Safer Arun Partnership meeting minutes 4 August 2026

Tuesday 4 August  2026 - 2pm
Held via MS Teams

Attendees:

  • Cllr. Alan Butcher, Chair
  • Carie Reynolds, Acting Group Head of Wellbeing and Communities (Arun DC)
  • Inspector Ross Wickings (Sussex Police, Arun NPT)
  • Jim MacKay, Group Manager (West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service)
  • Charlotte Fenton, Senior Probation Officer (Probation Service)
  • Nicola Walker, Partnerships Manager (Office of the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner)
  • Dax O'Connor, Community Safety Manager (Arun DC)
  • Cathryn French, Safeguarding Officer (Arun DC)
  • Kate Taylor, Targeted Education Team Leader (West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service)

Apologies given:

  • CI Adam McCaig (Sussex Police, Arun NPT)
  • Alex O'Keefe, Community Safety Manger (West Sussex County Council)
  • Annabelle Goodenough, Regional Manager (Crimestoppers)

These notes are intended to provide an overview of the meeting discussions rather than a full and detailed account. The wider information exchanged is operationally and personally sensitive so is not recorded within these publicly available notes.

Agenda item 1:

Welcome

Chair welcomed all attendees and facilitated introductions.

Agenda item 2:

Apologies

Confirmation of apologies given as set out above.

Agenda item 3:

  • no declarations raised

Agenda item 4:

  • minutes of previous meeting (21 April 2026)
  • approved as an accurate record
  • Dax O'Connor noted that an action from the 21 April meeting is still in progress - collaborative messaging for schools regarding e-scooter and e-bike use. Further update to be provided at next partnership meeting

Agenda item 5:

Fire Cadets project update

Presented by: Kate Taylor, Targeted Education Team Leader, WSF&RS

Programme overview

The Fire Cadets programme focuses on:

  • confidence building
  • skills development
  • community engagement

Progress to date

  • 12 cadets participating (aged 13-16)
  • 19 sessions delivered
  • 93% attendance rate
  • 7 cadets with 100% attendance
  • £1,300 raised for the Firefighters Charity
  • over 120 volunteer support hours completed
  • 150 support hours provided by previous cadets acting as young leaders

Activities delivered

  • hose running, ladders and breathing apparatus training
  • search and rescue exercises
  • leadership and teamwork development
  • first aid training
  • knife crime awareness sessions
  • community engagement events including:
    • Chichester Pride
    • Emergency Services Day

Outcomes

  • positive feedback from both cadets and parents
  • 100% of cadets reported:
    • improved fire safety knowledge
    • increased resilience
    • greater community responsibility
    • improved ability to form positive relationships

Case study

A cadet who had previously become socially isolated and home educated following difficulties at school:

  • built confidence and friendships through the programme
  • successfully secured a place on a Public Services college course
  • is now considering a career within the Fire & Rescue Service

Discussion

  • recruitment is largely through social media
  • the programme is oversubscribed each year
  • schools may be able to promote opportunities more widely
  • firewise referrals continue to support young people involved in fire-setting behaviour

Agenda item 6:

Arun Sanctuary scheme update

Presented by: Cathryn French, Safeguarding Officer, Arun District Council

Overview

The scheme provides immediate practical safety measures to support victims of:

  • domestic abuse
  • stalking and harassment
  • serious violence
  • exploitation

Equipment available

  • ring doorbells
  • mobile phones
  • personal alarms
  • door braces
  • alarmed door wedges
  • window alarms
  • internal safety locks

Progress

  • scheme formally launched following International Women's Day 2026
  • Referrals are being promoted through:
    • MARAC
    • MACE Triage
    • Peer Group Conferences
    • Social care partners
    • Housing teams

Challenges

  • referral numbers lower than anticipated
  • additional promotion and partnership engagement required

Benefits

  • faster response than the wider West Sussex Sanctuary Scheme
  • stock held by:
    • Arun District Council
    • Sussex Police (Arun NPT)
    • Community Protection Officers for rapid deployment when needed

Dax O'Connor noted the importance of feedback and updates about the projects funded by the partnership and proposed holding an event bringing together those organisations funded through SAP grants.

Purpose

  • showcase outcomes from funded projects
  • provide networking opportunities
  • demonstrate impact to:
    • OPCC
    • Councillors
    • Town and Parish Councils
    • Wider partners

Proposal was well supported by members.

Agenda item 7:

Crime and Policing Act update

Planned presentation deferred.

Chief Inspector McCaig will present at the next SAP meeting.

Partners highlighted the legislation may present new partnership opportunities and responsibilities.

Agenda item 8:

Partner updates

Presented by Arun District Council Community Safety (Carrie Reynolds)

Current concerns across Arun include:

  • river jumping
  • roof running

Community protection activity

Last three months:

  • 349 patrols conducted
  • 26 Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) enforcement actions

Safeguarding themes

Emerging risks include:

  • financial abuse
  • coercive control
  • disguised compliance
  • harmful sexualised behaviour
  • self-neglect concerns impacting children

Housing and Community Safety

Potential future work:

  • community safety audits across larger council housing estates
  • support requested from partners with experience in place-based safety audits

Agenda item 9:

Funding statement

Presented by Dax O'Connor

  • current balance: £12,856
  • statement and balance noted

Agenda item 10:

Community Safety Grant Funding -  applications and decisions

My Sister's House

Award

£2,500

Reasons:

  • strong local impact
  • significant support for women affected by domestic abuse
  • positive endorsement from probation and partners

Decision:

Approved unanimously.

South East Communities Rail Partnership

Award

£2,500

Project

Station Square planting and antisocial behaviour reduction project (Bognor Regis).

Key points:

  • Partnership approach includes:
    • Rail Partnership
    • Arun District Council
    • Town Council
    • Ford Prison involvement
  • Intended to improve the environment and reduce antisocial behaviour

Decision:

Approved.

Additional opportunity:

  • Southern Water may have complementary funding available for sustainable drainage and planting schemes

Air Cadets Project (Drone and Skills Development)

Award

£2,015

Reasons

  • positive diversionary activity
  • development of leadership and technical skills
  • strong alignment with youth engagement objectives

Decision:

Approved.

Ocean Therapy Diversionary Programme

Indicative Funding:

Approx. £6,500 to £7,000

Proposal

A pilot programme using:

  • paddleboarding
  • surfing
  • coastal activity-based mentoring

Target group:

Young people involved in:

  • antisocial behaviour
  • low-level offending
  • emotional wellbeing concerns

Key benefits identified:

  • resilience building
  • positive peer relationships
  • water safety education
  • early intervention opportunities

Strong support from all and in principle support given. Partners agreed the proposal merits further development and a detailed funding submission.

Agenda item 10:

Any Other Business

  • Members discussed publishing draft minutes more quickly (agreed approach)
  • Minutes to be circulated within two weeks of meetings
  • partners given approximately 5-7 days to review and make corrections
  • Minutes then published online rather than waiting until the next meeting

This will improve transparency and reduce delays.

Safeguarding Partnership development day

Date: 7 September 2026

Topics include:

  • Modern slavery
  • Cuckooing/home invasion
  • Hate crime
  • Bystander training
  • Intelligence sharing

Open to a wide range of statutory and community agencies to improve awareness of community safety concerns and to enhance opportunities for early identification.

Scrutiny Meetings

Date: 8 October 2026

  • SAP annual performance update, plus 
    • WSCC Community Safety update
    • Arun DC ASB activity update

January 2027

Further SAP performance review, plus local policing update.