Agenda item

The Police have been asked to provide an update on several topics, these include:-

·  What action is being taken in dealing with County Lines issues?

·  What direction is the Police are taking to improve the levels of Police visibility in Bath?

·  What plans are there for an improved Police Station in Bath and how are the public being given clear direction on what to do when they need to report a crime in the City.   

For Information: The Police have advised that the role of BaNES Neighbourhood Manager is presently being covered by Interim Acting Inspector Sarah Dinnis, Inspector Gavin Usher will take his appoint within the next few weeks.

Avon and Somerset Police were represented at the forum by Chief Inspector Steve Kendall, Acting Inspector Sarah Dinnis and Neighbourhood Police Team Sergeant, Jonathon Risley.

Steve Kendall gave an overview of the recently published crime statistics. Nationally the picture shows crime has increased 7% year on year overall, in Bath however the overall rate shows a decrease of 2%. There is no room for complacency but Bath does remain a safe place to live.

Visibility of the Police in Bath continues to be an area that is being improved, a number of these improvements have been implemented: -

·  The recruitment of addition al PSCOs

·  Staff being issued hi-spec laptops that make working at community locations much easier.

·  A parking bay for a police vehicle is being put in place on Bath High Street in front of The Guildhall.

·  Electric Bikes are being used.

·  Disruptive Effects through methods of dealing with counter terrorism.

·  Targeted foot patrols at key times.

Central Bath does continue to have a public enquiry counter which is situated in the one stop shop at Manver’s Street. There are plans for the signage to be improved at this location. The B&NES area does have one of the highest levels of public counter access points in the UK. The police 24/7 response office is based off Midland Road in Bath and there is work in progress for future options for an alternative location.

The methods for the public contacting the police have not changed: -

·  For emergencies call 999

·  For other reports and enquiries call 101

·  Online https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/contact-us/report-a-crime-or-incident/#/

·  In person - walk into any of our public enquiry counters

Sarah Dinnis provided an overview of the emerging national issues of County Lines is having locally. Bath has seen incidents but the levels are far less than many other towns and cities. There is a national co-ordinations centre that the south west regional crime lead is connecting into. The issues around County Lines have to be tackled and the silos that once occurred are being overcome and better ways of working are emerging.

There has historically been an approach that saw enforcement taking place this saw people being pushed out of one area and popping up in other or new areas. In Bath the police are now working on number of different approaches:

·  Intelligence gathering 

·  Days of action in and around the City

·  Digging deeper into who is hear

·  Obtaining warrants to get into premises

·  Working with Housing Associations

·  Taking part in intervention and safeguarding 

Where there is an approach victims are being looked after, the success rate can improve. Welfare visits to check in on those people that have been cuckooed offers advice on methods of contact.

The age range for the people that are being drawn is seeing more 15/16 year olds becoming involved. The police have difficulties as they are not inclined to stop and search vulnerable young people. Work with B&NES Council takes place on identifying young people by listening to what is being said, provides useful information links from schools, e.g. pupils missing from school unexpectedly, unlikely purchases occurring like new trainers.

Quarterly ‘Force Weeks’ are being run to make it as uncomfortable as possible for those involved. The tactics are seeing successes locally and known dealers have now moved on. The full impact of this approach will be seen rolled out from April 2019 onwards.

Project Servator is a tactic which sees highly-visible yet unpredictable police deployments designed to deter, disrupt and detect criminal activity – from shoplifting and pickpocketing to more serious crime including terrorism. The deployments also aim to provide a reassuring presence for the public.

Jonathon Risley spoke on neighbourhood policing matters in Bath. The City Centre Patrols are now being planned each week and captures the hotspots where anti-social behaviour and begging occurs.

·  To build community confidence Officers and PCSOs are not in vehicles but on foot or bikes

·  To support genuine homeless beggars the police work with organisations such as Julian House and DHI to signpost those in need.

·  A scheme called ‘adopt a block’ has been set up to connect the police with a recognised person in the housing blocks in the City.

Questions and Comments:

Councillor Rob Appleyard – Thanked the police for the excellent update provided. The laptops being used in public spaces across the City will really help with visibility. The question was asked, how sustainable will Project Servator be?

Response:

Ø  There is national funding that will see Project Servator rolling out in various locations, Bath starts ahead of Bristol and the work is to be sustained for the long term.

Paul Roles – There have been a number of occasions that I have not been satisfied with the service that I have personally received when I have needed to contact the police on a number of different matters.

Car break-ins are not investigated if CCTV is not available to the police, it has been difficult to get action taken on drug related issues in Kingsmead Ward, and it was finally the landlords Curo that took action on the drug issues.

Why is it that we see drug offenders bouncing from area to area, if the correct action was taken they would be taken out of action?

Response:

Ø  If the service has not met your expectations we are sorry and you are able to feedback directly on the specifics.

Ø  The drug offenders are put in front of the courts but the sentences are not always as effective as we want them to be. Some matters have to be addressed as a civil matter and this can be a lengthy process.

Councillor Sue Craig – Thanks for the initiative with adopt a block as this is a great help in Kingsmead. What are your views on increased levels of CCTV; it appears residents are asking for better coverage.

Response:

Ø  CCTV does assist the police investigating crimes; this has to be weighed up against the arguments that are put about personal privacy. Bath City does have a good level of CCTV and if any more were to be added in it would only be effective if there are the resources to monitor this.

Ø  Private businesses can be encouraged to have CCTV as local resources such as these can be helpful.

Ø  The use of automated number plate recognition (ANPR) through the existing cameras does help monitor the vehicles as they flow into the City.

Councillor Peter Turner – Did the work that was once proposed to link up al of the different police IT systems ever get implemented?

Ø  No

Councillor Dine Romero – The reassurance about the City Centre numbers are positive, does this cover the outlying areas of the City also?

Response:

Ø  Initially the central locations will receive focus but this funding does cover the whole of B&NES.

Councillor Dine Romero – What preparations are being put in place for Brexit?

Response:

Ø  There is a contingency for civil unrest and we are following that advice and lead that is given nationally.

Rosie Phillips – Can it be explained how the children that are excluded from schools can be linked into the work on vulnerable people?

Response:

Ø  The Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) is a multi-agency body that the police are linked into. There is further work that will follow which will see better school connections that will help with those children that do not fit the old stereotypical picture that we have come to expect.