Agenda item

Consider report by Safer Communities & Community Justice Manager.  (Copy attached).

4.            SAFER COMMUNITIES

5.1       With reference to paragraph 5 of the Minute of 14 May 2021, there had been circulated copies of the Safer Communities Performance report from quarter 1 - 1 April 2021 to 30 June 2021.  The report explained that as COVID-19 restrictions lifted the Unit was re-assessing working practices to match public health and corporate guidance, although some face to face activities remained restricted.  Mediation services had been heavily impacted by COVID-19 lockdown measures as face to face meetings, which were the preferred method of mediation, were currently not possible.  Outside site visits had been undertaken in certain circumstances to better understand the problems being experienced.   The mediation officer had been committed to the Gypsy Traveller liaison role during the pandemic, in particular Victoria Park, Selkirk and a number of unauthorised encampments.  The number of domestic abuse incidents reported to Police Scotland in quarter 1 of 2021/22 was 336, an increase of 6 incidents (1.8%) higher than 2020/21 at the same point.  The number of referrals to the Domestic Abuse Advocacy Support (DAAS) service in quarter 1 of 2021/22 was 129, which was an increase of 28 incidents (27.7%) higher than 2020/21 at the same point. Repeat referrals to the DAAS service in quarter 1 of 2021/22 stands at 30.8%, only slightly above the target of 30% and the number of clients contacted within agreed timescales was significantly higher than the 80% baseline and currently stands at 93.9%.  In terms of successes, it was reported that DAAS, as a telephone based service, had continued to offer an unbroken service to the highest risk clients throughout the COVID-19 restrictions and had been awarded £2500 from the NatWest’s Circle Fund to provide emergency safety measures e.g. phones to high risk victims of domestic abuse, which complimented the existing Victim Support Fund and expanded the level of support that could be offered.  There were 8 requests from partner agencies for domestic abuse/risk assessment training sessions which was a key function of the DAAS service as it directly influenced the number of referrals and “hard to reach” clients could be offered a more accessible service through working with the agency in a way best suited to their needs.  MARAC continued to be held every four weeks via MS Teams and this had significantly improved attendance of agencies.  CEDAR had been able to adapt the groupwork programme for mothers and their children to recover from their experiences of domestic abuse.  A CEDAR early years domestic abuse recovery Borders pilot was being planned to support pregnant women and children under 4 who have experienced domestic abuse. Support for the pilot had been provided by the Children and Young People’s Commissioning group as part of the COVID recovery programme and it was envisaged that two groups would be delivered in 2021-22.    Road safety remained a key focus for the team and for the team’s priority areas of focus, accidents involving motorcyclists showed an increase in  casualties in quarter 1 when compared to the same quarter in 2020/21, 6 additional casualties.  Accidents involving older drivers had resulted in zero killed or seriously injured in quarter 1 of 2021/22, the same as 2020/21 for the same time period. Likewise younger drivers aged 17-25 involved in accidents had resulted in zero killed or seriously injured in quarter 1 of 2021/22, the same as 2020/21 in the same time period.  

            DECISION

            NOTED.