Issue - meetings

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

 

The report outlined actions taken since the Committee on 28 November 2013. The current emerging issues/neighbourhood trends for each ward were also highlighted (see report for full details).

 

1.    Mr Taylor asked if Neighbourhood Alert was being used in Cambridge and if Councillors were included in the circulation.

 

The Safer Neighbourhoods Inspector confirmed that Neighbourhood Alert was an enhanced version of E-Cops and was being used across Cambridge.

 

Councillor Johnson confirmed that he received Neighbourhood Alerts and found them very useful. They provided information on the type of crimes being reported and committed across the City.

 

Councillor Smart responded that she preferred E-Cops alerts as it was more localised. She would however look again at the data provided in Neighbourhood Alerts.

 

2.    Mr Roman raised concern about drug dealing in Whitehill Road and Galfrid Road. It was also noted that the Police had stopped attending the Neighbourhood Watch meetings and local residents were feeling abandoned.

 

The Safer Neighbourhoods Inspector highlighted pages 27 and 28 of the agenda which emphasised the Police’s commitment to tackling drug crime in the area. Any information provided to the Police was taken seriously and the public were encouraged to report any concerns.

 

The Chair suggested that Mr Roman pass on all future Neighbourhood Watch meeting dates to the Safer Neighbourhoods Inspector.

 

3.    Ms Sinnott requested that the figures in the report relating to violent crime be broken down into categories.

 

The Safer Neighbourhoods Inspector confirmed that a Violent Crime Task Group looked for patterns and trends in the figures and then allocated resources accordingly.

 

A further breakdown of the figures could be requested by the Area Committee.

 

The Chair agreed to discuss this issue at the next Area Committee Chairs meeting. 

 

4.    Mr Black asked what the process was for documenting hate crime.

 

The Safer Neighbourhoods Inspector confirmed that a marker was placed against each of these crimes and trends and patterns could then be monitored.  

 

5.    Councillor Brown asked what action the Police were taking in respect of the offensive leaflet distributed recently in Cambridge.

 

The Safer Neighbourhoods Inspector confirmed that this was being investigated as a hate crime and he would keep the Committee informed of any progress. 

 

6.    Resident: Raised concern about the number of cyclists on Mill Road with no lights and the lack of Police action to tackle this.

 

The Safer Neighbourhoods Inspector confirmed that it was an issue across Cambridge and the Police gave it a proportionate response with appropriate resources. It was noted however that, with limited resources, it was a balance. 

 

Resolved (unanimously) to agree the following priorities:

 

i.                 Tackle the supply of drugs in the East area

ii.               Policing issues associated with Mill Road

iii.             Reduce shoplifting in the East Area