Decision details

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

The Committee received a report from Sergeant Wood regarding Policing and Safer Neighbourhood Trends.

 

The report outlined actions taken since the West / Central Area Committee of the 4 September 2014. The current emerging issues/neighbourhood trends for each ward were also highlighted

 

Comments from members of the public:

 

John Lawton:

     i.        Would it be possible to break down the traffic offence report to show speeding offences, particularly 20mph offences in the central area.

    ii.        Action on 20mph enforcement on Maids Causeway was required.

   iii.        A local resident of Maids Causway, Mr Kellett had been speaking with HGV companies whose vehicles had been accessing Maids Causeway. Their response has been that they cannot stop their drivers using this route and enforcement should be actioned by the Police.

  iv.        Queuing was a separate issue in Maids Causeway particularly during and after the Christmas period. Vehicles were not permitted to remain stationary, do PCSOs have the power to request that drivers move on.

 

In response Sergeant Wood said the following:

     i.        A breakdown of speeding offences was not currently available. This information has been requested for future reference.

    ii.        With regards to 20mph enforcement on Maids Causeway, PCSOs do have the power to issue tickets and have been trained, however we are required by law to give a certain amount of leniency

   iii.        We are aware of this issue of HGVs and Officers have been appointed to liaise with Mr Kellett on this matter.

  iv.        Officers are asked to take a pragmatic approach on the matter of queuing.

 

Member of Public:

     i.        The Police have said that they are no longer responsible for speed cameras in the City. I would like the person who is responsible to attend a WCAC meeting and address why the speed cameras do not work when most needed, ie a Friday and Saturday night on many of the roads out of Cambridge.

 

Sergeant Wood replied that the County Council was responsible for speed cameras although the Police did have a mobile unit.

 

Colin Rosenstiel:

     i.        20mph enforcement has been mentioned in Maids Causeway but there were other problems in the City such as King Street and Emmanuel Street.

    ii.        With regards to car park queuing there had been an attempt to address this issue at the Grand Arcade, with signage in Pembroke Street, but this was ignored. The Police had a duty to keep the traffic moving and this should be a priority.

 

Sergeant Wood stated that over the festive period there had been an increase in traffic into the City and Officers had been on patrol. Officers had also been requested to patrol the areas mentioned at certain times but it was not possible to allocate Officers at all times to this issue.

 

Comments from the Committee

 

Councillor Holland:

     i.        Stated that she had reported a couple of near miss accidents on Huntingdon Road involving young children due to construction traffic parking on the grass verges.

 

The Safer Communities Section Manager confirmed that she had passed the information on the Sergeant Misik to investigate the matter further and who had sent Officers to the area and would report back on this issue.

 

Councillor Bick:

     i.        Noted the positives in the report.

    ii.        Remarked that residents had asked to address the problem of cycling in Portugal Place and would welcome enforcement in the area.

   iii.        Stated that noise issues in Sussex Street had been brought to his attention. 

 

Sergeant Wood noted the remarks on Portugal Place and stated that, Street Night Officers had been tasked to patrol Sussex Street and the surrounding areas encouraging people to move on, preferably to the Market Square.

 

The Safer Communities Section Manager advised that the pilot scheme for Sussex Street was progressing well and a report would be brought back to the Committee at a later date. 

 

Councillor Nethsingha:

     i.        Stated that Police should continue to be firm on the issue of over-ranking of the taxi ranks.

    ii.        Remarked that taxi drivers needed to be made aware of the cycle routes in the City.

   iii.        Noted an increase in the figures in burglary and theft in the Newnham area and asked if the Police could advise what action was being taken.

 

Sergeant Wood replied that the question regarding burglary and theft would be taken back to Sergeant Misik.

 

Inspector Johnson informed the Committee that this trend was reported in last quarter and has been addressed.

 

The Committee:

 

RESOLVED (unanimously) to prioritise the following:

 

     i.        Address alcohol related violent crime and ASB

    ii.        Tackle cycle theft

   iii.        Address a range of road safety issues, including parking, inconsiderate cycling, driving and speeding.