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.        Brunswick, Maid’s Causeway and Midsummer Common drug issues.

    ii.        Road safety such as: Cycling down Burleigh Street, Fitzroy Street, Trinity Street and Sydney Street during the day time when cycling prohibited [and] Anti-social driving.

   iii.        Other acquisitive crime including cycle theft.

 

Inspector Rogerson and Sergeant Mišík said the following in response to Members’ questions:

     i.        Recommendations for issues to address were not set out in the Officer’s report. Instead the Police would attend Area Committees to listen to local concerns that needed to be followed up.

    ii.        Police priorities for action were set by the Home Office, Police & Crime Commissioner plus crime trends (ie rising crime types). These priorities could be included in future reports to Area Committees.

   iii.        Drug dealers had a wide range of tactics they used to operate. For example, “cuckooing” where drug dealers operated out of vulnerable people’s houses. The Police had a range of tactics to address these.

  iv.        Drug dealers travelled out of London to operate in areas such as Cambridge where there was a demand.

   v.        Success in one area led to gangs moving on rather than stopping.

  vi.        Help was available for homeless people if they wished to accept it.

 vii.        A majority of people begging in Cambridge did so to fund drug habits, not because they were homeless.  People giving cash to beggars gave them resources to buy drugs which attracted dealers.

viii.        The Police were working with partner agencies to address homelessness. It would take a joined up approach to address issues.

  ix.        It was hard to tackle begging without a change to current legislation as the legislation did not provide an effective deterrent.

 

The Committee discussed the following policing issues:

     i.        Drug dealing, drug use and associated anti-social behaviour affecting the city centre.

    ii.        Policing of green spaces such as Lammas Land eg to address petty drug dealing.

   iii.        Begging and associated anti-social behaviour affecting the city centre.

 

Members of the public raised the following issues:

     i.        Homelessness and begging were separate issues.

    ii.        People often begged to obtain money for drugs.

   iii.        Begging was an issue that needed to be addressed.

  iv.        People had reasons for substance and alcohol abuse.

 

Members of the public asked a number of questions, as set out below.

 

1.      Ms Rossier-Smith raised the following issues:

             i.        Expressed concern about begging in the city and how it was used to fund drug habits.

            ii.        Suggested the area around Burleigh Street and Adam & Eve Street were particularly affected. Queried if CCTV could be installed to address this.

           iii.        Queried how beggars/drug dealers could be reported to the Police.

          iv.        Queried how many beggars had been prosecuted.

 

Sergeant Mišík answered:

·        The Police could be contacted via on-line reporting (and web chat) or ringing #101. The Police could be asked for an email on which to upload pictures.

 

Councillor Nethsingha said Ward Councillors could follow up non-urgent matters with the Police on Residents’ behalf.

 

·        There were insufficient police officers to set up a dedicated anti-begging team. Reported crimes would be allocated to officers on duty and added to statistics to prioritise further work.

·        The Police had to make daily decisions on which priorities to respond to. IE which crimes needed a response. Information reported was used as intelligence information tom plan operations.

 

2.      Mr Taylor asked for information on how the Probation Service managed offenders with suspended sentences. He asked if WCAC were satisfied with the level of service from the Probation Service.

 

Inspector Rogerson offered to liaise with Mr Taylor outside of the meeting.

 

Action Point: Inspector Rogerson undertook to pass Mr Taylor’s comments onto the Community Safety Partnership.

 

The following priorities were unanimously agreed (nem con):

     i.        Drug dealing, associated begging and anti-social behaviour.

    ii.        Dangerous driving by coaches on Queen’s Road at key times on Saturdays