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.        Road safety

 

Members of the public (MOP) and Councillors asked a number of questions, as set out below.

 

1.   MOP commented that surgeries with Jess Phillips were appreciated but understood that these were not going to be continued, DS Emms was going to look into.  Commented that no data had been included within the police report. Referred to ASB driving in East Chesterton. Was not happy with the Fen Road CCTV camera as did not think it was being checked. Had to get rapid response unit in Bramblefields by the pond because of drug dealing taking place and asked whether this area was checked.

 

A regional data system had been adopted and there were difficulties in producing data sets, the Police did not want to provide data which was inaccurate.  The CCTV camera on Fen Road was an addition to the City’s network; it was run under the Huntingdonshire District Council network. It was not a livestream camera. 

 

2.   Councillor Dalzell asked whether there was a timeline for when data could be produced.

 

Action: ASB Team to provide response regarding the CCTV camera at Fen Road and provision of data.

 

Action: DS Emms to look into whether surgeries with Jess Phillips were going to be continued.

 

Action:  The Chair to write to Police and Crime Commissioner to express dissatisfaction regarding not being able to get crime data for the North Area.

 

3.   MOP commented on the proposed move of Parkside police station to an edge of centre location. 

 

Commented that the proposed site for the relocation of the police station would make it easier for officers to get to Arbury and Kings Hedges and may mean that residents saw police officers more often. There would still be a police presence in the city centre but could not say where this would be or when the move would take place. The current building was not fit for purpose as it was built in 1967.

 

4.   MOP commented that they did not see Police Officers on the streets and they wanted to see them on the streets.  Asked if the Police had contact with Network Rail which had good CCTV cameras.

 

Had spoken with Network Rail, the point of their CCTV cameras was for the prevention of crime on the railway. They needed to work through the issues with the Fen Road CCTV camera so that it was effective.  Was confident that police officers were in the right places, they did not always have the resources to have officers on the streets.

 

5.   Councillor Richards commented about drugs being found on the streets and children (care leavers) going missing.

 

Operation Carmel was for street based drug dealing and had been successful with ‘cuckooing’ but this had moved drug dealing on to the streets. 2 week operations involved foot patrols and speaking with residents, overt and covert operations and trying to catch drug dealers in the act.

 

6.   Councillor Manning referred to the management and running of Midsummer Fair and noted the frustration around the CCTV was not due to the police but to the city council.

 

7.   Councillor Dalzell commented that street based drug dealing needed to be made as unprofitable as possible.

 

Commented that some funding was available from a Proceeds of Crime fund to try and divert young people away from crime.

 

8.   MOP referred to designing out crime in the planning process.

 

Noted that designing out crime referred to architectural design and not social design.

 

Referred residents to report issues to: CambridgeCityNorth@cambs.pnn.police.uk

 

9.   MOP referred to ASB in the garage area at Ferrars Way.

 

10. MOP referred to a kebab van parked at Hanson Court, which used to be parked outside St Lawrence’s school. Noted that people smoked substances around this area.

 

11. Councillor Scutt referred to an issue that she had been dealing with at McManus Estate.

 

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

The following local issues were agreed (unanimously):

 

1. ASB and dangerous driving on Fen Road

2. Street based drug dealing

3. Youth and knife crime