Agenda item
Local Crime Trends and Strategic Priorities 2025-2026
Minutes:
Andrew Palfreyman provided an update on the strategic assessment of crime within Hertfordshire, focusing on various crime categories such as robbery, burglary, theft, violence against women and girls, hate crime and antisocial behaviour. The speaker explained how the risk matrix informs tactical options for crime prevention and community safety initiatives. Key priorities included maintaining community trust, engaging with local communities and implementing technology such as Power BI for data analysis. The speaker emphasised collaborative problem solving and community engagement as vital strategies to reduce crime rates and improve safety in the area, highlighting specific initiatives and ongoing challenges.
Michael Nadasdy confirmed that the full CCSU Strategic Assessment for the county will be sent out tomorrow along with an infographic, and the priorities that Andrew was talking about align with those included in the infographic.
The Community Safety & Safeguarding Manager elaborated on the community safety priorities for 2025-2026, mentioning the Antisocial Behaviour Action Group (ASBAG), and the Community Safety Coordinating Group’s role in creating the annual action plan. The officer also talked about a recent community safety conference, attended by various partners, emphasising the importance of collaboration in shaping the action plan. The officer mentioned that she plans to meet with the Police and Crime Commissioner’s (PCC) office to align the strategy with the broader crime plan, and advised of the upcoming changes in the PREVENT programme; including new referral processes for PREVENT, adjustments to channel panels and exploration of local initiatives for community engagement.
Concerns were raised about unreported statistics related to antisocial behaviour and violence against women. Andrew Palfreyman acknowledged the lack of specific data but mentioned the presence of community engagement officers who may have insights.
The conversation shifted to the issue of fly tipping, and it was suggested that the possibility of installing CCTV cameras could help prevent that and catch offenders. Andrew Palfreyman responded positively, indicating that while camera installation would require assessment due to technical considerations, they are committed to taking action against such offenses in collaboration with the Council.
Karen Watkin highlighted the need for better engagement with volunteers regarding the data collected on families, particularly those affected by domestic abuse. She noted that a significant portion of their families are women who serve as primary caregivers, and many face challenges related to domestic violence and antisocial behaviour. They proposed organising a session to educate volunteers on the data and available support services. Andrew Palfreyman indicated that his team, including a detective inspector and sergeants, is prepared to facilitate such engagement to enhance community support and awareness. Rebecca Young suggested involving the Community Safety Officer, Jemma Duffell, who leads on initiatives related to domestic abuse.
Elizabeth Borg emphasised the importance of integrating PREVENT into adult community learning courses. The speaker highlighted that the demographic of learners typically does not include those at risk of radicalisation but stressed the necessity of making learners aware of potential risks. The speaker enquired about the specific risk levels in the Three Rivers area compared to the rest of Hertfordshire. The Community Safety & Safeguarding Manager advised that the risk in Three Rivers is extremely low, noting the absence of referrals in recent months. The discussion also touched on obtaining information regarding Watford’s risks, however, the officer advised that she is not able to comment on Watford’s statistics at present.
Concerns have been raised regarding the lack of proper data on hate crime incidents and the need for the public to come forward to report such crimes. The importance of understanding the different types of hate crimes being reported was also highlighted. The Partnerships and Inclusion Manager responded by referencing the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) conducted for Hertfordshire that provides detailed data on hate crimes, suggesting that this information could help improve community trust and reporting mechanisms.
Action – Shivani Davé to provide the link to the Hate crime JSNA.
The assessment can be accessed here: