in development is some information for clients who may be at risk, and this can be distributed at key services.
Preventing Violent Extremism

Think, Protect, Connect Update
 
The pilot  of this programme is well underway and is being delivered by John Khan a lead practitioner for anti-bullying.
 
The overall aim of this project is to provide schools and other youth and community organisations with a range of innovative high quality resources aimed at safeguarding young people from online radicalisation and extremism, by building personal and online digital resilience and critical thinking skills.

 
As part of the project students are having the opportunity to take part in 6 carefully designed lessons/workshops that aim to help young people identify extremist ideas, protect themselves online and tackle prejudice that has arisen from a reaction to prevalent extremist views.

Once evaluated and completed we hope to deliver this programme to year 5/6  Primary Schools in East Sussex.
A word from our analysts

We have been undertaking research to look at the pathways that lead young people to get involved in serious and organised crime.

This includes creating a victim profile around the vulnerability factors that could make a young person more susceptible.

We are then looking at how these vulnerability factors are captured within East Sussex, in order to identify those most at risk and to ensure that they are receiving the support that they need.

Update from the District and Borough Community Safety Partnerships
 
Last month the Safer Hastings Partnership reported that there was an increase in the street community population in Hastings. 
 
On-going cross-partnership work has resulted in a number of key actions which have begun to address the issues associated with the street community.
 
The occupants of ‘tents on the beach’ are being asked to move on and engage with the wide range of support agencies available in Hastings. Some well-wishers are still offering food, blankets and tents to needy individuals, without engaging properly with the support services available in the Borough.
 
The relatively new anti-social behaviour tools, including Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO) and Community Protection Notices (CPN), are likely to be used in forthcoming months to tackle nuisance and persistent anti-social behaviour. This will be publicised locally when used.

On-going liaison with the Safer Rother Partnership during the trial merger, mentioned  in previous newsletters has begun,  there are some indications of  joint working beginning to pay off.

If you wish to raise any local community safety issues please do not hesitate to contact the SHP on communitysafety@hastings.gov.uk or visit its website www.saferhastings.co.uk


Update from the Office of the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner 


 

National approval for restorative services in Sussex

It’s a fact: restorative justice services for victims of crime in Sussex are one of the best in the country.

After 12 months of submitting evidence and being continually evaluated and scrutinised by the Restorative Justice Council (RJC) the Sussex Restorative Justice Partnership (SRJP) has been awarded the Restorative Services Quality Mark (RSQM).

This means that victims of crime in Sussex who are considering the voluntary process of restorative justice can be reassured that they are receiving a nationally approved service delivered by highly qualified practitioners.

 
The PCC’s weekly email newsletter contains a snapshot of her forthcoming meetings and events as well as a round up of news and views from the week. Subscribe here.

Other Useful Resources
 
Update by the City of London Police with regards to changes to Action Fraud which can be accessed through the link.
And in other news...

Welcome to the team

 
Josi Enright has joined the Safer East Sussex Team as the new Domestic Abuse and Sexual Abuse Partnership Officer.

Josi will work across both East Sussex and Brighton & Hove, supporting the Joint Domestic, Sexual Violence and Abuse and Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) unit for East Sussex and Brighton and Hove.

The aim of the unit is to enable the two authorities to more effectively coordinate activity, therefore maximising impact and achieving the best use of resources.

Josi’s role will involve building on partnerships, and supporting new projects and initiatives, across both areas.

You can contact Josi at josi.enright@eastsussex.gov.uk
Our current priorities for 2016-17

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)

 Hammonds Drive Police Station, Hammonds Drive, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN23 6PW

 
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