Agenda item

Verbal update

As Inspector Donna Busuttil was unable to attend the meeting, Sergeant Paul Ferguson, provided the following written update, which was circulated in advance of the meeting:

Clifton:

·  all crime is up by 12.1% (an increase of 90 crimes). This is mainly due to a spike in burglaries where the offences were “walk ins” to insecure properties across the estate. Two males have been arrested for these offences and remain on bail. Since the arrest the offences have dropped and, as a result, over the last 2 weeks there has been a 25% reduction in all crime;

·  there is an on-going issue with thefts from gardens with regards to garden ornaments, stone features, etc;

·  vehicle offences are up by 33 offences compared to the same time last year, but this is as a result of a spate earlier in the year where an organised gang was targeting works vans for power tools, which has now stopped;

·  there has been no increase in violence offences and there has been a 25% reduction in domestic violence (38 fewer offences);

·  the Police are currently working with the Licensing Department following some violence offences at Public Houses, particularly one establishment. This follows a GBH offence where the offender has been identified;

·  shoplifting has seen an increase of 65% (increase of 34 offences). These offences were mainly committed by a small number of individuals, two of which are currently serving prison sentences for offences, and two others are going through the justice process. Work is ongoing with Community Protection to apply for criminal behaviour orders to prevent reoffending in the area;

·  there has been a 4% reduction in reports of anti-social behaviour.

The Meadows:

·  all crime has decreased by 8.4% (a decrease of 38 crimes);

·  there has been a significant amount of drug disruption activity in the area, with a number of warrants having been executed.

The Police are aware of the on-going issues with travellers using the Clifton Village Green area. The Neighbourhood Police Team (NPT) are working with Community Protection to see whether a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) may provide any kind of assistance in dealing with the matter, but this is unchartered territory and enquiries are on-going. Police powers to deal with travellers are limited and, in most cases, the City Council legal team have taken the lead with ensuring eviction. In a small number of occasions in the past where circumstances fit, the NPT have used powers under S.61 of the Criminal Justice and Disorder Act 1994 (Direction To Leave Land), but there are strict criteria that must be met before this can be utilised. With regards to the last group to occupy the land, Police are aware of a number of reports of damage to a neighbouring address and these have been recorded as criminal damage. Unfortunately without evidence of exactly who has caused the damage or been witnessed to cause the damage it is not possible to progress the investigation/prosecution, however the report will give further credence to the PSPO that is being explored.

The following comments were made during the discussion:

(a)  the cuts to Police resources are concerning, and officers are under more pressure than ever before;

(b)  the amount of drugs and dog mess in the area seem to be increasing;

(c)  the Police team in The Meadows is fully staffed and is focussing on operations and tackling hotspots. The Police require more intelligence to be able to increase prosecutions;

(d)  there is an issue with motorcycles;

(e)  there is an issue with travellers using the Village Green, which needs to be prevented happening again. There are plans to install bollards on the Green, but it needs to be approved by the Clifton family;

(f)  there was an armed robbery in The Meadows on 11 August, which isn’t mentioned in the update.