The Communities and Equalities Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to discuss a range of important issues at its upcoming meeting. Key topics include updates on domestic abuse and violence against women and girls, a crime and policing update, and the implementation of the Community Safety Strategy.

Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls

A significant portion of the meeting is expected to focus on the ongoing efforts to address domestic abuse and violence against women and girls (VAWG). The report outlines the council's commitment, made in March 2021, to build a city free from misogyny and VAWG. The discussion is anticipated to cover work undertaken since November 2025, with a particular emphasis on educating boys and young men. The report details statistics on domestic abuse incidents recorded by Greater Manchester Police, noting a slight increase and highlighting repeat victimisation as a persistent issue. It also addresses the disproportionate impact of domestic abuse on women and girls, who are more likely to be victims of various crimes, including rape, stalking, and harassment.

The report details initiatives aimed at preventing and promoting healthy relationships, including programmes delivered in schools. The Progressive Masculinity initiative works with boys and young men to critically engage with issues related to masculinities, while the Blindside production will be delivered to primary school pupils to help them understand healthy relationships and the signs of VAWG. Work with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to ensure public transport is safe, particularly at night, will also be discussed, including the promotion of services like LiveChat and the WalkSafe app. The council's White Ribbon accreditation, signifying a commitment to preventing violence against women, will also be reviewed.

The report further elaborates on identifying abuse and intervening early, including the updated information on the council's website and the Respect Young Peoples Programme delivered by Talk Listen Change (TLC). The pilot of the Domestic Abuse Protection Order (DAPO) in Greater Manchester will be reviewed, noting its role in providing enhanced protection for victims. The transition from the DASH risk assessment model to DARA+ by Greater Manchester Police will also be covered, alongside the redesign of the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) process. Initiatives to support victims and survivors' recovery include the Safer at Home scheme, providing home safety measures, and the Restore and REACH services offered by Manchester Women's Aid.

Under VAWG initiatives, the Women's Night-time Safety Charter, which has over 600 organisations signed up, will be discussed. Active Bystander Training and the new Medical and Welfare service for the city centre's night-time economy are also on the agenda. The Safe Nights Manchester campaign, aiming to unify safety initiatives, will be highlighted. The report also covers the WalkSafe Manchester safety app, which has been downloaded over 12,000 times, and Operation Safer Streets, a police response to VAWG in the city centre's night-time economy. The VAWG Innovation Accelerator Programme, focusing on young women and girls being filmed in the night-time economy, and Operation Red Card, a national football VAWG operation, will also be presented. Safer Retail MCR, an initiative to create safer retail environments, and student safety measures, including the Good Night Out Guide (GNOG) and the Student Safe Zone app, will be reviewed. The Gender Based Violence Action Network (GBVAN) and its response to sexual violence and harassment among students will also be discussed. Finally, the report will provide an update on Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs), now referred to as Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews (DARDRs), and the refresh of the Domestic Abuse and VAWG Strategy.

Crime and Policing Update

Chief Superintendent David Meeney from Greater Manchester Police is scheduled to provide an update on crime and policing in the city. The report is expected to detail the impact of the government's neighbourhood policing uplift, which has introduced additional neighbourhood sergeants and constables. This uplift aims to strengthen community engagement, problem-solving, and proactive crime reduction efforts. The report will likely highlight progress made through this enhanced capacity, including reductions in burglary and personal robbery offences, as well as a substantial decrease in knife-enabled serious violence.

The discussion is also expected to cover targeted visibility and enforcement strategies, with resources concentrated in identified hotspots across Manchester. Proactive road policing operations and their role in tackling dangerous driving and vehicle-enabled crime will be a focus. The report will likely address the use of stop and search, emphasising legality, proportionality, and community confidence. Furthermore, the approach to tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) will be detailed, focusing on identifying repeat locations, individuals, and underlying causes, moving beyond incident-by-incident responses to integrated enforcement, environmental change, and partnership intervention. Operation Rossie on the Fallowfield Loop will be presented as an example of this approach. The report will conclude by summarising the overall direction of neighbourhood policing in Manchester, highlighting reductions in crime, sustained activity in hotspots, and a structured approach to community engagement.

Implementation of the 2026-2029 Community Safety Strategy and Youth Justice Interventions

This report will provide an update on the early implementation of the Manchester Community Safety Strategy 2026-2029. The Community Safety Partnership (CSP) has made progress in implementing its strategy, with a focus on prevention, early intervention, rehabilitation, and partnership working. The report is expected to highlight significant reductions in neighbourhood crime, serious violence, and knife crime over the past two years, while acknowledging ongoing challenges with business robberies, street-based antisocial behaviour, and hate crime.

The discussion will cover the six strategic priorities of the CSP: tackling neighbourhood crime and antisocial behaviour; keeping children and young people safe; tackling serious harm and violence; tackling drug and alcohol-driven crime; protecting communities through changing offender behaviour; and making the city centre safer. The report will present performance data, including a substantial drop in most categories of neighbourhood crime, although business robberies have more than doubled. Increases in antisocial behaviour, particularly linked to rough sleeping and on-street issues, will also be detailed.

A significant focus will be on youth justice interventions. The report will outline the statutory and out-of-court resolution routes for children engaging with the Youth Justice service, as well as voluntary early intervention programmes. The Youth Justice Practice Model, the Participatory Youth Practice Framework, will be explained, emphasising its co-creation with young people and its focus on strengths-based, trauma-informed practice. Specialist interventions within the Youth Justice service, including Speech, Language and Communication Therapy, CAMHS Practitioners, Art and Drama Therapy, and Substance Misuse Workers, will be detailed. The report will also highlight positive outcomes, such as a decrease in first-time entrants into the criminal justice system and a reduction in reoffending.

The report will also address the implementation of new and amended antisocial behaviour tools and powers under the Crime and Policing Act 2026, including ASB Case Reviews, Respect Orders, Housing Injunctions, and Closure Order powers. The proposed increase in Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) amounts for breaches of Community Protection Notices and Public Spaces Protection Orders will be discussed. The report will also cover the partnership's approach to tackling hate crime, detailing trends and the priorities of the Greater Manchester Hate Crime Plan. The investigation into antisocial behaviour in the vicinity of asylum hotels will be presented, alongside preparations for the Halloween and Bonfire Night period. Finally, the report will provide an update on Greater Manchester Victims' Services (GMVS), which offers support to victims of crime.

Overview Report

This report from the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit will provide a summary of the committee's activities. It will include a monitor of previous recommendations, detailing responses and implementation status. The report will also list key decisions that have been taken or are due to be taken, which fall within the committee's remit. Finally, it will present the committee's work programme, outlining scheduled items for future meetings, and the committee will be asked to agree any necessary changes to this programme.