Issue - meetings

The Committee received a report from the Safer Neighbourhoods Inspector and Safer Communities Team 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 local issues and engagement activity noted in the report were:

     i.        Criminality in and around East Chesterton

    ii.        County line drug dealing.

   iii.        Summer and hot weather ASB in green and open spaces

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

1.    Asked if different sectors of the community were treated differently.

Inspector Rogerson commented that certain cultures and lifestyle choices meant that certain sectors of the community could be anonymous from public authorities. Members of the public were all treated fairly but this did not mean treating everyone the same.

2.   Commented that issues on Chesterton Road needed to be addressed and that the planning development process should be used to address this. For example the Cambridge Northern Fringe East development project. 

In response to Members questions Inspector Rogerson responded:

     i.        The Police ICT system was due to be delivered in the New Year so that crime data could be provided to Area Committees.

    ii.        Confirmed that the Police would like to run a road safety project every 2 weeks between area committees meetings to target particular road junctions for phone use, people not wearing their seatbelts, driving through red lights etc. Asked the Committee to nominate 4 junctions for the police to attend and monitor. 

   iii.        He was aware that sometimes the public felt that their information was not acted upon but even if a police officer was unable to attend an incident, the police would consider and review all information and intelligence provided to them to create a profile of an area.  This would then enable the police to undertake operations and act as necessary.

  iv.        Actionable intelligence was as much information as possible but included descriptions of individuals, clothing, what was handed over, distinctive haircuts etc.  

Action: Cllr Manning to liaise with Civil Enforcement Officers to see whether there was a protocol between them and the police regarding people parking on zig zag lines.

The Committee were asked to nominate their local issues for focus over the coming months.

The following local issues were agreed (unanimously):

1. Criminality in and around East Chesterton.

2. County line drug dealing.

3. Road Safety