Issue - meetings

The Committee received a report from Sgt Kevin Misik regarding policing and safer neighbourhoods trends.

 

The report outlined actions taken since the last reporting period. The current emerging issues/neighbourhood trends for each ward were also highlighted (see report for full details). Previous priorities and engagement activity were noted as detailed in the report.

 

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

 

1.      Nationally acid and ammonia attacks are attracting press comment. Is this a problem locally?

 

Inspector Leadbeater stated that gang culture was spreading and that gang tactics had been copied locally. There had been incidents of ammonia attacks in the city in the last six months.

 

2.      At the recent Midsummer Fair various individuals with police powers were present. Were these out of county officers appointed by the Chief Inspector of Cambridgeshire police?

 

All police officers attending this event had been approved by the Chief Inspector of Cambridgeshire police.

 

3.      There appears to be a large increase in cycle theft. Why isn’t more action being taken?

 

         The statistics show that there is an increase in cycle theft. However, current policing prioritises people over property.

        

The Committee expressed disappointment that cycle theft was regarded as a low-risk crime and suggested that this was a crime against young people who could be put at risk if their only means of transport was stolen.

 

Councillor Gillespie stated local residents had complained that drug dealing was taking place in the street and that this should be a priority for the police.

 

Councillor Bick felt that the categories covered by the priorities suggested were too broad and that more focused approach produced better results. He suggested losing rough sleeping as a priority was disappointing however partnership working to resolve the wider problems might produce better results.

 

Sgt Misik stated that the priorities were necessarily broad and that this approach would allow the police to add value locally.

 

Inspector Leadbeater stated that a number of out of county criminal and drug dealers had been arrested in recent weeks.

 

Counselling Gehring expressed disappointment at the new approach to setting priorities. He suggested that Area Committees should be allowed to adopt a bottom-up approach with suggestions coming from the community.

 

The Committee discussed the suggested priorities:

 

1.   Street-based anti-social behaviour.

 

2.   Road safety.

 

3.   Youth-related anti-social behaviour.

 

4.   Alcohol-related violence and disorder.

 

5.   Taxi issues.

 

6.   Licensing issues.

 

Councillor Nethsingha suggested that based on the Committee’s discussions, priorities 1, 3 and 4 appeared to reflect the Committee’s concerns.

 

The committee also requested that action be taken on cycle theft but agreed not to make this a priority.

 

The following priorities were unanimously agreed:

 

     i.        Street-based anti-social behaviour.

    ii.        Youth-related anti-social behaviour.

   iii.        Alcohol-related violence and disorder.