Agenda item

Inspector Clarke to report

Inspector Clarke updated the Committee as follows:

Basford Ward

Compared to 2014, dwelling burglary has reduced 28%, and total crime is down 13%. There are also reductions in robbery (down 66%) and ASB offences (down 23%), but increases in criminal damage, with 10 more offences, theft up 11 offences and 1 extra sexual offence.

Highlights of NPT activity during this period include:

·  Local persistent offender found guilty at Nottm Youth Court of theft and sentenced to a youth referral order of 9 months, with 10 days activities.

·  Robbery offender charged for offence on Vernon Road.

·  Drugs warrant executed on Rempton Drive.

·  Community Protection Warning Notices issued on Naworth Close and Acton Avenue for environmental issues.

The Community Priority continues to be off road bikes, which are causing nuisance around the whole ward.

Recorded sexual offences have also seen an increase of 8, due to historic reports from the 1970s and 80s.

The focus currently is ASB. In July 2015, a 3G CCTV camera was used around Kyle View. However, the problem moved firstly to the Elmbridge area, then to the Chediston Vale Park area and the Ridgeway. A dispersal order was successfully used around Elmbridge, with numerous breaches pursued through to summons and the youths involved were also visited at home and issued warning letters. The youth service devised a program to deliver to a number of them. A number of them have now gone through the court and the Youth Offending Team is working with some of them.

Also contributing to an increase in ASB figures are a few persistent noisy neighbour complaints, which in some cases generated daily calls. These have been passed to Community Protection to lead on and the use of CPN warning notices have been utilised, along with noise referrals.

The street to street initiative around Elmbridge and Chediston Vale has continued, there have been 64 surveys completed and the agencies continue to promote Neighbourhood Alert. This has deliberately been focussed around the areas affected by ASB, with a view to increasing reporting, trust and confidence.

Bestwood Ward

Compared to 2014, there is a reduction in all but two crime categories. All crime is down 81 offences – nearly 25%.

There were 21 fewer burglaries of homes, 3 fewer robberies and 3 fewer cars broken into or stolen. There are also reductions in burglary other (sheds garages etc), criminal damage and drug offences. There have also been overall decreases in violence, with 11 fewer offences in total, although there was a small increase (2 more) in ‘violence without injury’ offences. There was an increase in reports of anti-social behaviour, with 17 more matters being noted.

The main focus is ASB. Together with Community Protection, the Police have tackled youth ASB issues in and around the Elmbridge area and the Ridgeway, as well as a number of noisy neighbour complaints. There is a continued use CPN warning notices and Noise Pollution referrals for these matters.

The Police have continued the street to street initiative, as well as executing a number of drugs warrants (acting on intelligence supplied by the community) to tackle issues that cause concern, helping to increase reporting, trust and confidence.

The ward priority currently is in relation to the environmental issues in the Belconnen Road and Wyton Close areas.

RESOLVED

(1)  to note the update provided by Inspector Clarke;

(2)  that future reports include numbers alongside the percentage figures.