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 23 June 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:

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

     ii.          Target dwelling burglary in the Cherry Hinton and Trumpington wards.

   iii.          Target ASB associated with the “Cambridge Lakes” area.

 

The Committee discussed the following policing issues:

       i.          Drug dealing and drug use affecting Trumpington and Queen Edith’s Wards. Also associated anti-social behaviour eg dumping of needles in Queen Edith’s Ward.

     ii.          Links between alcohol/drugs and violent crime.

   iii.          Breakdown of statistics in police area committee reports to help set priorities. The Sergeant undertook to provide these in future reports.

   iv.          Work to reduce cycle crime across the city. This could be covered under the umbrella of road safety to address various issues including criminality.

    v.          Home safety and crime prevention initiatives across the city, with particular focus on Queen Edith’s Ward.

 

In response to Members’ questions the Sergeant answered:

       i.                    Financial investigations were routinely undertaken when money was seized after drugs busts.

     ii.                    Burglary was not recommended as a priority. There had been a spike in figures (agenda page 19 due to historic issues that had been addressed).

   iii.                    The Police had not mapped if dwelling burglaries had occurred in areas without street lighting eg where it had been taken away. They would consider doing so in future.

   iv.                    It was a political decision by councilors where/not to have street lighting.

    v.                    Domestic violence was included in violent crime figures. A rise may have occurred due to increased reporting and the growth in numbers of dwelling in the city. A future breakdown of figures may help address this.

   vi.                    There was no quantifiable link between youth unemployment and violent crime. Repeat offending was more of an issue, the intention was to carry on with early intervention work.

 

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

 

1.       Mr Bower supported work to reduce cycle crime across the city.

 

2.       Mr John asked why violent crime was not recommended as a police priority.

 

Sergeant Horton said that violent crime was always treated as a serious issue. The breakdown of statistics in future would allow SAC to target particular issues/areas.

 

Sergeant Horton requested a change to the recommendations. He proposed adding road safety to priority 3:

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

 

The amendment was agreed nem con.

 

The following priorities were unanimously agreed:

       i.          Continue work against Class A dealers.

     ii.          Address cycle crime in response to citywide spike.

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

   iv.          Dwelling burglary