Agenda item - Update on the Violence Vulnerability and Exploitation Strategy and Action Plan

Report of the Executive Director, Neighbourhoods, Communities and Housing (copy attached)

RESOLVED – (1) That the Committee notes the reported progress in relation to the VVE Strategy and Action Plan; and

(2) That the Committee agree that a further progress report be submitted to NICE Committee in Autumn 2019.

62.1    The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Neighbourhoods, Communities and Housing the purpose of which was to provide an update on the city’s Violence, Vulnerabilty and Exploitation (VVE) Strategy and the associated VVE Action Plan. The report gave a detailed update on the work undertaken since March 2018 and a briefing on the work planned for 2019-20.

62.2    It was noted that the Committee had last received a report on this subject in March 2018 when Members had been briefed in relation to the current threat in relation to Child Criminal Exploitation, Child Sexual Exploitation and gang activity relating to the emerging County Lines phenomenon. It had also outlined the strategy being adopted by the Community Safety Partnership to disrupt that activity and to support people in exiting their involvement in such activity.

62.3    The Chair, Councillor Daniel, welcomed the report stating that it was important for this problem to be addressed head-on and to have robust strategies in place to address it, particularly in order to support those who were vulnerable and who were trying to break from cycles of involvement in these activities. It was important for those coming forward to be treated as victims rather than as perpetrators of crime.

62.4    Councillor Cattell, welcomed the report which showed that a pro-active approach was being taken to this issue which had spread out from London. It was good to note that dealing with issue was very much on the Police’ agenda and that partners were adopting a collaborative approach in information sharing and to tackling this problem.

62.5    Councillors, A Norman and West also welcomed the report. Councillor Peltzer Dunn also considered that it was a positive report but considered that it would be helpful if the Action Plan could be set out in a slightly different format in future which would make the information set out more clearly.

62.6    RESOLVED – (1) That the Committee notes the reported progress in relation to the VVE Strategy and Action Plan; and

(2) That the Committee agree that a further progress report be submitted to NICE Committee in Autumn 2019.