Verbal update from Nottinghamshire Police
Minutes:
Inspector Andy Townsend and Inspector Robert Wilson, Nottinghamshire Police gave a verbal report updating the committee on Community Protection. These key points were highlighted:
(a) For Arboretum ward the total number of crimes reported to the end of September was 1371, this is an increase of 6 on the previous year. Violent crimes have increased by 8, burglaries reduced by 44, vehicle crime reduces by 22 and anti-social behaviour reduced by 74. There has been an increase in shop theft and public order offences. Nottinghamshire Police are in the process of auditing the calls to establish if all calls should have been recorded as a crime;
(b) For Radford and Park the total number of crimes reported to the end of September is 663, this is an increase of 6 this year. Violent offences remain the same at 108. Robbery numbers are low at 9 but have increased by 4. There are ongoing issues with car crime especially motorbikes with 8 additional cars broken in to particularly around the industrial estate. There has been a good reduction of burglaries with 41 offences being committed;
(c) For Dunkirk and Lenton the total crimes reported to the end of September is 1056, an increase of 37.Violent offences have increased by 43, which is concerning, but often there is a minor injury or no injury in these cases. There has been significant reduction in robbery, 17 offences, down by 12. Car crime has also seen a good reduction, 14 fewer offences with a total of 114. There has also been a good reduction in burglaries, 40 fewer offences to 50 in total;
(d) There will be further police recruitment starting in 2017 and work continues to help the police force reflect the community, with a variety of events and adverts panned and in place to encourage under-represented groups to apply;
(e) Work continues to reduce young people noise in the Lenton and Radford areas;
(f) Nottinghamshire Police continue execute warrants looking at the supply of drugs, either from residential addresses or business premises.
After discussion and questions from the committee Inspector Andy Townsend and Inspector Robert Wilson gave the following additional information:
(g) Nottinghamshire Police review on an ongoing basis what is effective and what is not so effective at reducing burglaries. They have burglary prevention, response and investigation strategies and regularly review how they communicate with communities and partners. A significant amount of burglaries are down to people not locking their doors or windows so Nottinghamshire Police continue to push this prevention strategy and numbers of burglaries are reducing;
(h) Nottingham City Homes properties have good standards of security. There has been a significant investment to upgrade windows and doors over the decades so they are much more difficult to burgle than they were 20 years ago, continued investment is always welcomes as is support in getting the message to residents to lock doors and windows;
(i) Knife crime in Arboretum is still a serious issue. Residents held a public meeting recently where citizens in the Bridlington Street area requested CCTV cameras to help them feel safer. Street lighting has been consulted to improve the lights and additional patrols are going into that area;
(j) There was an incident outside the Marcus Garvey Centre, involving two groups of people. Two people were injures with knives although not seriously. Investigations in to what caused the argument at 4.30am resulting in the injuries and who was involved is ongoing;
(k) Someone has been charged in connection to a sexual assault in Lenton. They have been remanded in custody and a court process is ongoing.
RESOLVED to thank Inspector Andy Townsend and Inspector Robert Wilson for their report and to note its content.