Role of Elected Members

Elected Members have an important role in both gathering information for the audit and developing strategy. They have access to a rich source of information which can help increase knowledge of locating and understanding local crime problems. This can be achieved through:

• Championing the cause of crime and disorder reduction – by ensuring departments supply the appropriate data.

• Providing their own records for analysis. This can be both quantitative and qualitative e.g. evidence of issues raised at surgeries, letters, telephone complaints etc.

• Providing council minutes which demonstrate, which crime and disorder issues have been raised, how they have been resolved and if they are being monitored.

• Informing about broader Council issues which may impact on crime and disorder.

The information gained from the exercises below should help provide important data relating to broader community safety issues. It should also help identify gaps within the delivery of crime and disorder within a council. They are all quick, easy, low costs ways to gain information and can all be undertaken in isolation from each other.

• Survey all Members to quantify how many residents are contacting them on crime and disorder issues. Ask them to tabulate their queries over a specified period and relating to specific types of crime

• Set up a focus group for Members to assess whether they are:

  • making use of the existing Audit and data

  • monitoring progress in reducing crime and disorder

  • asking about crime and disorder implications of key policy issues

  • involved in local initiatives

• Involve one Key Member (Portfolio Holder) who will be kept aware of the audit process, key events and difficulties that may arise. The Portfolio Holder can ensure that crime and disorder issues and the Audit results are discussed at council meetings (Cabinet, area or full Council) and that assistance in resolving areas of difficulty can be raised at Member level.

Promoting active elected representatives involvement should help raise the profile of crime issues within the council and encourage/involve Member awareness of the Audit process including increasing the likelihood of better recording of local queries. It should also help increase the chance of departments providing data, help to shape priorities, identify gaps in data and service provision, and reveal the different concerns of residents in local areas.