Councillors on Norfolk's Community Safety Partnership Scrutiny Sub Panel have agreed an expanded programme of work covering heritage crime, water safety, and drug-related deaths — topics not previously examined by the panel.

Gavin Thompson, Director of Policy and Commissioning at the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk, told the panel that the Norfolk Community Safety Partnership had recently adopted heritage crime as part of its rural crime priorities. A Norfolk Heritage Watch group has been established and is developing a strategic plan to address anti-social behaviour affecting the county's heritage sites and assets.

The panel agreed to receive a full report on the Heritage Crime Strategy at its October meeting.

Water safety and drowning prevention were also added to the forward work programme, alongside a dedicated review of road safety — with a specific focus on killed and seriously injured casualties, casualty prevention, and education.

On drug-related deaths, Amanda Murr, Assistant Director for Policy and Partnerships, explained that the Norfolk Drug and Alcohol Partnership reports to the Health and Wellbeing Board rather than this panel. Councillors agreed that the partnership's annual report would be shared with them once the Board had considered it.

The panel also agreed to examine the wider partnership response to crime priorities identified through the development of the Police and Crime Plan — including fraud, anti-social behaviour, and victim support — following a suggestion that individual offences could have a significant impact on victims even where they do not feature as headline priorities.

The panel meets next in October 2026, when the Heritage Crime Strategy is expected to feature on the agenda.