Issue - meetings

The Chair welcomed Sargeant Munday (Cambridgeshire Constabulary) and Rachel Fairhead (Anti-Social Behaviour Officer) to the meeting.

 

The Committee received a report from Sargeant Munday regarding policing and safer neighbourhoods’ trends.

 

It was suggested that anti-social behaviour was included to the drug dealing and the protection of local young people – child criminal exploitation for the consideration of the Police.  In particular, to focus on anti-social behaviour in the Burnside area.

 

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).

East area neighbourhood profile - Policing and Safer Neighbourhoods (cambridge.gov.uk)

 

Previous local areas of concern and engagement activity noted in the report were:

  i.  Anti-social driving

  ii.  Cycle theft

  iii. Drug dealing, and the protection of local young people – child criminal exploitation.

 

Committee Manager note: An e-mail had been sent post meeting to request the Police consider the addition of anti-social behaviour to point iii of the local areas of concern.

 

Anti-social driving

 

Councillors raised the following concerns on anti-social driving regarding public and privately owned e-scooters and those used by food delivery drivers. There was a range of examples of inappropriate use and anti-social driving provided, including an incident involving a pedestrian on Ditton Meadows.   Two cases of cyclists being killed by vehicle drivers in the east area was referenced and Police were urged to be vigilant for close passing of drivers and to take immediate action if witnessed.

 

The issue of parking of all vehicles was discussed particularly on match day when Cambridge United were playing at home and the issues that pedestrians faced, particularly those with disabilities.

 

The Committee were advised that off road mobility scooters that were being sold which were not fit purpose should be a matter referred to Trading Standards.

 

The Anti-Social Behaviour Officer stated that residents were encouraged to fill out the online reporting form found on the Council’s website or call 101 to report any incidents of anti-social behaviour each time. 

Report an incident of antisocial behaviour (cambridge.gov.uk)

 

Cycle crime

 

Councillor Pounds reported that the Cycle Prevention Task and Finish Working Group were pleased with the progress that had been made on the arrests of serial offenders. This had improved the statistics of cycle crime considerably.

 

Drug dealing and the protection of local young people – child criminal exploitation.

 

The Committee agreed that this matter was of particular importance to residents, particularly with the influx of county lines drug dealing, alongside the local dealers which impacted a vast array of individuals including young people in the City.

 

The Anti-Social Behaviour Officer highlighted the Cambs Against County Lines project, raising awareness about child criminal exploitation and County Lines issues. A number of “Train the Facilitator” sessions had been delivered to professionals in the east of the city, so that they are able to deliver the project in their own areas.

www.cambridge.gov.uk/cambs-against-county-lines

 

A range of anti-social behaviour was highlighted in the Burnside area and asked what action had been taken on the issues referenced.  This led to the discussion of those wards whose boundaries sat with other areas of Cambridge, as a series of incidents had taken place between Cherry Hinton and Queen Edith. It was important to track incidents which crossed the area boundaries and that actions were taken.

 

The use of CCTV was discussed and how all external agencies working with the City Council needed to work effectively to assist with any crimes that had taken place, particularly mobile CCTV cameras.

 

The Anti-Social Behaviour Officer advised that decisions regarding the location of mobile CCTV was undertaken by the City Council, the relevant officer could inform all external agencies with an up to date setting of their cameras if required.

 

The Chair thanked all those who had taken part in the discussion.