AT A MEETING of the CRIME PREVENTION PANEL of HAMPSHIRE POLICE AUTHORITY held in the Former Grand Jury Room, Castle Avenue, The Castle, Winchester on Thursday 29 May, 2003

PRESENT:

Mrs. J. Griffin JP (Chairman); Councillor D. Gillett; Councillor P. Mason; Mr. R. Palmer, Councillor Mrs. J. Rayment.

Also present: Chief Inspector M. Dulson (Hampshire Constabulary); Mr. B. Saunders (Crime Prevention Consultant); Ms. C. Vagg and Mrs. M. Boyes (Clerk's Office).

115 DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting they should normally at the time of the debate, declare their interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the Police Authority's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed.

116 APOLOGIES

No apologies were received.

117 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 13 February, 2003 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Matters arising

Minute No. 113

Brunswick Road Playground Project

The Consultant provided the Panel on an update on the project and confirmed that the area was being used by a mix of age groups which did not appear to be causing any problems. The "red bus" is also sited at present next to this area. The Chairman of the Panel had also visited the site and thought it looked a very good project.

Knights Enham Infant School

The Consultant to the Panel had written to the applicant advising that the application had been turned down. Subsequently another similar project had requested funding. The Consultant advised the Panel that funding would not be possible.

Pavilion Improvement Project

The Consultant to the Panel had written to the Head of Paid Services of the Isle of Wight Council who had written back and confirmed that the accounts for the project would be audited by the Cowes Town Council and subsequently overseen by District Audit. The Charities Commission were looking into the wind down of the recycle a cycle initiative and he would write back to the Authority when the information was available from the Charities Commission. The equipment purchased for the recycle a cycle initiative was going back into the new Pavilion project which was proceeding well.

118 CRIME PREVENTION PANEL - ANNUAL REVIEW 2002/03

The Panel considered a report of the Clerk (Item 4 in the Minute Book) on the crime prevention panel annual review 2002/03 which was currently in final draft format.

The Panel discussed the content of the annual review and found it a very pleasing document and were content that the circulation was sufficient however should demands exceed those in stock then further copies could be printed.

The Clerk's office to provide exact costings when these became available from the printing department.

RESOLVED:

That the Panel's annual review be agreed.

119 THE REVIEW OF ANNUAL GRANTS MADE TO VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS

The Panel considered a report of the Consultant (Item 5 in the Minute Book) on the grants currently allocated by the Authority to 9 organisations. Within the two counties of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight since January, 2001 it had been the responsibility of the Panel to monitor and evaluate the work of these organisations and where appropriate make recommendations to the full authority for an increase in grant.

The Consultant to the Panel introduced the report and advised the Panel that the Hampshire Federation of Victim Support schemes was seeking an increase in their grant. The organisation is going to operate under national guidelines and their role will become more strategic with potential legislation on the levels of service. The grant from Central Government provides 50% of their core costs with the remainders of the monies being raised elsewhere.

The Members of the Panel discussed the increase in grant and considered that the work undertaken by the organisation was very valuable as it aids the criminal justice system. It was considered however important that the Government should consider more appropriate funding in recognition of the service that the organisation provides.

Chief Inspector Dulson advised the Panel of the work that is undertaken by the Bobby Trust which now included fitting low energy bulbs and smoke alarms.

RESOLVED:

(a) That in 2003/04 financial assistance be awarded to the following organisations in the sums indicated:

The Hampshire Bobby Trust £7,500.
The Rock Challenge (Be Your Best Foundation) £25,000
Victim Support, Isle of Wight - £3,000
Southampton Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Counselling Service £2,000
The Winchester Community Action Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Service £2,500
The Basingstoke Rape and Sexual Abuse Service £2,000
The Portsmouth Area Rape Crisis Service £6,000
The Hampton Trust £25,000


(b) That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the full authority that, for the reasons specified in Paragraph 4 of the report, the grant to the following organisation be increased in 2003/04:

Victim Support Hampshire from £22,000 to £25,000

120 APPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

The Panel considered a report of the Clerk (Item 6 in the Minute Book) on the budget for allocation to ad hoc crime prevention initiatives for 2003/04 which is £180,000.

The Panel further considered the sealing of grants which currently stood at £4,000 after some discussion the Panel agreed that the amount remain at £4,000 however the Panel using its discretion could raise the amount of grant to £5,000 should they see fit and each application would be considered on its own merits.

In respect of the funding application for the African Caribbean Association Boundary Security Project the (Item 6(i)) the Panel wished to support the project with a grant of £3,000 subject to the remainder of the funding being raised elsewhere.

