Agenda item

Report of Director of Crime and Drugs Partnership

Najib Nazir, North Locality Community Safety Officer for the Crime and Drugs Partnership, delivered a report which presents the findings of the Respect for Nottingham survey results.

The survey was to measure citizen’s perception of anti-social behaviour (ASB). 2700 City residents have contributed to the survey which took place during  December 2013. 17% of residents across the city perceived ASB to be a problem. At ward level this is 16% of citizens responded within Bulwell Ward, and 12% responded within Bulwell Forest Ward.

The lowest levels of antisocial behaviour perception and the highest level of confidence in the police were reported since the survey had started.

Dog fouling, litter and rubbish remain constantly high concerns in surveys for the past 3 years.

The full results of the survey, including Ward detail and the community, age and ethnicity mix of those responding, can be found at: http://www.nottinghamcdp.com

The committee made the following points;

(a)  dog fouling continues to be an issue across all wards within the city. Councillors and David Norman of My Sight Nottinghamshire, visited Cantrell Primary School to talk to the children about dog fouling and the difficulties it can cause partially sighted people. When asked, half of the 420 children in the school have a family dog. It is important to educate the children as they will help educate the adults. David Norman explained to the children that partially sighted people can not necessarily see the fouling and are not always aware if they tread in it. This was also the same with food which is dropped on the pavement but with the added issue that guide dogs can be distracted by it. The children were urged to discourage their parents from dropping food in the street and to encourage picking up of dog mess. It is noted that another issue for partially sighted people is overgrown hedges trees and flowers which protrude on to the pavement space;

(b)  Tenants and Residents Associations, along with the Local Action Groups and School Councils are also concerned about dog fouling and the lack of dog fouling wardens. Many educational campaigns and dog fouling clean ups have been held but as the problem persists this proves that enforcement is required;

(c)  fixed penalty fines are regularly issued across the City for dog fouling offences. These fines are advertised in the area of the offence;

(d)  it should be noted that all litter bins the City can be used to deposit dog foul and that if David Norman, as a partially sighted person, can pick up after his guide dog, there is no excuse for anyone else not to pick up after their dog;

(e)  North Locality Manager Heidi May asked that any health and safety risk and trees and bushes protruding on the pavements be reported to the Neighbourhood Action Teams so that action can be taken;

(f)  while the results of the survey were not good, there has been a vast improvement from just a few years ago when burnt out cars and vandalism was a big problem in the north of the City.

The survey results, along with further analysis, will be used to help prioritise issues highlighted.

RESOLVED to note findings of the survey.