Agenda item

A member from the Local Policing team will provide an update on local policing issues.

Police Sergeant Dave Cleaver gave a update on policing issues in the Evington Ward. Sergeant Cleaver made the following points:

·         The main focus of the Police was in dealing with acquisitive crime and they were carrying out curfew checks.

·         There had been five thefts from stores.

·         They were looking at preventative work and assigning a PCSO to give out advice etc.

·         In January, the team had been adversely affected by shift pattern changes but the good news was that Evington would soon have a regular assigned beat officer.

A member of the public commented that a local shop had been burgled three times, and the Police had removed some items for forensic examination, which he understood had not yet been returned. Sergeant Cleaver offered to look into this.

A suggestion was made for the Police to encourage the setting up of Neighbourhood Watch groups and Sergeant Cleaver responded that the Police would be very much in favour of this. A discussion followed on this and it was felt that where Neighbourhood Watch groups were established, the work needed to be divided up fairly so that everyone involved shared the responsibility.

A member of the public referred to the problem of graffiti as raised by the City Warden Nicole, and suggested that perhaps a solution would be to have a graffiti wall. The Chair and Nicole responded that it was their view that the local community would not be in agreement to having a graffiti wall in Evington. It was suggested that a compromise might be to have an indoor graffiti wall instead.

The Chair mentioned that the Police had asked for funding from the Community Meeting budget for a computer for use at the Evington Park House.  A concern was expressed that the community meeting budget was meant for the community and the Chair explained that he was in support of this request as a Police presence would be very welcome at Evington Park, the Police were working for the community and that everyone wanted more Police support in Evington.

The Chair also added that he would be supportive of the community meeting budget funding a bicycle for Nicole as she was now covering two Wards, and not just Evington. Nicole responded that this would be very helpful.

A resident raised concerns about parking problems in Gamel Road and the Chair explained that he and Councillor Singh would hold a separate meeting with various interested parties to try to find a solution to the difficulties there.