DRUG ISSUES
- Are you 19 or over and live in Newham?
- Are drugs becoming a problem for you or someone you know?
- Do you want help but don’t know where to get it?
What’s on offer?
- Full assessment and personalized care plan.
- 1-2-1 key worker sessions about you, your hopes and goals.
- A weekly relapse prevention group. Giving you the ability to recognize the triggers of drug use, and the knowledge of how to overcome them.
To make an appointment please phone 020 7474 2222.
Newham Community Drug Team is situated at Abbey House, 361 Barking Road, Plaistow, London E13 8EE
EMERGING ISSUES
There have been many successes in terms of crime reduction in the borough, however, the focus for this presentation are those areas which could be priorities for 2005-08. The main audit finding point to several emerging priorities, they are as follows:
DRUGS
Counts of drug offences reflect enforcement activity and drugs ha not been a policing priority in Newham for some time.
3,466 total offences April 2001 to March 2004
Up by 19% (compared with a 41% increase across London)
87% of offences were personal possession and 13% supply (compared with 83% and 17% respectively across London)
Cannabis possession for personal use dominates.
77% of offences involved Cannabis, 9% Heroin, 5% Cocaine, 4% Crack Cocaine.
DRUG TESTING
In the ten months up to June 2004, 465 (completed) drug tests were conducted on offenders in police custody for trigger offences.
234 (50%) tested positive for Heroin, Cocaine or both.
ALCOHOL
The British Crime Survey suggests alcohol is a factor in 47% of violent crime. Extrapolated to Newham this suggests about 3,500 alcohol related violent offences each year. Drug issues arising from Audit we need to develop a better understanding of the drug problem in Newham.
We need to consider is drugs an emerging priority for Newham’s strategy?
VIOLENT CRIME includes all assault (from common assault to murder), offensive weapons, harassment, hate crime, domestic violence, gun crime and sexual offences. Violent crime accounts for 20% of all crime. In the last year violent crime has become the highest volume crime within Newham (previously motor vehicle crime). 2003/04 – 8058 violent crimes in Newham up 10% over the audit period (compared with 15% increase across London) 53% of violent crimes were common (minor) assaults.
OFFENSIVE WEAPONS
In 2003/04 arrests reduced by 10% over the 2001/2 figure to 372.
GUN CRIME
Gun crime has remained at the same annual level in the borough with 765 offences over the audit period and close to 250 offences each year.
Violent Crimes
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
25%of violent crimes in Newham were domestic violence (30% across London). Reported incidents for 2003/04 – 3107 (2nd highest in London). Domestic violence increased by 12% over the audit period.
SEXUAL OFFENCES
1030 offences, 91% of victims were female (73% of those under 29)
VIOLENT CRIME ISSUES TO CONSIDER
If violent crime is an emerging priority, what are the key offences in Newham?
YOUTH CRIME
The number of offences committed by young people (10 to 17 years) increased by 7% over the audit period. (Offenders increased by 5%). Youth arrests as a proportion for all arrests rose by 3 to 30% over the audit period. (This compares to about 20% across London). Over the audit period the number of youth offenders was 4% of the 10 to 17 year old population. The number of first time offenders rose by 13% to 356 in 2003/04. Prolific Offenders rose by 17% to 206 in 2003/04
The most common offences committed (over the audit period) were motor vehicle crime (38%), theft and handling (18%), violence against the person (11%) and drugs (8%).
ISSUES TO CONSIDER
What aspect of youth offending should be prioritised?
ANT-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
Defining and measuring ASB presents a particular challenge and is a developing area. 2003/4 noise nuisance accounted for more than 505 of complaints to LBN. 17% of calls related to youth disorder. The two dominant issues arising from Newham Environmental Hot line were abandoned vehicles (52%) and fly – tipping (34%)
ISSUES TO CONSIDER
What ASB issues matter most in Newham?
HATE CRIME
Racial Crime Since 2001 – 2002, Newham has 2nd highest reduction in reported racial crime in London (33%). 600 incidents in 2003/4. Number of repeat victims (78 in 2003/4) nearly double the London average (42). Significant under reporting is a major concern
HOMOPHOBIC CRIME
Homophobic crime in Newham increased from 40 offences in 2001/2 to 74 offences in 2003/4. Comparatively small numbers but there is concern about victim confidence and under reporting.
ISSUES TO CONSIDER
Is hate crime an emerging priority. Which aspect of hate crime is a priority?
FEAR OF CRIME
63% believe crime has risen and is much worse, however a range of statistics show a reduction (ALG Survey) (1 in 3 people victim crime in 1995, 1 in 4 people of crime in 2002). 63% state crime significantly impacts on their lives.
FEAR OF YOUNG PEOPLE
Only 3.5% of all young people accused of crime. 96.5% of all young people are NOT
FEAR OF ASB
Household panel survey identifies main fears as: Intimidating group behaviour 20%, Street robbery 15%, Dumping of rubbish 14%.
ISSUES TO CONSIDER
Is there an opportunity for the development of a strategy to improve community confidence?, Is Fear of Crime an emerging priority?
VOLUME CRIME
In order to impact on crime in general the CDRP consider some action against those crimes, which afflict the borough in (comparatively) large numbers, is required.
MOTOR VEHICLE CRIME represented 42% of all property crime in Newham during the audit period. Despite a 13% reduction in vehicle crime the rate of vehicle crime in Newham is still more than double the London average.
BURGLARY represented 14% of all property crime over the same period. Whilst burglary reduced by 11% over the 3 years there were still 11,468 offences in 2003/4 and 59% of all burglaries were residential.
ISSUES ARISING FROM VOLUME
Does volume crime need to be addressed? Are motor vehicle crime and burglary the right crimes to tackle?
GATWAY CRIME
Gateway crime is crime, which acts as an initiator of criminal behaviour. Shoplifting is the most prolific gateway crime. There is some evidence of a link between shoplifting and problematic drugs misuse.
ISSUES ARISING FROM GATEWAY CRIME
Should gateway crime feature in Newham’s priorities for 2005/08?
