Our duties

The list of statutory duties and responsibilities carried out by the Safer Somerset Partnership is ever-changing.

Here is current list of our responsibilities and the corresponding legislation.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998 – The Crime and Disorder Act (1998) gave a number of agencies the duty to work together and share information to reduce crime and disorder and anti-social behaviour. Statutory agencies have changed over the years by subsequent legislation (Police and Justice Act and Police and Crime Act) but currently includes police, probation, local authorities, ICB, and fire service.

Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 – The Crime and Disorder Act (1998) gave a number of agencies the duty to work together and share information to reduce crime and disorder and anti-social behaviour. Statutory agencies have changed over the years by subsequent legislation (Police and Justice Act and Police and Crime Act) but
currently includes police, probation, local authorities, ICB, and fire service.

Police and Justice Act 2006 – Responsible authorities to share evidenced-based data to support Community Safety Partnerships. Duties to carry out frequent Community Safety Strategic Assessments of crime and drug misuse in their area. Produce annual rolling three-year Community Safety Plans. Local authorities to scrutinise the functioning of the local Community Safety Partnership.

Policing and Crime Act 2009 – Community Safety Partnerships to become responsible for reducing reoffending. Producing a reducing reoffending strategy.

Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 – Range of duties placed on Community Safety Partnerships regarding tacking of local anti-social behaviour, including oversight of ASB Case reviews.

Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (Section 26) – Duties will apply to specified bodies to have due regard, in the exercise of their functions. Specified bodies will include all statutory partners from the Partnership and more. Specified bodies will establish a Channel process and Panel, a Prevent Board and produce a Prevent Plan – this will fall under the remit of the Partnership. The Safer Somerset Partnership will retain governance for the function and management of the Channel Panel.
You can find out more on our Prevent in Somerset page.

Domestic Abuse Act 2021 – Domestic Abuse Board (subgroup of the Safer Somerset Partnership) become a statutory group with a duty to support the tier 1 local authority in discharging these duties. Find out more on the Domestic Abuse page.

Serious Violence Duty 2022 – Places a statutory duty on relevant services work together to share information and allow them to target their interventions, where possible through existing partnership structures, collaborate and plan to prevent and reduce serious violence within their local communities. Amends the Crime and Disorder Act (1998) to include serious violence as a priority for Community Safety Partnerships.