To consider the following Notice of Motion, which has been submitted by Cllr Sophie Porter pursuant to Standing Order 9 (1):
“Youth Violence is an issue in Rushmoor, compared to other areas in Hampshire. According to the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) report ‘Violence Reduction Unit – Problem profile’ (2022), the 4 factors leading to increased risk of crime involvement are: society, community, Relationship’s and the individual.
Rushmoor continued to have higher rates of risk factors, this being due to greater deprivation.
A safe space for youth, such as youth cafés, can have an impact on individual factors for reducing youth crime.
External funding has been found to implement a youth crime prevention program in Aldershot, but there needs to be targeted schemes throughout the whole of Rushmoor. A submission has been made to seek external funding.
This motion requests Rushmoor Borough Council allocates Officer resources to tackle youth crime in the area by:
· writing business cases to seek external funding for a youth café in both Farnborough & Aldershot, addressing access to the arts, youth employment and engagement with civic duties.
· The Communities Team redesign the youth provision in Farnborough with crime prevention in mind.
·
The Chief Executive writes to the Crime
Commissioner requesting investment in the area for youth services.”
Minutes:
The Council was asked to consider a Motion which had been
submitted by Cllr Sophie Porter in accordance with the provisions of Standing
Order 9 (1):
“Youth violence is an issue in Rushmoor, compared to other
areas in Hampshire. According to the
Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) report “Violence Reduction Unit – Problem Profile
(2020)”, the four factors leading to an increased risk of crime involvement
are: society, community, relationships and the individual.
Rushmoor continues to have higher rates of risk factors,
this being due to greater deprivation. A
safe space for youth, such as youth cafes, can have an impact on individual
factors for reducing youth crime.
External funding has been found to implement a youth crime
prevention programme in Aldershot, but there needs to be targeted schemes
through the whole of Rushmoor. A
submission has been made to seek external funding.
This Motion requests Rushmoor Borough Council allocates
Officer resources to tackle youth crime in the area by:
·
writing business cases to seek external funding
for a youth café in both Farnborough and Aldershot, addressing access to the
arts, youth employment and engagement with civic duties;
·
the Communities Team redesign the youth provision
in Farnborough with crime prevention in mind; and
·
the Chief Executive writes to the Crime
Commissioner requesting investment in the area for youth services.”
In moving the Motion, Cllr Porter referred to a 17-year-old
from Aldershot who had attended a party in Camberley who had sadly been stabbed
and who had died from his injuries. This young man’s family was known to Cllr
Porter. Cllr Porter also advised of a recent event for 11–16
year olds where it had become apparent that many knew of someone their
age who carried a knife.
Cllr Porter referred to a new crime prevention programme
called “Fighting Chance” which aimed to address the causes of crime in young
people by encouraging them to engage in other social activities, including
sport. Members were advised that a funding bid had been made to the National
Lottery for this scheme to enable it to be offered throughout the Borough,
particularly to those deemed at risk of exclusion from school or vulnerable to
gangs with the potential to be involved in serious youth violence. Cllr Porter
stated that the Motion was not about asking for funding but asking for Council
Officers to be able to devote time to the scheme.
An amendment was MOVED by Cllr Porter; SECONDED by Cllr
Gaynor Austin – That the Motion be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny
Committee to examine the “Fighting Chance” youth programme and youth services
in the Borough, including the work of the Police and Hampshire County Council
in respect of young people.
In seconding the Amendment, Cllr Austin referred to the
importance of stability for young people and referred to the links between
drugs and crime; family, relationships, deprivation
and lack of stability were all factors in young people turning to drugs and
crime. Cllr Austin spoke of the
importance of early intervention to help prevent young people getting involved
in crime. She felt that it was most important to invest in and support the
Borough’s young people, by giving them good role models and showing them
stability at least in some areas of life.
During debate, there was some support for the Amendment,
although it was also suggested that, subject to National Lottery funding being
received for the youth programme, the Motion should be referred to the Policy
and Project Advisory Board. The view was
also expressed that the provision of increased resources for activities to
support young people at risk of entering into crime
had not been raised as part of the budget setting process. It was further mentioned that Hampshire
County Council was responsible for the provision of such services.
Following further discussion, the Mayor directed that, under the provisions of Standing Order 9 (4), the Motion be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration in the first instance.