Agenda item

The report updates the Panel on the ‘Safe Places Scheme’ – formerly known as ‘Community Safety Zones’ for adults with learning disabilities.  The report has been prepared by Yoursay Advocacy.

The Panel are asked to receive the report and to identify any questions arising from the report,

The Chairman invited Nigel Young, Paul Rogerson and Kirstie Mann (from Your Say Advocacy) to give a presentation.

The following points were highlighted in the presentation:

·  B&NES Networks

·  ‘Safe Places Scheme’ formally ‘Community Safety Zones’

·  Community Safety Zones’

·  ‘Community Safety Zones’….our Journey

·  ‘Safe Places’….. So what happened next?

A full copy of the presentation is available on the Minute Book in Democratic Services.

The Panel welcomed the presentation.

Councillor Furse asked what would be typical safe places and what would be seen as typical hate crime.

Nigel, Paul and Kirstie replied that there were no typical safe places, as per definition, though there were 61 safe places across B&NES.  All of these 61 safe places had signed up to work with the Police.  A reporting form for people with learning disabilities had been designed and accepted by the Police. 

Nigel, Paul and Kirstie highlighted great work by Sergeant Geoff Cannon who had helped a lot with the Safe Places Scheme.

Nigel, Paul and Kirstie also said that there were different instances of hate crime.  People with learning disabilities had been called names, had been victims of befriending (which became massive problem in some areas of B&NES) and had been victims of physical assaults and other violent abuse.  Unfortunately, many of these incidents had not been reported.

Councillor Ward welcomed the idea of safe places and asked what criteria had been used to identify a place that could be seen as safe place.

Nigel, Paul and Kirstie responded that members of the BANES Networks Community Interest Company (an organisation owned and run by people with learning disabilities across B&NES), together with Your Say Advocacy, had been visiting different places in ‘mystery shopper’ style and then decide if the place could be identified as safe place.  Very few places that were identified as safe places said no to the scheme. 

Councillor Beath asked what would have to be done in order to raise awareness on this issue.

Nigel, Paul and Kirstie responded that process of reporting was not simple.  The biggest task was to get through providers and commissioners of services for people with learning disabilities. 

The Panel supported work done by the BANES Networks Community Interest Company and Your Say Advocacy in terms of the Safe Places Scheme.  The Panel also recognised contribution and commitment from Sergeant Geoff Cannon on this matter.

Councillor Martin asked which pockets of the area had not been coverage and how people with learning disabilities were treated on public transport, in particular in buses.

Nigel, Paul and Kirstie commented that a list of places and venues had been monitored by the BANES Networks Community Interest Company and Your Say Advocacy.  Those places with the biggest risk had been looked first, at different times of the day.

In terms of the public transport – there was a great support from the British Transport Police on trains, and people with learning difficulties felt safe.  However, buses were still not designated as safe places. 

Nigel, Paul and Kirstie added that some taxi companies came on aboard and got involved in the scheme.

The Chairman thanked Nigel, Paul and Kirstie on the presentation and congratulated on progress so far.

The Chairman also said that this Council has been having ongoing conversations with bus companies about subsidies, and this issue should be looked at those conversations.

It was RESOLVED to congratulate the BANES Networks Community Interest Company and Your Say Advocacy on the work done so far.