Verbal update from Nottinghamshire Police and Community Protection
Minutes:
Laura Arnold, Level 2 Community Protection Officer, provided a verbal update the work of Community Protection during the past six months, as follows:
a) during COVID-19, the work of Community Protection Officers has changed significantly:
i. engaging with local communities to ensure they understand and comply with government safety guidelines, including patrolling in parks and open spaces;
ii. undertaking numerous welfare checks, and although this element is still ongoing, there are fewer now;
iii. delivering food parcels to those told to self-isolate;
iv. collecting and delivering prescriptions;
v. responding to the amazing work of the Neighbourhood Development Officers;
b) there had been some issues with delivery of some of the controlled prescription medications where it is not appropriate to ask volunteers to put themselves at risk, so this was done by Community Protection Officers;
c) now that restrictions are easing, it is apparent that there are still families needing support;
d) food banks have done tremendous work, and without them some communities would not have coped well;
e) normal duties and staffing levels are starting to resume and now only 1 member of staff is isolating;
f) a Top Valley resident and persistent fly tipper - has now been prosecuted and fined £300;
g) a new Community Protection Officer, Brian Drummond, has started in the Area and is very keen. He has already made a huge difference on Lytham Gardens by arranging for the removal of a street bin which has significantly reduced fly tipping in the area. He has also engaged with the community and there are now 2 more street clean champions in that area;
h) there was an ongoing fly tipping issue by a resident in a block of flats but with the intelligence from other residents and invaluable CCTV footage, a £300 fine has been issued;
i) Bulwell Forest Community Garden had been experiencing high levels of ASB including damage, harming of wildlife and taking of illegal drugs by people forcing entry to the site. As a result, Community Protection Officers increased patrols in the area and later in the evening;
j) a resident of Bulwell Forest has, under caution, admitted to fly tipping and been charged;
k) general casework has slowed but neighbour disputes, particularly around noise, are ongoing, as are dog foul and litter operations;
l) fly tipping continues to be a big problem. Community Protection Officers are trying to educate residents to use the free bulky waste collection service offered by the Council, but many issues have arisen as a result of the bulky waste collection being paused, for obvious reasons, during lockdown. Prosecution involves a lot of investigation to identify fly tippers, but, if residents feel that there is a problem in specific area, they should contact the City Council and if resources are available, they can be put in place;
m) in the Snapewood Area, officers want to reduce the increased fly tipping in alley ways and gated areas. As a result, 2 zones (2 streets) have been identified for engagement and enforcement focus. It is recognised that it may take time to resolve but progress of the work involved and outcomes will be tracked;
n) tram operations are ongoing across the City to ensure social distancing is taking place and to prevent ASB.
Comments from the committee members and responses to questions included:
o) On behalf of Ward councillors, the Community Protection Officers are thanked for their hard work. It is Important to investigate fly tipping and issue fines for this illegal and unacceptable behaviour;
p) when some citizens called the golden number to request support, there were at times, difficulty communicating. As a result Community Protection Officers were asked to visit properties in person to clarify what sort of support was required. This proved vital in several cases, and one case resulted in an urgent referral to social services.
Resolved to thank Laura Arnold for her updates and extend the gratitude of the committee to Community Protection Officers for their work with and for the community during the COVID 19 pandemic.
Nottinghamshire Police Neighbourhood Sergeant Asif Mohammed, based in Bulwell, reported the following;
q) addressing ASB the Area continues to be a priority;
r) during the pandemic, Police colleagues have been providing support, including citizen welfare checks, on behalf of partners such as Nottingham City Homes;
s) there are refreshed operations against motor vehicles, and officers now have access to the off-road bike team, along with drones, to tackle vehicle ASB, especially around Bulwell Hall area;
t) the Knife Crime Team have been operating in the Bulwell and Bulwell Forest area, and have secured a number of arrests, weapon seizures and drugs arrests;
u) Operation Reacher continues and will be focusing attention in the area shortly;
v) Bestwood - all crime is declining and lowered significantly during lockdown, and since lockdown it is still 9.4% lower than the same period last year. ASB now increasing (mainly around ‘covid parties’). Initially Officers engage citizens but if they don’t respond then the matter is progressed and may result in substantial fines;
w) In Bulwell there has been a drop in crime by 5% but there have been problems of ASB at Tesco, specifically inappropriate behaviour at a car-meet which was attended by approximately 70 vehicles. As a result, Tesco will install CCTV cameras and where number plates of vehicles associated with ASB can be identified, a Section 59 Order can be issued and if identified causing further ASB, the car can be seized. Noise recording equipment is to be provided to local residents;
x) Shoplifting instances are starting to rise. The majority of incidents are due to known shoplifters who are supporting addictions, so interventions are being provided;
y) Bulwell Forest recorded crime is down by 10%, including ASB, but enforcement action continues. Recently a warrant was executed which found a cannabis grow worth approximately £80,000. Police drones are being used to identify sheet signatures caused by cannabis grows, this is used as evidence to support warrant requests;
z) On 16 July the Knife Crime Team did several stops, making 2 arrests, 4 stop and searches, 1 weapons seizures and 1 drug seizure and investigations are ongoing regarding 1 person;
Resolved to thank Sergeant Asif Mohammed for his update and extend the gratitude of the committee to the Police, particularly during COVID-19.