Decision details

The Committee received a report from Inspector Poppitt regarding the policing and safer neighbourhoods trends.

 

The report outlined actions taken since the Committee on 12 April 2012. The current emerging issues/neighbourhood trends for each ward were also highlighted (see report for full details). Previous priorities and engagement activity noted in the report were:

(i)                Alcohol and drug-related street ASB in the East, targeting known hot spots and focussing on education and enforcement to address licensed premises selling alcohol to the intoxicated.

(ii)              ASB use of mopeds in Coleridge.

(iii)            Vehicle crime, such as theft and vandalism, in East of City.

 

The Committee discussed the following policing issues:

 

(i)                Declining levels of anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Romsey due to Police intervention.

(ii)              Vehicle crime such as vandalism in the East area.

(iii)            Drug users and drug dealing in the Riverside area.

(iv)            ASB linked to street drinking.

(v)              Street life ASB in east of city. Specifically relating to alcohol, drugs and threatening behaviour. Geographic areas of particular concern were identified as Mill Road, Mill Road Cemetary and Norfolk Street in the east of the city; as well as related issues in Burleigh Street and Fitzroy Street.

(vi)            Greater emphasis on licensing agreement terms to prevent the sale of alcohol to people who were already intoxicated. Licence holders should feel supported that they can refuse to sell alcohol when it would be inappropriate to do so, and that they have a responsibility not to do so under licensing terms eg when someone is intoxicated. Concern was expressed over the sale of high strength alcohol. It was noted that Licensees could lawfully sell high strength alcohol unless their licensing conditions prohibited it.

(vii)          The need to address ASB through joined up multi-agency action. For example, provision of support and facilities for the street life community, as well as the option for Police and Licensing Officers to take enforcement action. Greater focus on education, encouragement and support.

(viii)        The re-introduction of section 30 dispersal orders.

(ix)            People should report crimes in order to help the Police collect evidence and trend information. Residents expressed concern regarding response times to the 101 contact number and asked for alternative ways to report crimes.

 

          Inspector Poppitt undertook to liaise with Councillor Benstead regarding targets for response times to the 101 number.

 

Members of the public made statements and asked a number of questions, as set out below.

 

1.      Ms Wright raised concerns about :

·        Street life ASB in east of city. Specifically relating to alcohol, drugs and threatening behaviour from the street life community or their dogs in Norfolk Street.

·        The sale of high strength alcohol as a contributing factor to ASB and littering.

·        Referred to difficulties when reporting crimes to the Police.

 

Councillor Benstead said that the City Council was the City Licensing authority. Any concerns regarding licencee practices should be referred to Licensing Officers.

 

2.      Ms Dean made the following points:

·        Raised concerns about street life ASB in east of city. Specifically the impact of ASB in Norfolk Street on primary school children.

·        Raised concerns about the sale of alcohol to people who were already intoxicated.

·        Requested the re-introduction of section 30 dispersal orders.

·        Requested that street drinking be made an offence in Cambridge either for a set period or indefinitely.

·        The length of time required to report crimes through the Police 101 contact number.

·        Supported the work of Jimmy’s Night Shelter. Street life community members needed better support for the treatment of issues. The Police would benefit from alternative powers to the Council to stop habitual drinking problems.

·        Suggested that if one premises needed a licence review in an area, nearby premises should have one too by default as they would be likely to be using the same practices.

 

Inspector Poppitt responded:

·       The Police would undertake a licence review if given evidence to justify one.

·       A geographic specific public area alcohol drinking ban would help address issues.

 

Councillor Benstead said a licence review of one premises would not trigger a review of others in the locality, as different premises could have different licensing conditions. Reviews were triggered when licensing conditions were broken.

 

Councillor Blencowe said that Mill Road had been a Policing and Safer Neighbourhoods priority for over two years. It was clear that the problem was being managed, but not reduced as issues kept reoccurring in Mill Road, Mill Road Cemetary and Norfolk Street (plus related issues in Burleigh Street and Fitzroy Street). Councillor Blencowe recommended that if Police records evidenced there was a need, the Police should recommend the reintroduction of section 30 in these specific geographic areas to the Leader of the City Council.

 

This proposal was carried unanimously.

 

Action Point: East Area Committee Chair, Vice Chair and Spokes to meet Inspector Poppitt to discuss implementing a specific street drinking order on a zonal basis.

 

3.      Mr Gawthrop made the following points:

·        Reiterated points made by Ms Dean and Ms Wright.

·        Raised concerns about street life ASB in Mill Road Cemetary.

·        Supported the Police’s objections to Hobby Home alcohol licence application in Mill Road at the 18 June 2012 Licensing Sub Committee. This was turned down due to the impact on the Cumulative Impact Zone.

 

4.      Mr Catto raised concerns about drug dealing in the Riverside Area and associated ASB such as littering of used needles.

 

5.          Councillor Johnson said the City Council was not in a position to offer the Police CCTV evidence unless it was requested. He asked if this policy could be amended.

 

Inspector Poppitt welcomed the use of CCTV evidence. He undertook to speak to Council and Police colleagues to review if the policy could be amended or enhanced so evidence could be more easily provided to the Police.

 

6.          Councillor Owers queried contact details for Licensing Officers whom Councillors and residents could report concerns to.

 

Action Point: Sarah Steggles (Senior Anti-Social Behaviour Officer) to send East Area Committee Members a list of contact numbers for reporting different types of anti-social behaviour. These in turn can be passed to residents.

 

Councillor Owers requested a change to the recommendations. Amendments are shown in bold text.

 

(i)                Alcohol and drug-related street ASB in the East, targeting known hot spots (including Mill Rd, Mill Rd Cemetery and Norfolk Street plus drug dealing in the Riverside Area) and focusing on education and enforcement to address licensed premises selling alcohol to the intoxicated.

(ii)              ASB use of mopeds in Riverside, Coleridge and Abbey areas.

 

The amendments were unanimously agreed.

 

The following priorities were unanimously agreed:

 

(i)                Alcohol and drug-related street ASB in the East, targeting known hot spots (including Mill Rd, Mill Rd Cemetery and Norfolk Street plus drug dealing in the Riverside Area) and focusing on education and enforcement to address licensed premises selling alcohol to the intoxicated.

(ii)              ASB use of mopeds in Riverside, Coleridge and Abbey areas.

(iii)            Vehicle crime, such as theft and vandalism, in East of City.