Issue - meetings

Lynda Kilkelly, Safer Communities Manager,

Cambridge City Council

The Committee received a report from the safer Neighbourhoods Inspector, Police Sergeant and Safer Communities Manager 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 noted in the report were:

     i.        Child sexual exploitation

    ii.        Anti-social behaviour around Fen Road

   iii.        Road safety with specific reference to Arbury Road, Gilbert Road, Fen Road and Kings Hedges Road.

 

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

 

1.   Richard Taylor raised concern over the perceived lawlessness on Fen Road.

 

Sargent Misik responded that he did not agree that the behaviour on Fen Road could be described as lawless.

 

2.   Asked the police for clarification of what happened on Fen Road on Friday 8 December 2017. Residents had reported that residential windows were broken with a ball bearing gun and the perpetrators drove past a police car taunting and filming the police.

 

Sargeant Misik confirmed that a call had been received at 20:20pm reporting an incident involving ball bearings. Officers had arrived on scene shortly after and names were being drawn together. Footage had also been captured and was being reviewed.

 

3.   Asked why the activity on Fen Road was classed as anti-social behavior (ASB). Stated that shooting through living room windows and driving along the pavement at speed should be considered as life threatening criminal activity.

 

Sargent Misik stated that the behaviour was considered by definition to be criminal damage not ASB. Confirmed that the police were in the process of investigating the ball bearing shooting incident and were also working with British Transport Police to address the reported driving incident.

 

4.   Asked why a CCTV camera was installed in Water Street and was then taken down shortly after.

 

The Safer Communities Section Manager confirmed that the camera had been vandalised so needed to be removed. They were in the process of finding a new much higher location for the camera to be reinstalled.

 

4.   There had been reports of moving vehicles swerving toward pedestrians on Fen Road. Footage of the incident had been capture of a mobile device and was offered to the police as evidence but they refused to accept it based on policy restrictions. Stated that installing CCTV in the area would help identify vehicles involved.

 

Sargent Misik suggested that the police may be prepared to review their current policy on accepting third party footage.

 

5.   Public opinion supported the idea of serious criminality on Fen Road being a police priority.

 

6.   Referred to the current road safety priority, many residents felt disheartened that even after reporting incidents in Kings Hedges very little appeared to be done by the police.

 

Sargent Misik stated that this sort of road safety issue was problematic for police to tackle because of the resources required. He suggested that it may be easier to prosecute through civil enforcement methods, such as a Public Spaces Protection Order. He would make enquiries to see if this was achievable.

 

The Committee discussed the following policing issues:

     i.        Warned that an email had been circulated which was designed to scare the public unnecessarily. He advised any recipients to ignore it.

    ii.        A recent news report made allegations of crimes going unreported; Members stated that this information was false. They confirmed that every crime mentioned in the report had been recorded by police.

   iii.        Made reference to the increase in violent crime incident figures recorded on page 37 of the agenda. Asked what the extents of the injuries were and asked for their thoughts on why there had been an increase.

  iv.        Made reference to page 31 of the agenda, child sexual exploitation. Stated that this was a city wide issue and welcomed the fact it was being taken seriously especially since the County Council announced the closure of some children’s services. Asked for assurances that it will remain a priority for police.

   v.        Upon reporting an incident of scooters racing in residential areas at 11pm one evening, the receiving police officer asked the Councillor for the registration plate of the perpetrating vehicle, stating without it the incident could not be recorded. The information requested was completely unachievable to obtain.

 

In response to Members questions Sargent Misik responded:

 

     i.        Attempts had been made to secure additional police resource for the road safety issues in Kings Hedges but this had been unsuccessful. If the problem persisted the wider policing unit which covered the whole county could intervene, but in order for them to know the severity of the problem the public needed to keep reporting the problem.

    ii.        Confirmed that changes in violent crime figures could be attributed to a seasonal peaks and troughs. The term ‘violent crime’ covered a broad range of offences from verbal to physical actions.

   iii.        Highlighted that advisors receiving an incident report via telephone would have asked for a number plate because they read from a script to ensure consistency. Comments about changing this approach would be taken on board.

  iv.        Assured that safeguarding vulnerable people was a core function of the police so child sexual exploitation would remain a priority.

 

There were 6 recommendations of which the Committee was asked to nominate their top 3 for focus over the coming months.

1. Fen Road ASB: There continues to be issues around this area and as such it continues to be a recommendation. The work around this area would be targeted patrolling in the area and continued work with partners.

2. Brownsfield Community Centre ASB: There is currently a developing trend in the area of ASB. This work would be around target patrolling and work with partners around any identified offenders.

3. Dwelling Burglary: The figures show an increase in the number of offences over the previous six months. This work will be in support of the Burglary team and would be around targeted patrolling of locations across the area which are subject to dwelling burglary.

4. County Line drug dealing. There continues to be areas on the North of the City where people are being put at risk but this kind of activity. The work around this would be around highlighting vulnerable people and dealing with offenders.

5. Road Safety. This is a core role for the team and this would be an increase number of patrols around this issue.

6. Safeguarding Young People. This is a key function of the team and this adaption of the CSE priority previously set. The work around this Priority would be working in partnership with other agencies to identify and deal with identified risks. This would cover CSE and other types of risk.

 

Councillor Sarris requested a change to the title wording of priority 1, additional wording in bold, removed wording struck through-

 

·        Fen Road ASB Criminality in and around East Chesterton:

Councillor Bird proposed to remove Priority 2, because the ASB issues had already been resolved.

 

The changes were agreed with no one opposed.

 

Councillor Todd-Jones formally proposed to add the following priority:

 

7.   To continue to recognise the need for Akeman Street and Darwin Drive area to receive special police focus.

 

The additional priority was agreed nem con.

 

The Committee voted on each priority individually:

 

1. Criminality in and around East Chesterton (13 votes to 0)

3. Dwelling Burglary: (0 votes)

4. County Line drug dealing (12 votes to 1)

5. Road Safety (1 vote to 12)

6. Safeguarding Young People (4 votes to 9)

7. To continue to recognise the need for Akeman Street and Darwin Drive area to receive special police focus (11 votes to 2)

 

The following priorities were agreed:

 

1. Criminality in and around East Chesterton.

4. County line drug dealing.

7. To continue to recognise the need for Akeman Street and Darwin Drive area to receive special police focus.