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Decision Maker: West Central Area Committee
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
The Committee received a report from Sergeant Misik and Sergeant Wood regarding Policing and Safer
neighbourhood trends.
The report outlined actions taken since the West Central
Area Committee of the 07 January 2015 on the priorities that had been set. The
current emerging issues/neighbourhood trends for each ward were also
highlighted (see report for full details).
Comments from members of the public:
Bev Nicolson:
Is there a way that the Police can help those people who are spoken to
regarding anti-social drinking?
Sergeant Wood: Cambridgeshire Constabulary had well
advanced working relationships with support partnership agencies.
John
Lawton: With regards to Operation Safe Passage had any enforcement been
undertaken with regards to those individuals breaking the 20mph speed limit in
the City, particularly Newmarket Road (West) and Maids Causeway?
Also
the speed watch surveys referenced on the Police website show figures from
2011.
Sergeant Wood: Very keen to develop Cambridge Speed Watch
throughout the City and had canvassed residents to volunteer to carry out the
scheme. Operation Safe Passage had allowed the Police to identify areas in the
City where enforcement was required and had been undertaken. It was not
possible for the Police to carry out speed checks on a daily basis as there
were other areas of Policing that needed to be undertaken with a limited amount
of resource.
Member
of the public: There have been incidents of boats which are moored on the River
at Midsummer Common having their ropes cut and those living on the boats
assaulted.
Sergeant Wood: Two Officers had been appointed to deal
with riverside issues and only today had spoken with outside agencies on this
matter. Mobile CCTV can be deployed throughout the City but a business case
would have to be put forward to deploy them to the area.
Comments from the Committee
Councillor
Reiner: It was good to note that all outside agencies were working together to
plan ahead for Caesarian Sunday.
Councillor
Nethsingha: Noted that Violent Crime in Newnham had
increased. What had been the reason for this?
Sergeant Misik: Four of the
recorded offences related to a group of students who had a disagreement amongst
themselves, a further two with members of the public and the rest domestic
incidents.
Councillor
Nethsinga: There were two known cases of domestic
incidents in the report where children had been present could the Police
confirm that the relevant safeguarding had been put into place?
Sergeant Misik: When the Police
attend a domestic violence case, they would fill it in the national best
practice domestic abuse incident book. The details of the children would be
entered into the document and sent to multi agencies to highlight safe guarding
controls were required.
Councillor
Hipkin: Given that violent crime, criminal damage and other serious crime had
increased how can the Police keep on top of the situation in the City Centre? National
figures were going down but Cambridge seemed to be going against the trend.
Sergeant Wood: A new scheme had been put into place to
tackle alcohol related crime in the City Centre with various multi agencies.
Sergeant Misik: The way that the
Crime figures had been recorded had changed. Every incident was now recorded
even if was just a casual conversation and no further action taken. This meant
more accurate records therefore the figures would have increased.
Councillor Reid: When the way the data is being recorded had
changed would it be possible to advise the Committee in the first instance
which would help in understanding the figures?
Councillor
Bick: It was important to note although the figures for alcohol related crime
had increased, this was not reflected in the number of people admitted to Addenbrooke’s Hospital who had been subjected to violent
related crimes, as this had been lower.
Councillor
Cearns: There was concern about the amount of deliberate littering on New
Square. The Resident Association had asked the Police to support the wardens in
the past and would like to make the Police aware of this issue once again.
Sergeant Wood: The Police were aware and with the summer
months approaching the problems was likely to increase. Regular patrols were in
operation the matter would be addressed with individuals if required.
Councillor
Hipkin: Could the reported figures show a further break down to the actual
crime that had been committed, for example ‘current crime’ figures were a
generic title.
Councillor
Holland: Residents on Huntingdon Road had expressed concern regarding heavy
good vehicles using Huntingdon road from 9.00pm to the early hours of the
morning some of which are breaking the speed limit. This disturbs residents’
sleep and impacts on residents cycling to work on shift work. What is the most
effective way to report this to ensure that enforcement will take place?
Councillor Tucker: Have been advised by the County Council
that a weight restriction had been imposed on Huntingdon Road and would send
the details to both Councillor Holland and Sergeant Misik.
Sergeant Misik: Unless a weight
limit is imposed permanently no enforcement can take place. Not aware of any
incidents on Huntingdon Road. Noise issues should be dealt with by the
Environmental Health Department at the City Council.
Committee Manager
Note: Post Meeting - Councillor Tucker advised that the limit had been imposed
until 30th April and asked Sergeant Misik
to confirm what had resulted from this.
The Committee:
Resolved
unanimously to set the following priorities:
i.
To target alcohol
related violent crime and ASB
ii.
To target ASB
caused by punt touts in Market Ward
iii.
To continue
Operation Safe Passage with a strong emphasis on 20mph enforcement and weight enforcement.
Report author: Lynda Kilkelly
Publication date: 29/06/2015
Date of decision: 23/04/2015
Decided at meeting: 23/04/2015 - West Central Area Committee
Accompanying Documents: