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 the policing and safer neighbourhoods trends.

 

The report outlined actions taken since the Committee on 11 February 2016. 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.          Continuation with licensed premises enforcement visits.

     ii.          Violent crime in the city centre.

   iii.          Traffic junction enforcement and general road safety (all road users).

   iv.          Cycle theft.

 

Sergeant Wood made the following points:

       i.          (In reference to an Open Forum point): An Induction Officer visited overseas college students to make them aware of the Highway Code.

     ii.          Referred to cycle proficiency training offered by Outspoken.

   iii.          Regulations set out where signs could be placed on the highway. Police did enforce the Highway Code.

 

The Committee discussed the following policing issues:

       i.          The number of rough sleepers in Cambridge and how this could be addressed by the Police and partner agencies.

     ii.          Inconsistent enforcement of the Highway Code at junctions. For example when pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles jumped the lights.

   iii.          Bollards in Burleigh Street, Mill Road and East Road being lowered when they should stop traffic coming through.

   iv.          Rat running by taxis in Silver Street.

    v.          Anti-social behaviour towards cyclists:

a.    By vehicles on the road.

b.    Through comments on social media.

   vi.          Better use of social media to inform members of the public about police activity in their area.

 vii.          The increase in aggressive begging.

viii.          The increase in racism/race hate crime since the Brexit decision.

   ix.          The increase in levels of anti-social behaviour such as fights between young people.

    x.          Drugs and needles in Petty Cury.

   xi.          Drug dealing in Castle Ward.

 xii.          Drug dealers rather than users should be targeted in future.

xiii.          The police 101 number was not a satisfactory way to report crime.

 

Sergeant Wood said the following in response to Members’ questions:

       i.          Dedicated street life officers offered support to rough sleepers.

·       The Senior Anti-Social Behaviour Officer said a lot of support was available, and enforcement action taken when necessary against anti-social behaviour. People had been helped to move off the street but others had moved in.

     ii.          An audit of key holders for bollards in Burleigh Street, Mill Road and East Road could be undertaken to see if they were being misused.

·       Councillor Cearns suggested that a joint letter could be sent by the City Council, County Council and Police to key holders reminding them of their responsibilities. Bollards could be raised by anyone if traffic flow was an issue, but only lowered by key holders.

   iii.          Referred to Operation Daybreak which tackled known drug dealing sites what were closely linked to rough sleepers.

 

Councillor Cantrill requested a change to the recommendations. Councillor Cantrill formally proposed to add the following priorities:

·       Tackling rough sleeping in the city centre.

·       Tackling drug dealing in the city centre, Arbury and Castle Wards.

·       Theft from vehicles (Newnham).

 

The priorities were unanimously agreed.

 

The following priorities were unanimously agreed:

       i.          Continuation with licensed premises enforcement visits.

     ii.          Violent crime in the city centre.

   iii.          Traffic junction enforcement and general road safety (all road users).

   iv.          Cycle theft.

    v.          Tackling rough sleeping in the city centre.

   vi.          Tackling drug dealing in the city centre, Arbury and Castle Wards.

 vii.          Theft from vehicles (Newnham).