Issue - meetings

Before Sergeant Stevenson introduced the report regarding policing and safer neighbourhood trends he announced that as from July 1, Detective Sergeant Kiri Mazur had taken over as East Area Sergeant.

The report outlined actions taken since the last reporting period as written by Sergeant Stevenson. 

The current emerging issues/neighbourhood trends for each ward were also highlighted (see report for full details). Previous issue of focus and engagement activity noted in the report were:

i.    Dealing of drugs, drug use and the associated anti-social behaviour

In response to questions and comments from the Committee and members of the public Sergeant Stevenson and Detective Sergeant Mazur said the following:

     i.        Cycle theft made up a third of crime in Cambridge.

    ii.        Following reports of a stolen cycle being sold on facebook; the Police would need to identify the individual by requesting information from the social media company which was difficult and a long process and likely to be unsuccessful due to American laws. 

   iii.        Would advise the member of the public to contact the seller of the stolen cycle and to arrange to meet. The Police would go with the member of the public if the resource was available at that time.

  iv.        Cycle owners should use the National Crime Property Register or Immobilise who would send a Security Marking Kit to etch on the cycle.

   v.        Cyclists should know the make and model of their bike and make a note of the frame number. Have proof of ownership.

  vi.        Stolen cycles that were distinctive and unusual (such as in colour) had a better chance of recovery.

 vii.        Cycle parking at the train station was run by a private company. It would be the company’s decision to determine if the CCTV should be monitored full time as a deterrent to cycle theft.

viii.        Would request that an Environmental Visual Assessment (EVA) be carried out at the station’s cycle park.

  ix.        Would speak with the Community Safety Officer regarding the survey which had been carried out to change the anti-social behaviour on Petersfield Green as had not seen a copy.

   x.        Could not comment on the issues after Strawberry Fair as was not on shift that day.

  xi.        The Community Safety Officer regularly meets with colleges and language schools to highlight a number of issues and talk to the students, emphasising a number of differences in legislation between the UK and their country of residence. If students were witnessed breaking the law by the public this should be reported.

 xii.        With regards to enforcement on parking around Cambridge Leisure Park this had to be witnessed by the Police in order for action to be taken. If a vehicle had illegally parked, this could be ticketed by the relevant authority.

xiii.        Advised it was best to send all photos of illegal or inconsiderate parking to the Camera, Tickets and Collision Unit at Stevenage rather than posting on the Police’s twitter or facebook page. Posting photos on social media could rarely be used as evidence.

xiv.        Believed that a large proportion of street based violence highlighted in the report was linked to drug related activities. 

xv.        In response to the ‘Hippy Crack Canisters’ found in Ravensworth Gardens these  did not come under the Misuse of Drugs Act. The canisters once emptied did not pose any bio-hazards or health risk. The Police were aware of the anti-social behaviour in the area and action would be taken.

xvi.        Noted the comments regarding anti-social behaviour on the junction of Suez and Hobart Road, Rustat Road including Carter Bridge.

Councillor Massey informed the Committee the feedback she had received regarding Strawberry Fair was that there was a large number of people who had visited from out of the City using the train stations. At one point late at night the station was swamped with people trying to get back home and there simply was not enough transport police to cope with this unexpected issue while dealing with a separate incident. It was reported that drugs inside the Fair was a concern and underage drinking on the way to the Fair.

Officers were working with Strawberry Fair representatives and Police on next year’s operational fair to ensure these issues did not occur the following year.

Following a further discussion on Strawberry Fair Councillor Whitehead recalled that the licensing regulations stated the Fair should be advertised locally only; viewed as local event. Councillor Massey agreed to look into this further (ACTION).