Issue - meetings

The Committee received a report 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.                 Drug dealing in the South Area, specifically in parks and open spaces;

ii.               Anti-Social Behaviour in public areas in Trumpington village; and

iii.             Begging on streets in Cherry Hinton.

Action: ASB Team to circulate round details of the new Police Officers who serviced the South Area.

 

The Committee discussed the following policing issues:

       i.          Aggressive begging was frightening to members of the public as they were not always equipped to be able to respond. Members of the public needed to understand that it was not just about enforcement and that individuals required support to be diverted away from begging.

     ii.          Referred to drug dealing which was taking place in the park which bordered the back gardens of properties in Gunhill Close.

   iii.          Noted issues in Coleville Road and empty properties / flats which could be used by individuals for ASB.

   iv.          Referred to drug dealing taking place in Princess Court and Hanover Court

    v.          Referred to a persistent beggar on Mill Road who had returned.

 

Members of the public raised the following policing issues:

       i.          Highlighted the issue of illegal and dangerous parking on Greenlands and Red Cross Lane and noted whilst the County Council Enforcement Team could be contacted to check parking, a more permanent solution needed to be found.

 

Councillor McGerty thanked the member of the public for highlighting this issue and asked for any ideas to resolve this issue. He noted that people still parked on freshly painted yellow lines and noted that yellow lines which had been introduced on Nightingale Avenue had meant that over 100 parking spaces had been lost.

 

Noted that the County Council’s enforcement Team could be contacted to check whether people were parking in accordance with restrictions.

 

Action: Councillor McGerty to follow up requisition for CCTV camera at Greenlands / Red Cross Lane. 

 

The Police noted that reference had been made to aggressive behaviour by some of the people who were parking where they shouldn’t and stated that this issue was not reflected in their ‘calls for service’. Stated that if this issue was reported then appropriate resource could be allocated to investigate this element of the issue.

 

Members of the public suggested:

       i.                    To query whether on-road parking was required.

     ii.                    Automatic number plate recognition.

   iii.                    Signage.

   iv.                    CCTV cameras specific for parking enforcement.

    v.                    Suggested that the County Council purchase an ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) car as Peterborough Council had something similar.

 

Members of the public were encouraged not to approach aggressive people by themselves and to report any issues or concerns through the appropriate channels.

 

 

The following priorities were unanimously agreed:

                                                    i.     Address youth ASB on the Anstey Way estate.

                                                  ii.      Address youth ASB in Trumpington Meadows.

                                                iii.     Continue work to address serious street-based violence, child criminal exploitation and child sexual exploitation.