Agenda item

Sergeant Danny Graham and PCSO James Edwards of Leicestershire Constabulary will be at the meeting to discuss policing matters in Thurncourt Ward.

Sergeant Danny Graham and PCSO James Edwards were present to update the meeting on policing issues in Thurncourt.

Sgt. Graham gave a verbal update on crime statistics in the area from 4 October 2010 over a three month period with a comparison to the same three month period in 2009. The Force published all crime statistics its website on which the following figures are available:

• Recorded crime is down 1%
• Robbery is down 100% (from 1 to 0)
• Vehicle crime is down 36.4%
• Violence is down 58.8%
• Anti-social behaviour is down 9.7%
• Burglary has seen an increase up 22.2%

From 1/1/2010 to 31/12/2010 there were 593 crimes recorded. This was down from 1,076 in 2009, a drop in 483 crimes. In 2010 there were 73 dwelling burglaries compared to 137 in 2009 – 64 less victims.

Theft of cars decreased to 18 in 2010, compared to 26 in 2009. Theft from cars fell from 39 in 2009 to 21 in 2010.

Incidents involving drugs (supply / possession / intent to supply) reduced from 40 in 2009 to 12 in 2010.

A city resource team from Hinckley Road Police Station including plain clothes police and CID had been working in Thurncourt for two months, over which time burglary incidents had reduced. No one person was indentified for the burglaries as there were several methods of operation, though several arrests and were made and persons charged. The meeting was asked to note that houses targeted were usually ones without alarms or fake alarms. Residents were advised to keep bushes to the front and back of houses to a minimum, to use spotlights, and to make properties as hard as possible to break into.

Persons responsible for anti-social behaviour had been identified and on occasion have apologised for their behaviour which have been accepted. These occurred at the time of the English Defence League protests.

Around Halloween and Bonfire Night, policing was good and everything went well. There were issues on Sudbury Green when a large unmanaged fire was lit. Police will revisit the area in the summer to hold discussions with residents to help prevent a repeat of it.

One incident of hate crime was reported when a lady and her three year-old daughter had snowballs thrown at them and were taunted. The appellants were identified through local sources and received a police reprimand.

In answer to questions, Sgt. Graham suggested the reduction in figures was due to drives to reduce crime, better targeting and working with known offenders.

Sgt. Graham would soon be moving to larger premises, but that further equipment to accommodate the move was required. Priorities for the area include:

• To reduce incidents of anti-social behaviour in conjunction with Housing.
• Thurnby Lodge and Willowbrook schools have reported incidents of vandalism. This has occurred at weekends and early evenings and would be worked on.
• There have been increased incidents on Thurncourt Road of stone throwing by youths at passing buses. Once identified the police would visit and talk to parents.

Residents were urged to contact the Police with information (which can be given anonymously), for help or to report incidents. Residents expressed their appreciation of the support from police in Thurncourt, particularly around the time of the EDL march, and hoped this would continue.

Sgt. Graham spoke about cuts in the police force. £13 million savings would be made in the budget this year, and a further £19 million in savings over the next four years. Neighbourhood policing and community support was not at present being included. Sgt. Graham also stated the EDL march would not have been managed without neighbourhood policing. Sgt. Graham mentioned there would be changes to the way police administered and responded to 999 calls. More information would be brought to the next Community Meeting.

Sgt. Graham was asked whether it was illegal for people to go cold calling in areas where there were signs asking them not to do so. He informed the meeting that cold calling was not illegal and was not enforceable, but signs were merely advisable to put people off. He advised if people were suspicious of a caller, they should telephone the police.

Meeting attendees suggested a letter should be sent to the Chief Constable in support of neighbourhood policing, and how the work that they put into communities was valued.