That all items be web-cast.

Apologies were received from Councillors Ash, Councillor D Mortimer and from Martin Adams, Chairman of the Safer Maidstone Partnership.

Councillor Joy substituted for Councillor D Mortimer.

There were no Visiting Members.

Councillor Stockell and Councillor Fitzgerald declared an interest in Item 8 on the Agenda, Update on the New Operational Policing Model and the revised priorities of the Safer Maidstone Partnership, as a Member of the Kent Police Authority and Patron of the Domestic Violence Forum respectively.

Resolved: That all items be taken in public

Resolved:   That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 August 2011 be   agreed as a correct record of the meeting and duly signed by   the Chairman.

Interviews with:

Chief Inspector Steve Griffiths, Borough Commander for Maidstone.

Martin Adams, Chairman of the Safer Maidstone Partnership;

Barry Weeks, Manager Central Kent Youth Offending Team; and

Niki Luscombe, Chief Executive (Interim) Women’s Support Services.

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting Chief Inspector Steve Griffiths, Borough Commander for Maidstone, Barry Weeks, Manager of the Central Kent Youth Offending Team, Charlie Beaumont, Effective Practice & Performance Manager Kent Youth Offending Service and Niki Luscombe, Chief Executive (Interim) Women’s Support Services. The Chairman thanked John Littlemore, Head of Housing and Community Services and Zena Cooke, Director of Regeneration and Communities for attending at short notice in place of Martin Adams, Chairman of the Safer Maidstone Partnership.

Chief Inspector, Steve Griffiths was invited to give a presentation on the new Kent Policing Model. He focused on what this would mean for Maidstone and explained the most recent Crime performance statistics for Maidstone.  The Officer explained that the new policing model would increase the number of neighbourhood policing staff at all levels. There would be an increase in leadership and there would be an increase in Response and Crime Investigation Officers with numbers still to be ratified:

• Inspectors – 2 to 5
• Sergeants – 5 to 14
• Constables – 21 to 80
• PCSO’s – 22.5 to 30 (to be confirmed)

He explained that Maidstone would be split into 3 Districts, Town Centre, West division, and East division.  The Town Centre would have two Inspectors and the other two divisions would have one Inspector each.  Chief Inspector Griffiths informed Members that his role in charge of the Community Safety Unit would grow as they would be taking on Offender Management as a new area of responsibility.

The latest Crime Performance Statistics showed an overall 1.6% reduction in crime which was 65 offences less than the same period the previous year.  Vehicle Crime and Criminal Damage offences were down but Burglary, Theft and Violent Crime was up. The Officer highlighted that overall Maidstone was 1^st in the County for detection rates with a reduction of 1.6% or 65 crimes overall but there were areas that had seen a rise within these figures. Burglary had had a slight increase of 2 offences (1.4%). The Officer explained that in the Town Centre there had been a reduction of 130 crimes compared with the same period last year. The increase in Burglary and Theft was linked to a shift to agricultural and rural areas where lead, copper, oil and abandoned houses were being targeted with the price of lead and scrap metal rising. The North Downs, a large geographical area with country lanes was cited as a problem area but Members were assured that a team had been deployed to deal with the problems in the past week. 

The Committee questioned the tactics employed to deal with these types of crime.  The Officer explained that they were working with neighbouring authorities as there was no scrap metal dealer in Maidstone, the nearest was in Aylesford.  He explained that Aylesford fell within the new West Kent Division which Maidstone formed part of. CCTV was said to be one of the most effective deterrents to criminals and Auto Number Plate Recognition cameras had aided the arrest  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.

6.30 p.m. to 9.02 p.m.

The Committee noted the protocols.