Issue - meetings

The committee received the Policing and Safer Neighbourhoods presented by the Neighbourhood Police Sergeant.

The committee made the following comments on the report.

i.          Clarification was requested on the age profile of the individuals that had been identified as associated related with the drug related issues. The Sergeant explained the current focus of the operations, and that there was no specific age group associated with the issues.

ii.       The proposal for a new speed survey on Church End was welcomed.

iii.          Clarification was requested on whether the drugs enforcement activities would also focus on the areas where drug related activities were taking place. The Sergeant explained that the activities related to drug activity were intelligence lead.

iv.      The Sergeant was thanked for the intervention in relation to parking around primary schools in Queen Edith’s, but clarification was requested on whether all children had returned to Queen Edith’s Primary School following the building work. The committee was advised that the children had returned, but that the situation would continue to be monitored. Problems arising from anti-social school parking on Bosworth Road were highlighted.

v.       It was suggested that greater focus should be placed on tackling cycle crime at Long Road Sixth Form College. The Sergeant advised that due to the high concentration of cycles at Long Road Sixth Forms College thefts were higher, but that the Police were already actively engaged with college to reduce thefts.

vi.          Clarification was requested on why dwelling burglaries were higher in Queen’s Edith compared with the other two wards. The Sergeant explained that the ward was the largest of the three wards; with the largest number of dwelling therefore burglary was statistically likely to be higher. The Sergeant outlined pro-active activities undertaken to tackle burglary in the area.

vii.     The PCSOs in Cherry Hinton were thanked for their important work, but clarification was requested on whether the long-term future of the PCSOs was clear. The Sergeant explained that no long-term clarity was available at this stage, but that every effort was being made to retain the existing level of resources.

viii.    The committee requested consideration of a potential extension of the previously successful city centre cycle lights campaign to outlying areas of the city. The Sergeant explained that this was already in progress.

Resolved (Unanimously) to adopt the following priorities

i.                    ASB in Cherry Hinton to address the rise in criminal damage.

ii.                  Combating supply of controlled drugs in South area.

iii.                Theft of pedal cycles in Trumpington.