Issue - meetings

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

 

The report outlined actions taken since the Committee on 29 June 2015. 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.          Target the supply of controlled drugs (Class A).

     ii.          Target road safety by addressing anti-social cycling and speeding.

   iii.          Management of the Cambridge Lakes

 

Councillor McPherson referred to the Committee Action Sheet:

 

ACTION	LEAD OFFICER/MEMBER	PROGRESS
PCSO Bailley to liaise with Enforcement Officers regarding the issuing of parking tickets in the area of Headington Drive and Fulbourn Road. Councillors Crawford and McPherson to also monitor the situation in conjunction with the Highways Authority.	Councillors Crawford and McPherson. PCSO Bailley	Councillor Crawford liaised with Evan Locklin to request a mirror and double yellow lines, but these would not be forthcoming. She undertook to follow this up.   PCSO Bailley said no further issues had been reported.

 

Members of the public raised the following policing issues:

       i.          Burglaries in Cherry Hinton where the majority of victims were part of the Asian community.

     ii.          Cycling on the pavement in the Trumpington area (also a citywide issue).

 

The Committee discussed the following policing issues:

       i.          Inconsiderate parking and associated anti-social behaviour (ASB) by parents collecting children from schools. Referred to areas monitored as listed in P27-28 of the agenda pack and asked for the Homerton Children’s Centre to be included. SAC stated the Police should focus on enforcement more than education due to repeated offending.

     ii.          A growing conflict between cars, bikes and pedestrians.

   iii.          Cyclists riding at night without lights. Asked the Police to continue enforcement action in areas already monitored (eg Hills Road), and also to look at other areas such as Mill Road and Trumpington.

   iv.          Rising levels of burglary and violent crime. Particularly burglaries in Queen Edith’s.

    v.          Inconsiderate parking by contractors in Queen Edith’s and associated ASB. This exacerbated existing parking and traffic flow issues.

   vi.          Signposted https://www.immobilise.com/ as a website where people could register property identification details to help with recovery if it was stolen.

 

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

       i.          A number of people had been arrested for burglary, as reported in the Cambridge News. Crime levels were now expected to fall. Signposted Operation Hunter which was designed to combat burglaries.

     ii.          A Detective Chief Inspector had responded to the letter regarding burglaries forwarded by the Mayor from a member of the public.

   iii.          Police were tackling cycling on the pavement across the city.

   iv.          Referred to answers in SAC 29 June 2015 regarding how violent crime statistics were reported, and why the current format was used. Domestic abuse was included in the figures, which impacted on trends as people were more willing to report incidents.

    v.          There had only been one reported incident of inconsiderate parking by contractors in Queen Edith’s. Requested details be sent to the Police for PCSOs to follow up.

 

Members of the public suggested the Highway Code could be better publicised through:

                 i.          Bikeability courses for school children.

               ii.          Leaflet and cycleway map handouts could be provided with rented bikes.

 

SAC discussed the issue of cycling on pavements:

       i.          Cambridge had a high population turn over due to the number of students attracted to the city. The population could change by 25% each year.

     ii.          The Police had visited language schools to pass on Highway Code information.

   iii.          Councillor Sanders suggested that a small laminated safer cycling poster could be tied to rental bike handle bars and people sign to say they have read it (as per vehicle rental disclaimers).

   iv.          Councillor Taylor said the County Council were looking to provide information for vulnerable road users. She would be happy to pass on any cycle safety information the Police may care to provide, suggesting it was in a multi-language and pictorial format for easy reference.

 

Councillor McPherson proposed the following issues could be addressed by citywide priorities:

·       Violent crime.

·       Burglaries in the South Area (as part of Operation Hunter).

 

Councillor McPherson formally proposed to add the following priorities to the Officer’s recommendation:

·       Enforcement action against inconsiderate/illegal parking around schools the city. Also speeding.

·       Enforcement action against cycling on the pavement around the city. Also cycling at night without lights.

 

The additional priorities were unanimously agreed.

 

The following priorities were unanimously agreed:

       i.          Continue to target the supply of controlled drugs (Class A).

     ii.          Enforcement action against inconsiderate/illegal parking around schools the city. Also speeding.

   iii.          Enforcement action against cycling on the pavement around the city. Also cycling at night without lights.