Show and Tell Presentation by Margate Task Force
Police Inspector Mark Pearson
Minutes:
The Thanet Health and Wellbeing Board received a presentation from Police Inspector Mark Pearson.
Inspector Pearson advised the Board that the multi-agency Margate Task Force (MTF) in partnership with the Thanet Community Safety team were aiming to transform public services in a cost effective and efficient way using multi-agency response teams in the wards of Margate Central and Cliftonville West. The presentation included details of the real issues around the use of street drugs including heroine, crack cocaine and cannabis, also challenges of effectively assessing levels of sexual exploitation. The Wards most affected in Thanet are Margate Central and Cliftonville West. The statistics show these areas to have multiple risks to vulnerable people. The figures show high levels of individuals released from prison and Looked after Children (LAC). Approximately a third of Thanet’s crime & anti-social behaviour occurred in the two wards.
The presentation included a ‘mental health map’ that showed both where the majority of ambulance pick-ups and crime hotspots were located. The map helped people to understand where the most vulnerable spots were and where to focus resources. Inspector Pearson added that there were 42 nationalities accommodated within these two wards; the biggest cohort being Czech Roma and Slovak Roma. He added that ‘Gang Cooperatives’ were known to exist involving a number of nationalities (including local white English).
Residents comments had been sought for in a ‘Your Home, Your Health’ survey. This involved agencies gathering information on a defined ‘street’ with multi-agency visits to the street to help residents complete the “Your Home Your Health” forms. The purpose of the survey was to lay a foundation for effective problem solving and achieving sustainable outcomes and a creating synergy between social justice and community justice.
Inspector Pearson highlighted future threats and said there was significant opportunity to improve joint risk assessments specific to safeguarding children. Looking forward working smarter and improving information sharing/exchanging was critical and ‘health’ was most important in understanding the resource needs from the various partners.
It was noted that the MTF had received awards in excellence of partnership working.
Board members raised the following questions:
Regarding the drug proliferation in these wards, would that be because it has been underground for some time or is it getting worse?
Inspector Pearson advised that the problem was getting worse because it is financially lucrative. For example a 17 year old, can make a substantial amount of money each day dealing drugs. He added that local charities were helping.
If it is so lucrative there has got to be demand. Where is the demand?
The demand was primarily from vulnerable unemployed people and mental health sufferers who were more at risk of drug exploitation. These two wards have the highest number of people claiming Job Seekers Allowance anywhere else in the UK.
What was the main driver for child exploitation or was it a mental health issue?
Inspector Pearson said that they were assessing how cooperatively different groups worked on child exploitation and that it was financially lucrative. ... view the full minutes text for item 5