Issue - meetings

The Committee received a report from Police Sergeant Horton regarding policing and safer neighbourhoods trends.

 

The report outlined actions taken since the Committee on 13 October 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:

·       Continue work against Class A dealers.

·       Address cycle crime in response to citywide spike.

·       Address cycling offences with the return of students and darker evenings (will complement effort against cycle crime and road safety).

·       Dwelling burglary.

 

The Committee discussed the following policing issues:

       i.          Work taken to address drug dealing in the area around Rathmore Road and Rock Road.

     ii.          Work taken to address drug dealing in Trumpington.

   iii.          Drug dealing in Long Road and Sedley Taylor Road.

   iv.          Anti-social cycling eg riding on pavements.

    v.          Anti-social parking by parents near schools.

   vi.          Taking enforcement action against speeding motorists and cyclists.

 

In response to Members’ questions Sergeant Horton said the following:

       i.          Money seized from people selling drugs went into a central pot, then was returned to the Police as part of a general use fund. Proceeds of crime seized from a particular area eg Cambridge, would not be ringfenced to be returned to that area.

     ii.          Noted Member’s interest in learning more about operational details of police work to address drug dealing. Information could be publicised through e-cops and SAC meetings. This would be general so it did not impact on current investigations.

 

Members of the public asked a number of questions, as set out below.

 

1.       Mr John referred to the October 2014 SAC meeting. He said that violent crime was still high and asked why it was not a priority for SAC.

 

Sergeant Horton said that addressing violent crime was a citywide priority, so did not have to be a specific  to SAC. The high figures may be due to higher numbers of reported incidents, rather than an increase in the overall level. The Police had specialist units to investigate violent crime.

 

2.       Mr John asked if violent crime figures could be broken down to show types and trends.

 

Sergeant Horton said he was unable to provide this information. He had asked for more detail, but was informed by colleagues that only headline statistics would be generated for area committee reports. E-cops could provide more information.

 

3.       A member of public asked for speed enforcement action to be taken in Long Road where drivers still travelled at 40 MPH although the speed limit had been reduced to 30 MPH for circa one year.

 

Councillor McPherson requested a change to the recommendations. He formally proposed to amend the priorities as follows:

·       Switching the numbering order so that ‘target the supply of controlled drugs’ was number 1 and ‘reduce dwelling burglary’ was number 2. This would show that ‘target the supply of controlled drugs’ was an important priority for SAC.

·       Include a specific reference to Operation Hexham in the ‘target the supply of controlled drugs’ priority.

 

Councillors Ashwood and Moore requested a change to the recommendation (iii). Amendment:

·       Include dangerous/anti-social parking and anti-social cycling.

·       Include enforcement action against speeding motorists and cyclists.

 

The amendments were unanimously agreed.

 

The following priorities were unanimously agreed:

       i.          Target the supply of controlled drugs (Class A); to include a specific reference to Operation Hexham

     ii.          Reduce dwelling burglary

   iii.          Target road safety by addressing anti-social cycling and dangerous/anti-social parking, and taking enforcement action against speeding motorists and cyclists.

 

After SAC had agreed their priorities, residents from Porson Road stated their concerns regarding pedestrian, cyclist and car access, traffic flow and safety concerns. They stated Porson Road was regularly used for parking by people going to work and school runs, plus construction workers. Residents stated they had contacted Councillors and Officers about their concerns, but were dissatisfied with the perceived lack of response.

 

Councillor Blackhurst stated the situation could be monitored through priority 3, but aspects of the problem in Porson Rd would need a new a Traffic Regulation Order to control parking.

 

Councillor Avery said that SAC was an appropriate forum where residents could raise concerns, but SAC could not take immediate remedial action.

 

ACTION POINT: Councillor Avery to liaise with Porson Road residents regarding traffic access, flow and parking safety concerns.