Issue - meetings

The Committee received a report from Sergeant Misik and Sergeant Wood regarding Policing and Safer neighbourhood trends.

 

The report outlined actions taken since the West Central Area Committee of the 24 April 2014 on the priorities that had been set. The current emerging issues/neighbourhood trends for each ward were also highlighted (see report for full details).

 

Members’ Comments on Anti-Social Behaviour:

 

Councillor Hipkin asked whether was possible to produce figures to show the number recorded crimes, prosecutions and convictions. This would  show what action had been taken following reported crime.

 

Acting Inspector Wragg advised that these figures were problematic to produce for each quarter due to the varying length of time the legal process took after an arrest had been made. Therefore the information would not be timely. There was also information which could not be made public during this process that added to the difficulty of producing additional reporting figures.

 

Councillor Cearns asked if there was there evidence of deprivation concerning individuals who had been arrested for persistent begging who lived in their own accommodation, or was it a situation of abusing an opportunity. What was being done to offer those people an alternative lifestyle to one that that found themselves in?

 

Sergeant Misik confirmed that the majority of individuals were drug or alcohol dependent. Information would be passed to the Chronically Excluded Adult (CEA) Team or hostels in the City to work with those individuals to try and address their behaviour. It was important to note that this was not always enforcement lea but it was important to give a consistent message.

 

Councillor Smith noted that over the Summer there seemed to be an increase in persistent begging from individuals who appeared to be vulnerable, which she had not been observed before. Where there more individuals on the street who required help or enforcement, or was it just a perception?

 

Sergeant Misik replied that there was always an increase at certain time of the year with individuals arriving in the City for Summer festivals. Usually they stayed for a period of time before moving on.  In reality many of the individuals did have a degree of vulnerability which are observed by the Police and reported back to the various agencies.

 

Members’ Comments on Operation Safe Passage & Vehicle obstruction of pavements:

 

Councillor Bick stated he was pleased to note the work being done on the vehicle obstruction of pavements, but the problem was still ongoing. He had witnessed the problem on Victoria Street with the further obstruction of wheelie bins and bikes on the pavements. Councillors had also received reports of a damaged manhole cover on the pavement on Victoria Street which could possibly be caused by vehicles parking on the pavement. This priority should be continued as it required on going attention.

 

Sergeant Wood acknowledged that the Committee’s last priority setting of Operation Safe Passage & Vehicle Obstruction of pavements did merge together. He explained his team were in charge of the pavement obstruction while the Road Police team were responsible for traffic offences. His Officers had been instructed to talk with the registered owner whose vehicles were obstructing pavements and identify if they were local to try to change their behaviour. The transient visitors were not as easy to talk to as they were not in the area on a long term basis.

 

Sergeant Wood concluded that he was investigating possible strategies such as improving the markings, street furniture, educating local cyclist and vehicle users.

 

Councillor Hipkin questioned if the Police would agree it was deemed acceptable to park on a pavement, as in some parts of the City it was encouraged. However when causing an obstruction it then becomes an offence, but causing an obstruction to whom and what?  Measurable criteria would be welcomed.

 

Sergeant Misik advised that there was no wrong or right answer and it would be a judgement call by the Officer.

 

Sergeant Wood replied that every situation is judged on its own merit and reiterated that pictures of the vehicle causing an obstruction could be sent to via e-mail. He would expect that a push chair or wheel chair should be able to be pass vehicles which were parked on the pavement.

 

E-mails had been sent from Hackney Carriages to show civilian parking in taxi ranks. Warning letters had been issued to the registered owners, if the same offender persisted more than three times enforcement was taken. A similar approach would be taken on the issue that had been raised by Mr Kellett in the public forum earlier in the meeting.

 

Councillor Cantrill enquired whether the Police would issue a warning letter if pictures of coaches illegally parked were e-mailed to them?

 

Sergeant Misik stated that best way would be to ring 101 in this instance.  

 

Councillor Cearns agreed that there were also problems with taxi’s parking in the City Centre where they should not be. A meeting had been arranged with Sergeant Wood the following to discuss all the City Centre issues that had been highlighted.

 

Comments from Members of the Public

 

Could you explain how the enforcement of vehicle excise duty will happen with the planned removal of the paper tax disc?

 

Sergeant Wood responded that the impact on the Police was unknown. If an individual did not register their vehicle or apply for an off road notice, the registered keeper would be fined. The DVLA kept a data base of all registered keepers and automatic number plate recognition would also play a role in determining if the vehicle was taxed or not.

 

What is the law for those vehicles parking close to the junction and raised junctions, such as that on the corner Wilberforce Road, with cars parked half of the pavement and half on the road and should those vehicles be reported via the 101.

 

Sergeant Wood advised that there were two types of traffic legislation which could be used, the Road Traffic Act and the Road Traffic Offenders’ Act. However a common sense approach should be taken, however if a vehicle was parked within ten metres of a junction this was an offence. If a vehicle was parked on the zig zag on the approach to a cross roads, evidence of the offence would be reported to the central ticketing office who would determine the best way to deal with the individual. If a vehicle was parked inappropriately then it was best to call the Police.

 

Councillor Smith reported that she and Councillor Cantrill attended a meeting with County and City Officers to discuss possible installation of double yellow lines in Newnham which included the junction of Adams and Wilberforce Road.

 

Members’ Comments on Future Objectives:

 

Councillor Bick welcomed the statics referenced in the report and suggested that a better bench mark would be to compare the figures at the same point of the previous year rather than the last quarter.

 

Councillor Nethsingha noted that there had been an increase in cycle theft, compared to the last summer and the last quarter.  When this had been a previous priority cycle thefts had been reduced.

 

Councillor Cearns asked whether it was possible to have joint partnership working with the Police to extend ‘the vehicle obstruction of pavements’ to ‘pavement obstruction’ to include individuals who obstruct the pavements, such as ticket touts, peddlers, buskers and so forth.

 

Acting Inspector Wragg advised that issues such as peddlers and buskers were matters for the Council’s Enforcement team but the Police would be happy to provide support if and when they were required and able to do so. 

 

Councillor Smith highlighted that there were large numbers of punt touts that were   touting for unlicensed punts which needed to be addressed. It was agreed that a separate meeting would be organised to discuss this issue further.

 

The Committee.

 

Councillor Bick proposed that the offered recommendation in the Officer’s report of the next Police priority as ‘Acquisitive crime in the Newnham ward’ be removed and replaced with the continued priority of vehicle obstruction of pavements.

 

Councillor Cearns proposed that that the vehicle obstruction of pavements should extended to the obstruction of pavements which would include vehicle obstruction, cycle obstruction, etc.

 

Councillor Nethsingha proposed that the addition of cycle theft be included as an additional priority.

 

RESOLVED (unanimously) to prioritise the following:

 

     i.        Operation Safe Passage

    ii.        Street-based ASB in City Centre

   iii.        Extension of Vehicle Obstruction of Pavements expanded to include other physical obstructions such as cycles, etc.

  iv.        Cycle theft.