Issue - decisions

The Committee received a report from Sergeant Mišík 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.          Street-based anti-social behaviour.

     ii.          Youth-related anti-social behaviour.

   iii.          Alcohol-related violence and disorder.

 

The Committee discussed the following policing issues:

       i.          Issues regarding cycling in Madingley Road had been addressed for now.

     ii.          An individual was persistently begging outside Aldi.

   iii.          Drug dealing in Brunswick, Maid’s Causeway and Mid Summer Common.

   iv.          High numbers of cycle thefts.

    v.          Increasing levels of shoplifting.

   vi.          Cycling down Burleigh Street, Fitzroy Street, Trinity Street and Sydney Street during the day time when cycling prohibited.

 

Sergeant Mišík said in response to questions from WCAC:

       i.                    The Police undertook work to address rough sleeping in partnership with other agencies. Concerns about rough sleepers or anti-social behaviour such as begging could be reported to the Police either phone phoning 101 or through the Police website (https://www.cambs.police.uk/Home.aspx) which had a web chat facility.

     ii.                    There were currently 27 rough sleepers in Cambridge, compared to 41 this time last year. Help had been offered by the Council Outreach Team, but this had been refused by the rough sleepers. The City Council had a programme to help inappropriately housed people, particularly in cold weather.

   iii.                    Any non-urgent crime could be reported through the Cambridgeshire Constabulary website.

   iv.                    It was not possible to give a breakdown in quarterly Area Committee reports of the statistics for anti-social behaviour or road traffic collisions (ie more details of type/cause). There were too many variables. The information was held by the City Council and available via the Cambridgeshire Insight website.

    v.                    Levels of reported crime were increasing and reported anti-social behaviour decreasing as issues that were previously reported as anti-social behaviour were now being classed as crime.

   vi.                    Cambridgeshire Constabulary would undergo a fundamental review next year. Some details regarding the number of Police Officers had been reported in the Cambridge News. Further details would have to be sourced from the Police & Crime Commissioner.

 vii.                    The Police had a policy on when to review (or not) CCTV to tackle crime. This would be done by a Police Officer or designated person.

 

Members of the public made the following points:

 

1.       Mr Taylor asked for details regarding the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme:

·       Scheme details.

·       Consultees and consultation process.

·       Who has/would be given powers and how could they be identified eg uniform?

 

WCAC were unclear if any police powers had been given to civilians, or the consultation process required to do this. A report was suggested for the next WCAC meeting.

 

Sergeant Mišík suggested the City Council Licensing Department may have some information.

 

2.       Ms Nicholson suggested better signage may stop people cycling down Burleigh Street, Fitzroy Street, Trinity Street and Sydney Street during the day time when cycling was prohibited.

 

ACTION: WCAC Chair to request a report from the Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC), plus officer in attendance at next WCAC if possible, regarding:

      i.          The impact of the review on numbers of Police Officers in Cambridgeshire, with particular regard to the City of Cambridge.

    ii.          Request more information from the PCC and the City Council regarding the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme:

·       Scheme details.

·       Consultees and consultation process.

·       Who has/will be given powers and how they could be identified eg uniform?

 

Councillors requested changes to the recommendations (as shown in bold).

·       Councillor Bick formally proposed amending priority 3: Brunswick, Maid’s Causeway and Mid Summer Common drug issues.

·       Councillors Gillespie and Harrison formally proposed amending priority 5: Road safety such as:

§  Cycling down Burleigh Street, Fitzroy Street, Trinity Street and Sydney Street during day time when cycling was prohibited.

§  Anti-social driving.

·       Councillor Bick formally proposed amending priority 6: Other acquisitive crime including cycle theft.

 

The amendments were agreed nem con.

 

The following priorities were unanimously agreed:

       i.          Brunswick, Maid’s Causeway and Mid Summer Common drug issues.

     ii.          Road safety such as:

·       Cycling down Burleigh Street, Fitzroy Street, Trinity Street and Sydney Street during day time when cycling was prohibited.

·       Anti-social driving.

   iii.          Other acquisitive crime including cycle theft.