The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Rushmoor Council met on Thursday 17 September 2026 to discuss policing and community safety, and to review the council's work plan. The committee received an update on crime statistics, noting an overall reduction in recorded crime, and discussed strategies for addressing anti-social behaviour and drug-related harm.

Policing and Community Safety

The committee received a comprehensive update on policing and community safety from Chief Inspector Alex Reading of Hampshire Police and David Lipscombe, Rushmoor Borough Council's Community Safety Manager. Councillor Christine Guinness, Portfolio Holder for Pride in Place and Neighbourhood Services, was also in attendance.

Chief Inspector Reading reported that Hampshire Police had strengthened local policing with increased officer numbers, focusing on issues such as anti-social behaviour (ASB), drug-related harm, anti-social driving, hate crime, community cohesion, and youth disorder. Specific attention was being given to ASB in Aldershot town centre, youth disorder linked to football activities, and Farnborough Skate Park. Partnership working with schools, community organisations, parents, and Aldershot Football Club was highlighted as a key strategy to address the behaviour of a small number of young people.

The committee explored opportunities for early intervention and support for young people, noting the use of organisations like Yellow Brick Road and social prescribing schemes to divert young people from criminal activity. Members welcomed this preventative approach and emphasised the importance of positive role models and community-based interventions.

Discussions also covered anti-social behaviour and drug-related activity in residential neighbourhoods and public spaces. It was explained that enforcement activity is intelligence-led, with police resources prioritised for individuals and networks posing the greatest risk. Members expressed a desire for greater opportunities to influence local policing priorities and ensure that issues not routinely reported through traditional channels were identified and addressed.

Concerns regarding speeding across the borough were also discussed, with members questioning the potential for additional speed monitoring equipment. The committee was informed that speeding remains a common issue, addressed through both educational and enforcement approaches, with Speedwatch schemes relying on volunteers and police undertaking targeted enforcement.

Crime statistics for the previous twelve months indicated an overall reduction in recorded crime. Members requested that longer-term trend data be provided in future presentations to aid scrutiny.

Regarding hate crime and community cohesion, it was noted that race-related hate crime was the most frequently reported category. Reassurance was sought regarding arrangements for monitoring community tensions and responding to hate crime reports, with particular discussion on incidents affecting the Nepalese community and efforts to encourage reporting. The committee was advised that community impact assessments are undertaken and partnership arrangements exist to monitor tensions.

The use of stop and search powers was also considered, with assurances provided regarding scrutiny and review processes, including independent oversight and body-worn video monitoring. The importance of proportionality was acknowledged, while recognising stop and search as a valuable policing tool.

Members expressed a desire for improved communication between Hampshire Police, councillors, and residents, particularly following significant incidents. While acknowledging operational and legal constraints on information sharing, the importance of timely communication was stressed. Stronger links between local councillors and neighbourhood policing teams were also suggested.

David Lipscombe, Community Safety Manager, provided an update on the Community Safety Team's work. The team's responsibilities include responding to crime, disorder, and ASB under the Crime and Disorder Act¹, coordinating multi-agency casework, managing the council's CCTV service, and supporting safeguarding arrangements. The team utilises early intervention measures and formal enforcement tools.

The committee was informed of the team's diverse responsibilities, including acting as the council's safeguarding lead, participating in the Hampshire PREVENT Partnership², involvement in the Serious Violence Duty, and coordinating domestic abuse work. The increasing number of referrals for Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews³ was noted as placing additional pressure on local authority resources.

The volume of work undertaken by the team was highlighted, including triaging police reports, responding to direct enquiries, and managing CCTV incidents. The Think Safe project for Year 6 pupils, CCTV upgrades, and the use of the DISC retailer system were among the initiatives detailed. Case studies demonstrated the complexity of the team's work, including neighbour disputes, intervention with young people involved in fire-setting, and partnership work to address access to railway infrastructure. The committee noted that current grant funding for youth outreach sessions was due to expire at the end of September 2026 and supported efforts to secure future funding.

Concerns were raised regarding staffing, vacancy levels, and the reduction in the deployment of Speed Indicator Devices (SIDs). The committee was informed that the council had pursued a borough-wide mobile CCTV approach, with an initial camera purchased for trialling.

The Community Safety Survey results indicated an improvement in residents' feelings of safety. The committee also discussed the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in analysing community safety data, with Hampshire Police already using AI in limited circumstances. The committee acknowledged the increasing demand on the Community Safety Team and thanked them for their work.

Actions arising from this discussion included:

• Hampshire Police to provide crime statistics for West Farnborough/West Heath and contact details for local policing teams and officers.
• The Community Safety Manager to review an ASB case raised by Councillor Adeola and liaise with the relevant housing association.
• The forthcoming Community Safety Strategic Assessment to be circulated to Members.
• Officers to provide Members with further information regarding SID provision and deployment arrangements.
• Information on the Council's use of Artificial Intelligence in relation to community safety data and analysis to be provided.

Work Plan

The committee noted the current Work Plan for the 2026/27 Municipal Year. Members were advised of a special meeting scheduled for 21 September 2026 to undertake pre-decision scrutiny of the SERCO Contract Extension. Forthcoming items on Skills, Economy and Regeneration and the Young People Plan were also noted. Members were invited to submit suggestions for future scrutiny topics.

A suggestion was made to add an agenda item for a future meeting concerning Hampshire County Council's processes for the faster receipt of Care Plans for Housing cases. The Agenda Preparation Group was tasked with considering this for a future meeting.