Issue - meetings

                                                                                                9.00pm

The Committee received a report from Inspector Poppit regarding policing and safer neighbourhood trends.

 

The report outlined actions taken since the West Central Area Committee of the 5 September 2013. The current emerging issues/neighbourhood trends for each ward were also highlighted (see report for full details).

 

Community Fire Safety Officer Meikle reported the number of blue bags had been reduced and it was business as usual.

 

Members’ Comments:

 

Councillor Reiner queried whether the Police could initiate as part of their priorities a project for road safety specifically for school age children during the busy school run period.

 

Councillor Cantrill stated that there was a broader set of issues concerning road safety, suggesting road users needed to think about other road users and the impact that their actions had. He then suggested including motorists being ticketed for straying into cycle stop boxes at junctions as part of the wider road safety priority.

 

Councillor Kightley suggested that motorists should also be ticketed for entering on to the hatch areas on the road when their exits were not clear. 

 

Councillor Nethsingha passed on her thanks to the enforcement team whose work had made a difference to the parking outside schools for the school drop off.

 

Councillor Nethsingha brought to the Committee’s attention the lack of secondary school children who wear helmets when cycling. With the Tour de France coming to the City this could be the perfect opportunity to help change the culture. 

 

Councillor Cantrill stated that Cambridgeshire County grants were available of up to £500 to local groups to support activities or events linked to cycling or the Tour de France which could be linked to safety.

 

The Director of Customer and Community Services acknowledged that the Tour de France was an opportunity to link the promotion of wearing safety helmets and would reference the discussion to the Tour de France working party.

 

Councillor Rosenstiel queried the safety implications of helmets   and then went on to specify that cycle theft and crime prevention needed to be strengthened. The City Council were increasing the cycle parking provision but the Police needed to  advise those residents who had their bikes stolen that their cycles needed to be locked to something.

 

The Committee were reminded of the surgeries held by the PCO’s where residents were advised on how to look after their cycles.

 

The Chair then invited members of the public to address the Police:

 

1) Mr Richard Taylor

The Police report referred to electronic alerts as way of communication with local neighbourhoods could you please explain how this works.

 

With the Police exploring the possibility of how they utilise the Cambridge ShapeYourPlace website, will there still be a forum to allow people to make suggestions in the public space?

 

Inspector Poppit advised that the Neighbourhood Alert has replaced e-cops which allow a broader subject matter in of crime and crime prevention.  Anyone who is registered will receive an alert. The system provides an enhanced service to Neighbourhood Watch coordinators.  With regards to ShapeYourPlace he would like to see the website used as an engagement tool for the City.

 

2) Mr Richard Taylor

At the last West / Central Area Committee meeting I asked if the Police could include in their report how, when and where Tasers were being used in Cambridge.

 

Could the Police comment on the recruitment of a Cambridge University student to spy on those students who were members of the Student Union. Who is the current Police University Liaison Officer as they really need to understand how the University is run and the role of the Student Union.

 

Inspector Poppit advised that no Police representatives at the meeting had a Taser. It would be wrong to give out any operational details on the use of Tasers. Officers who use Tasers would have undertaken the relevant training and were assessed on a regular basis. The Professional Standard Department review what the police do and deal with any complaints.

 

Inspector Poppit stated that he would be the Senior Officer who manages the University Liaison Officer; PC Simon Railer, who had held the post of University Liaison Officer (for both Cambridge University and Anglian Ruskin) for approximately three years and had built good working relationship and understanding with both Universities

 

3) Mrs Hardcastle & Mr Russell

Item 3 of the Police and Neighbourhood profile report refers to City Councillor’s ASB Officers who had been contacted by residents of Radcliffe Court in Market Ward regarding youths gaining access to the private terraces within the complex. Working in partnership with the police and the property company, the issue had now been resolved. We wish to inform the Committee that we dispute this statement and the issue was still on going.

 

        Mr Russell then spoke at length at the problems that he had encountered on a continuous basis and the affect that this had.

 

        The Safer Communities Section Manager advised Mr Russell that as the problem had stopped being reported, it had been anticipated the issue was resolved. It was agreed to talk to Mrs Hardcastle and Mr Russell outside of the meeting with the Police to discuss how the situation could be moved forward.  

 

Councillor Rosenstiel explained that support was required from the neighbouring business in ensuring that roof access was secure.

 

        Councillor Nethsingha requested a follow up to actions that had been undertaken following the discussion with Mrs Hardcastle and Mr Russell.

 

        Councillor Smith asked if there was a general problem of roof running or was this in a specific area as discussed tonight. The Safer Communities Manager advised that this issue should be treated separately to that of the police priorities.

 

        4) Mr John Lawton

        I would like to remind Members of the statement that was made at the previous meeting of the West / Central Area Committee. Would the Committee consider in advance of the next West / Central Area meeting when Police priorities will be set, adding enforcement of the 20mph speed limit specifically in Maids Causeway, Newmarket Road, but also, not limited to adjoining streets such as Jesus Lane and Emmanuel Road?

 

Inspector Poppit replied that it was very much an operation that the Police supported and could be incorporated into the wider area of road safety and would be based on risk. There were now speed awareness courses for those drivers who were caught breaking the speed limit in a 20 mph zone.

 

The Committee:

 

Resolved (unanimously) to prioritise the following:

 

1. Wider road safety priority ensuring better road safety for all road users focusing on the following:

 

     i.        Children’s road safety, particularly targeting areas around the Schools during peak times.

    ii.        Cycling in the City.  

   iii.        Ticketing all road users when stationary that encroached on designated no waiting areas, motorists straying into cycle stop boxes at junctions and cross hatchings. 

  iv.        Focusing on speed enforcement in risk areas, including the 20 mph zones in the City.

   v.        Over ranking of the taxis.

 

2. To continue to tackle ASB in the city.