Officers from the Local Policing Unit will be at the meeting to provide an update on police issues in the Ward
Minutes:
Sergeant Adam Ahmed (4381) provided an update on local policing matters. It was noted that:
· Ongoing issues with ASB were being investigated
· Sentinel reports had reduced, and residents were requested to continue reporting issues, either via the phone or online, this helped identify the hotspots for the police
· Focussed foot patrols on the beat with the aim for the officers to be approachable with regular visits to hotspots
· Podcams (x2) had been installed on Spinney Hill Park
· Proactive problem management plan in place as part of an inter partnership approach with the City Warden, Parks Team and CrASBU to address ASB on Spinney Hill Park with the summer months approaching
Members suggested that local residents need to be assured that previous problems that have caused issues on the park have been addressed and solutions considered and in response the police noted that the problem management plan alongside partner organisations was in place and different partners would be utilised.
The police further noted that the Spinney Hill Park was part of the beat and there were additional patrols planned for other parts of the local area during the summer months.
The police had also been working on drug related matters with a number on addresses being targeted. Residents were requested to continue to provide information on potential harms to the community.
Local residents suggested that a lot of problems on the park were a result of alcohol and whether the Public Space Protection Order from the local authority could be put in place to ban the use of alcohol. It was noted that there was no full time ban of alcohol on the park and that if there was ASB there were powers in place for the alcohol to be surrendered to authorities. The local residents felt that it was important to work on a full time ban of alcohol on the park as it has historically been the cause of problems on the park.
Ward Councillors suggested that there was a lack of co-operation between the police and reluctant residents, the police suggested that a visible approach to policing had been taken to allow for engagement, mini police work was delivered as part of engagement with local schools, beat posters were on local business windows to identify who local beat officers were and that between 8-4 there was a room available at the local police station open for community access for further engagement work and information on this could be provided to anyone interested.
In further discussions it was noted that:
· The park on Vulcan Road and the area around Grove Road be considered to be part of the beat patrol
· The ban of alcohol past certain hours be considered with the option to trial different times
· Residents be requested to participate in the stop and search consultation
· Beat surgeries be considered to be held at venues on the ward, including Wesley Hall
· Although there was scope for more, the Police be commended for their efforts on improving the ward.