Decision details

Advise on the priorities to be adopted for the next period of Neighbourhood Policing.

The Committee received a report from Sergeant Stevenson regarding the policing and safer neighbourhoods trends.

The report outlined actions taken since the Committee on 4 November 2013. 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:

·       Reduce the theft of pedal cycles in the Newtown area.

·       Combat the supply of drugs in South area.

·       Tackle vehicle parking offences around school premises across the South area and in Mill End Road.

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

1.       Ms Turpington raised the following issues:

·       She works with Camsight and RNIB.

·       Raised concerns regarding obstructions on the pavement.

·       Suggested there was a lack of pavement space in the south area when construction workers were undertaking road works/resurfacing.

·       Parking on the pavement forced people to walk in the road.

·       Safety signs placed on pavements were hazards as people could fall over them.

Sergeant Stevenson said that parking on pavements was only illegal when it caused an obstruction. He asked members of the public to report any incidents on the Police 101 telephone number. The Police were particularly interested to know if deliveries were being made to specific premises, so that the Police could talk to premises owners and delivery drivers.

The Committee discussed the following policing issues:

       i.          Pavement parking in the south area of the city.

     ii.          Issues relating to Balfour Beatty streetlight replacement work. SAC were advised concerns should be reported to the County Council or Balfour Beatty out of hours number to be addressed.

   iii.          Motorists encroaching on premise’s/people’s driveways or ‘H’ lines in front of driveways when parking.

   iv.          Parking in front of schools obstructing residents and other drivers. The inconvenience caused could be described as anti-social behaviour. Traffic Wardens were asked to ticket obstructive drivers if this was discharged as a police priority.

    v.          Thefts from motor vehicles in the Queen Edith’s and Trumpington areas. Specifically vehicles parked on construction sites. This was less of an issue in Queen Edith’s as construction sites were smaller and in residential areas, which provided less chances for opportunist thieves.

   vi.          The supply of drugs in the south area.

 vii.          The number of burglaries in the Queen Edith’s area affecting commercial and domestic buildings.

The following priorities were unanimously agreed:

       i.          Combat the supply of drugs in the South area.

     ii.          Target the increase in dwelling burglary in the Cherry Hinton area.

   iii.          Target the increase in thefts from motor vehicles in the Trumpington area.

Sergeant Stevenson reiterated that members of the public could report any incidents on the Police 101 number. This would allow the Police to build up intelligence on criminal activities.

SAC expressed their thanks to Sergeant Stevenson and team for all their hard work.