Neil Thurlow, Community Safety Manager, introduced the report and drew the Commission’s attention to the public health approach that has been adopted nationally and regionally in respect of knife crime; the new leaflet on anti-social behaviour; and the update on the Public Space Protection Order enforcement and consultation process.

Neil Thurlow and Councillor Edith Macauley, Cabinet Member for Voluntary Sector, Partnerships and Community Safety, provided additional information in response to questions:

·         It is planned to use the learning from work done in Lambeth and Croydon on the relationship between domestic violence and knife crime and the benefits of early intervention.

·         Antisocial behaviour - 23 Community Protection Warnings and 6 Community Protection Notices have been issued. These figures are in line with the national average. Members asked for data to be included in future reports, broken down by ward. ACTION: Community Safety Manager

·         Public Space Protection Orders are not intended to prevent all drinking in public places but just to be used for problematic anti-social drinking.

·         Licensing conditions could be used to address the issue of the use of “dog poo” bags being used to cover cans of alcoholic drink for covert drinking in public

Members asked for more detailed data on each anti-social behaviour category to be included in future reports. ACTION: Community Safety Manager

The Commission RESOLVED to:

1.    Endorse the community weapon sweeps and recommend that these are publicised to all ward councillors; and

2.    Endorse and promote the Safer Merton Community Safety Consultation.