Issue - meetings

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

The report outlined actions taken since the Committee on 3 March 2014. 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:

·       Combat the supply of drugs in South area.

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

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

The Committee discussed the following policing issues:

       i.          Anti-social behaviour around the “Cambridge Lakes”. The Police could go on site in specific circumstances, but were tackling issues through other means, such as ticketing owners who parked inappropriately around the “Lakes” area.

     ii.          Drug use around in the “Cambridge Lakes” and Cherry Hinton areas.

   iii.          Bicycle crime in the Queen Edith’s area.

   iv.          Dwelling burglary in Queen Edith’s, Cherry Hinton and Trumpington wards.

SAC thanked Sergeant Jim Stevenson for his work to date, and looked forward to working with his successor.

Councillor Ashton expressed thanks on behalf of Cherry Hinton residents to PCSO Marie Bailey for her work.

In response to SAC Members’ questions the Police Inspector said the following:

       i.          Information from members of the public helped the police carry out investigations. The Police would verify information received then use it to target actions against areas and individuals. Generic information was published in e-cops, specific information was given to individuals who reported details.

     ii.          All speed cameras were assumed to be working. The Police were not responsible for their maintenance.

   iii.          CB1 was a bicycle crime hotspot. Visible patrols and covert investigations were used to tackle this. Information was also signposted through bike shops, such as the Immobilise website.

   iv.          The growth of the southern fringe led to a corresponding increase in crime, affecting contractors as well as residents. The Police would monitor this even if it were not a specific SAC priority.

Councillor Moore withdrew due to illness.

Councillor Taylor requested a change to the recommendations to include bicycle theft. SAC felt this was an on-going issue that was already being targeted by the Police.

The following priorities were agreed by 10 votes to 1:

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

     ii.          Target dwelling burglary in Queen Edith’s, Cherry Hinton and Trumpington wards.

   iii.          Target anti-social behaviour associated with the “Cambridge Lakes” area.