The Panel discussed the Fleet Motorway Services crime project (Item 6(iv)) and were concerned that a commercial organisation appeared to not be funding this crime prevention initiative. Whilst the Panel were happy to support the project with funding of £560 they did feel that the service area operators should be more proactive in trying to address the issue at their service station.

The Panel considered the Freedom Youth Initiative and were very impressed with the application which would be addressing very considerable problems in the Basingstoke area and were pleased to grant £4,000.

The Chairman of the Panel advised the Members of her recent attendance at the playing for time theatre production with the Consultant to the Panel which had taken place recently at Winchester Prison. It was a very well organised and well acted event very professionally written and performed. The Panel sought clarification on the monitoring and evaluation of the students that would be attending the productions. The Panel sought to use their discretion and increased the Consultant's recommendations to £5,000 but would be seeking evaluation back from the students who attended the performances.

The Panel discussed the shriek initiative and considered it disappointing that information was not available on the Isle of Wight to those people who would specifically be tapping into the information that this project aimed to address. The Panel however were happy to fund the project with a grant of £1,000.

In respect of the application for the Southsea Beat Truancy Initiative the Panel were happy to grant funding of £2,000 however wished to stress that it would only be for the first year only.

In relation to the Tadley Skate Park Improvement Programme the Panel would grant funding of £1,571 subject to funding being received from the Turbary Council.

The Panel considered the Westbutt Play Area and Sports Court Initiative and agreed to increase the recommendation by the Consultant to £2,000. The organisation would be contacted and asked to contact the Police Authority when they were ready to receive the funding.

[Note: Councillor J Rayment declared a personal interest in relation to Item 6(vii). Mrs J Griffin, JP declared a personal interest in relation to Item 6 (x)].

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted and that the Panel remain to grant funding in the region of £4,000 however should an individual application require additional funding this would be considered on its own merits by the Panel.

121 PROGRESS REPORTS

The Panel considered a report of the Consultant (Item 7 in the Minute Book) which summarised the monitoring and evaluation reports which had been received from organisations since the last meeting.

122 BEST VALUE REVIEW OF HAMPSHIRE POLICE AUTHORITY

The Panel considered the report of the Clerk (Item 8 in the Minute Book) on the recommendations arising from the recently completed best value review of Hampshire Police Authority. The report referred to the recommendations contained in the report to the activities of the Crime Prevention Panel. The report made reference to those recommendations and set out the actions taken to date.

Chief Inspector Dulson advised the Panel that the Hampton Trust were not an organisation but would direct people to funding organisations. They were an organisation that applied for commercial projects.

The Consultant to the Panel advised Members that information in relation to the funding that was available through the Crime Prevention Panel was available on website for charitable and voluntary run crime prevention initiatives.

RESOLVED:

That the actions being taken in response to the recommendations contained in the Best Value Review Report on the Hampshire Police Authority of relevance to the Crime Prevention Panel be noted.

Appendix 1

POLICE AUTHORITY CRIME PREVENTION PANEL

29 May 2003

£

1 African/Caribbean Association Boundary Security

Project (Southampton)

(Replacement fencing) 3,000

2 Connect Project/Outreach Project (Gosport)

(Outreach Project) 4,000

3 Fareham and Gosport Challenge and Adventure

(Challenge and Adventure Project) 4,000

4 Fleet Motorway Services Crime Project

(Publicity campaign to reduce vehicle crime) 560

5 Freedom Youth Initiative (Basingstoke)

(Youth Initiative) 4,000

6 Havant Stop Lock Vehicle Crime Initiative

(Vehicle crime reduction initiative) 4,000

7 Newtown Happy Summer Activity Project (Southampton)

(Summer Activity Project) 4,000

8 Peer Sports Project (Winchester)

(Peer Sports Group Project) 4,000

9 Playing for Time Theatre Production Initiative (Winchester)

(Theatre based crime prevention project) 5,000

10 Shriek Initiative (Isle of Wight)

(Homelessness leaflet for women) 1,000

11 Siward House CCTV Project (Petersfield)

(Small scale CCTV System) 1,720

12 Southsea Beats Truancy Initiative (Portsmouth)

(Acceptable behaviour programme) 2,000

13 Tadley Skate Park Improvement Programme

(Improvements to an existing skate park) 1,571

14 Westbrook Play Area and Sports Court Initiative

(Cowplain, Waterlooville)

(Play area and sports court facilities) 2,000

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