Agenda item

The Council notes that:

· Since 2017, Cardiff has seen increasing rates of anti-social behaviour, public order, knife and drug related crimes.

· A recent poll of residents across 15 major UK cities, Cardiff was rated the least safe place to live

· 38% of people said that didn’t feel safe at all on the streets at night, while another 31% worry about their safety during the daytime.

· 26% of adults in the poll had witnessed a crime

· In 2020, the most common crimes were anti-social behaviour, followed by violence and sexual assault.

· Interventions to reduce crime, or the fear of crime, are linked to improved health and well-being within communities.

The Council calls on the cabinet to:

· Expand the number of anti-social behaviour officers working for the council and improve links with the police

· Commission a review of youth provision to engage children and young people in what they need. Youth clubs are recognised as important ways to prevent vulnerable young people from joining gangs and engaging in crime

· Increase the support available to community organisations and sports clubs to expand services in areas of high anti-social behaviour

· To better use planning and design to build out crime through lighting and minimising dangerous locations. All public space projects should include a statement on how the design is expected to impact on criminal activity

· Expand the ARC CCTV network into outer Cardiff wards to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.

· Work with bus companies to re-establish night buses to reduce the risk of people becoming victims of crime on their way home.

· Expand the neighbourhood watch network, supporting the development of new groups and recruiting volunteers.

· Develop a trusted tradesperson register of qualified trade people working in the city to avoid rogue traders profiting from vulnerable residents.

· Safeguard funding for specialist services for victims of violence to adequately meet anticipated demand during and after the pandemic.

· Work with South Wales Police to commission a review of crime and community safety and learn from other cities.

·Work with the South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner to drive forward harm reduction policy, including the creation of legal drug consumption rooms to take dangerous drugs off our streets.

Proposed by Cllr Carter

Seconded by Cllr Wood