Agenda item

Verbal update from Nottighamshire Police and Community Protection Officers

Inspector James Walker of Nottinghamshire Police gave an update detailing the year to date figures shown below.

He highlighted the following points:

(a)  The numbers under the Hate category include all incidents motivated by hate, not just hate crimes. Out of these 18 incidents 13 have been hate crimes and have largely stemmed from an increase in neighbour disputes. This is not an indication that there is a community wide problem developing, but a magnification of existing tension between neighbours as a result of the national lockdown situation;

(b)  Anti social behaviour offences are on the increase as Covid restriction breaches are counted as ASB. This is a pattern seen across other areas and across the force as a whole. It is expected that as the restrictions ease this number will reduce again;

(c)  Overall crime in both Mapperley and St Ann’s is down compared to this time last year;

(d)  A number of warrants have been executed in the area in relation to drug and burglaries with firearms, money and drugs being seized and a number of people being charged and remanded into custody;

(e)  There are 3 new PC’s joining teams across the three wards including a knife crime specialist;

(f)  Over all crime in Sneinton has bucked the force trend and is slightly increased on this time last year, but is slightly less that report at the last meeting of this committee. Although the numbers are increased they represent very small number of actual incidents. The rise in the numbers of robbery still include the numbers for the spike in occurrences from summer 2020 for which 2 people were responsible for 23 crimes, and have since been dealt with;

(g)  The large increase in the hate occurrences show 62 incidences, 12 of which are reported as crimes. 11 of these have come from one neighbour dispute which Nottinghamshire Police, Community Protection and Nottingham City Council are working together to resolve;

(h)  There has been one significant antisocial behaviour Covid restriction breach which resulted in 18 fixed penalty notices being issued, however this was a one off incident and there have otherwise been no large gatherings within the Sneinton area;

Following questions and comments from Committee members the following additional information was highlighted.

(i)  There have been reports of aggressive begging from residents in Sneinton. Assistance with this has been requested from the dedicated team to help address this and Ward Councillors will be updated on work planned to tackle this issue;

(j)  Committee members shared concerns about the rise in hate incidents focused on the two addresses within Sneinton. There is ongoing work with the Housing associations, and the Hate Crime Panel has reviewed the incidents and continues to work towards a resolution;

(k)  A funding bid has been submitted for an analyst to look at crime data for Sneinton to establish if there are any patterns to offending that have as yet not been established and may lead to a better understanding of why Sneinton is seeing a rise in crime compared to the rest of the city;

(l)  The wards covered by this committee are incredibly diverse in population terms and there are relatively few hate crimes. The rise in hate occurrences has been mainly attributed to one neighbour dispute. All hate incidents are risk assessed and where necessary safeguarding put in place;

Inspector James Walker introduced Inspector Karl Thomas to the Committee who will be taking on the role going forward. Committee members formally thanks Inspector Walker for all of his hard work and efforts for the Area and welcomed Inspector Thomas.

The Committee noted the update provided by Inspector Walker, wished him well for the future and thanked both Inspectors for their attendance.