Rutland Council to Probe Data Risks and Rising Costs in Community Safety Overhaul

Rutland Council to Probe Data Risks and Rising Costs in Community Safety Overhaul
By Rutland Democracy Reporter

A "more advanced" use of technology in Rutland has inadvertently created a headache for officials as they move to a new system for tracking anti-social behaviour, a new report to Council reveals.

The update, provided by Councillor Christine Wise following the latest meeting of the Leicestershire and Rutland Safer Communities Strategy Board, highlights several looming challenges for the county, from data integrity risks to a sharp rise in the cost of investigating domestic tragedies.

Rutland is currently transitioning to a new Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) recording system, a project being spearheaded by Leicestershire County Council. However, the move hasn't been entirely smooth.

The report notes that Rutland’s existing use of ASB data is "more advanced" than that of neighbouring authorities. While usually a point of pride, this sophistication is now causing "data integrity issues" as information is transferred from the old system to the new one. Councillors are expected to seek assurances this week that no critical case files or historical evidence will be lost or corrupted during the migration.

One of the most contentious points in the report involves a proposed doubling of the financial contribution required from Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) to fund Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs).

DHRs are statutory investigations carried out after a death results from domestic violence, intended to ensure local agencies learn lessons to prevent future tragedies. While the Board acknowledged that the workload associated with these reviews has "increased greatly," members balked at the request for more money without a clear breakdown of costs.

"They were asked to bring a costing paper back to the next meeting," Cllr Wise reported, signaling that Rutland and its partners are not prepared to sign off on a 100% price hike without a detailed justification.

The report also introduced an "interesting" new sentencing tool designed to break the cycle of crime for offenders with mental health issues.

The Mental Health Treatment Referral (MHTR) is now an option for individuals whose crimes cross the "community order threshold" but who suffer from conditions such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD.

The program offers a clinical alternative to traditional punishment,

The Treatment: 12 sessions with an Assistant Psychologist.
The Method: A "person-centred" approach using Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT).
The Entry Point: Referrals can be made at the point of arrest or via a Probation Officer.

Despite the potential for this scheme to reduce reoffending in Rutland, the report noted there was "limited discussion" about it at the Board level. 

Councillors may look to dig deeper into how many Rutland residents have already been diverted into this scheme and whether the county has the psychological resources to meet the demand.

The report will be formally presented to the Full Council this week at Catmose.