Issue - meetings

To receive updates from any of the following partners:

·       Wiltshire Police

·       Police and Crime Commissioner

·       Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       Community First

·       BSW Together (Integrated Care System)

·       Wiltshire AGE UK

·       Town and Parish Councils

The Chairman noted the written updates from Healthwatch Wiltshire, Community First, BSW Together (Integrated Care System) and Wiltshire AGE UK included in the agenda pack. The Area Board received verbal updates from the following partners:

·       Wiltshire Police

Neighbourhood Sergeant Chris Wickham guided those in attendance through the contents of Wiltshire Police’s latest Area Board update, highlighting progress on 101 triaging, crime statistics and trends (including a rise in burglary) and the work of the community speed enforcement team. Sergeant Wickham also promoted the use of Wiltshire Police’s Community Messaging Service to better engage with the work the police were doing.

The Chairman asked whether anti-social behaviour, which was considered a local priority in Devizes but not a force-wide operational priority, had reduced in volume or been overshadowed by more serious issues. Sergeant Wickham noted that it remained on the police’s radar but that it had indeed seen a reduction across the county. Steve Dewar asked if there could be a concerted effort to ensure that the messaging around knife crime made it clearer that while knife crime was a tragic reality even in rural communities, it was still a very rare occurrence and not something of which young people should be anxious.

·       Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson spoke to the recent improvements being undertaken by Wiltshire Police as a result of his office’s work. These improvements included shortening wait times for 999 and 101 calls, enhanced IT systems and higher success rates resolving sexual harassment and assault. He noted the work being conducted to disrupt county lines drug trafficking across the South-West of England, and the measures being taken to address rural crime. He described Operation Ragwort, a plan to build a robust rural crime intelligence network across the South-West. 192 speed enforcement sanctions in 2021, over 12,000 so far in 2023. The PCC noted that anti-social behaviour was indeed dropping but was still subject to scrutiny and needed a collaborative and comprehensive response working alongside Wiltshire Police. He also noted the work being done to improve victim support in the county. He also praised the work of Chief Constable Catherine Roper and endorsed her new Community Engagement Strategy that was being finalised.

Councillor Simon Jacobs asked whether there was a link between a reduction in 999 calls was due to improvements in 101 responses. The PCC responded that it was possibly part of the reason but added that a more pressing issue that emerged from a recent rural crime survey was people not reporting crimes due to a lack of confidence. Councillor Kelvin Nash lauded the work being done to tackle speeding in Devizes but noted the sluggishness of Speed Watch and the difficulties in getting it set up. He added that he would be happy to liaise with future Speed Watch groups to ensure a similar experience was not endured by others.

Councillor Tamara Reay asked what more could be done to address rural crime. The PCC replied that he was keen  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53

To receive updates from any of the following partners:

·       Wiltshire Police

·       Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       Community First

·       Update from BSW Together (Integrated Care System)

·       Schools updates

·       Town and Parish Council

·       Sustainable Devizes

·       Opendoors

·       Devizes and District Foodbank

Updates were received from the following partners:

·       Wiltshire Police

The Area Board noted a written updates attached to the agenda. In addition, Inspector Ben Huggins provided a verbal update which covered the following points:

·       An outline of the current Neighbourhood Policing Team was provided.

·       An overview of performance was provided, including Hate Crime and call statistics for Devizes.

·       There had recently been a slight rise in burglary levels, with a good proportion of these taking place in businesses and hospitals, with work being done with these organisations to provide support and prevention advice.

·       Community Speed Enforcement information was provided.

·       As per the report within the agenda supplement, an update was provided regarding the following local priorities:

o   Youth Intervention

o   Safer Public Spaces and town centre PSPO application

o   Increase in police visibility

o   Drug use/supply

After the verbal update, there was time for the following questions and points to be made:

·       Inspector Huggins and his team were thanked for their work during Devizes Carnival. Additionally, thanks were placed for the policing team having a more noticeable presence as well as gratitude towards speed watch.

·       A plea was made to speed up the process of establishing a new speed watch.

·       Reference was made to multi-occupancy spaces and the responsibility of licencing such premises, with it suggested that a management meeting take place to discuss a particular multi-occupancy space within Devizes.

·       Clarity was provided as to how many police officers cover the Devizes area and the wider make up of the units available.

·       Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

The Area Board noted a written updates attached to the agenda.

·       Community First

The Area Board noted a written update attached to the agenda.

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

The Area Board noted a written update attached to the agenda.

·       BSW Together (Integrated Care System)

The Area Board noted a written update attached to the agenda.