Representatives from the Leicestershire Constabulary will be in attendance to provide an update on policing developments and successes within the Spinney Hills Ward.
Minutes:
Representatives from the Leicestershire Constabulary were in attendance to provide an update on policing developments and successes within the Spinney Hills Ward.
Nazira Vania, Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinator addressed the meeting and explained that a patch walk, involving ward councillors, council officers and the Police had been held on 7 March. Nazira explained that observations from the patch walk were as follows:
· Park on Vulcan Road – there were concerns that this was poorly lit and the possibility of obtaining a floodlight which would operate on a timer was being considered.
· The play equipment on the park looked shabby and neglected.
· Concerns had been raised about occurrences of anti-social behaviour at the seating area and options to solve this problem were being considered.
· Concerns had been raised that the street lighting there was inadequate and the possibility of replacing the yellow lighting by a stronger white lighting was being considered.
Nazira explained that one of the aims of the anti-social behaviour unit was to tackle the problem by encouraging people to change their behaviour. Youth Services had been out in the area at the times when young people were reported to have been congregating, but did not find any groups present on those occasions; however they would be working during the Easter period. Some individuals had already been identified as being involved with anti-social behaviour and an action plan was being drawn up. There had been reports from residents of young people drinking alcohol, and although the Police had witnessed older people drinking, they had not witnessed any under-age drinking.
Nazira added that there was a general issue of confidence in the community in reporting problems to the Police and to the council.
Pc Woods explained that it was not necessarily an offence for young people to congregate in groups although the Police did need to take action if those people were drinking or taking drugs. In response to a question, he explained that the Police had the power to make a dispersal notice, but evidence was needed before this could be done.
Residents commented that people felt intimidated by the groups of youths but were frightened to report the problem and also scared to attend the Community Meeting. They explained that they had witnessed groups of youths hanging around, shouting, swearing and drinking. There had been a recent stabbing in the local area and people’s property was also being damaged. Comments were made that the situation was currently worse than it had ever been.
Concerns were raised by residents that when incidents were reported to the Police, they were too slow in responding. Pc Woods explained that calls to them were graded according to their priority and they were required to adhere to the system for response.
A resident commented that she had found the Police very helpful when she had previously reported problems to them. She added that sometimes young people gathered in groups on the streets because they had no- where to go.
Pc Woods responded the anti-social behaviour was a priority of the Police and he asked people to phone 101 to report such problems. Burglary was also a priority of the Police and this was a more frequent occurrence during the warmer weather. He asked residents as well to be careful to maintain security in the home and close down stairs windows at night.
Priya Thamotheram , from the Highfields Centre commented that Leicester had disproportionately high rates of ‘stop and search’ for Afro-Caribbean and young Black / Asian people, although the Police were working hard to try to address this. He added that more youth workers were needed and more needed to be done to engage with young people in the area. There were sports and arts facilities at the Highfield Centre and he was happy to work with Nazira and her team to see what could be done to improve the current situation.
The Chair summarised the discussion and commented that it was not acceptable that people should be frightened to leave their homes and that he needed to have further talks with Chief Inspector Rob Nixon and Inspector Bill Knopp. He asked Pc Woods if Police patrols could be increased in the area and Pc Woods confirmed that this had already happened.
The Chair referred to the Action Plan that Nazira had mentioned earlier in the discussion and asked that this should be delivered in a leaflet format to residents in Vulcan Road, Florence Road and Grove Road so that they knew what was happening.
The Chair further suggested that meetings with Nazira, 2 or 3 residents and himself should be arranged on a regular basis, to discuss and pass on information. He advised that a first meeting of this group should be held before the next main Community Meeting.