Agenda item

The Report of the Executive Manager – Neighbourhoods is attached.

The Executive Manager – Neighbourhoods presented a report which detailed a review of the South Nottinghamshire Community Safety Partnership (SNCSP). It was noted that the Partnership covered the administrative areas of Rushcliffe, Broxtowe and Gedling. The Executive Manager advised that the statutory and voluntary partners who participated in the SNCSP aimed to reduce crime and disorder, anti-social behaviour and to promote healthy and safer communities.

Inspector Craig Berry, the District Inspector for the Borough of Rushcliffe delivered a presentation to the Group which covered:

·         Statements about demand on policing

·         Changes in the demand of policing

·         Recorded incidents v recorded crime

·         Rushcliffe crime in the last twelve months

·         Rushcliffe by crime type

·         Nottinghamshire force by crime type

·         Integrated partnership working

Members of the Group asked about the changes in the national crime recording standards. Inspector Berry  advised that the categories of recording burglaries had changed from ‘dwelling’ and ‘non-dwelling’ in 2016/17 to ‘residential’ and ‘business and community’ in 2017/18. The Group were also pleased to be informed of the introduction of a new burglary team who were due to commence work on the 2 April 2018 and be based in West Bridgford. It was also noted that there was a reduction in the possession of drugs by 11.9% due to positive police action and that there had also been a reduction in the number of occurrences of “stop and search”.

Members also asked several specific questions regarding the recording of rural crime. Inspector Berry confirmed that rural crime was not a crime type and therefore was not recorded separately, however it was noted that Paddy Tipping – Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner had stated that tackling rural crime was a key priority.  The Group discussed how the Police responded to incidents of unauthorised encampments and how the Council supported this work.

Members of the Group asked about the recording of hate crime, Inspector Berry noted the rise in reported hate crime incidents had given the police an opportunity to understand the issues that residents faced in everyday life and while hate crime was terrible it was positive that victims felt able to report it to the police. In regards to the Borough of Rushcliffe, it was noted that the location of the Nottingham Forest Football Club and Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club being situated within the Borough can also impact on hate crime incidents.  

Members of the Group were pleased to see the introduction of a local policing model from 2 April 2018 which would see  a response team coming under Inspector Berry’s control. It was also noted that two police officers would be based in Cotgrave as part of the Cotgrave Town Centre regeneration project which will helps to ensure a local presence.. The Group were also pleased to see an increase of police presence in Ruddington.

Inspector Berry advised the group about the establishment of the Rushcliffe multi-agency rough sleeper group. It was noted that there had been an increase of rough sleepers in the past year and that the multi-agency group had dealt with 30 cases of rough sleepers within the Borough. The multi-agency group had worked with Framework Outreach Services in order to understand the mental health issues that rough sleepers faced and which could lead to alcoholism, anti-social behaviour and begging. The Group expressed concern at the increase of scamming and phishing phone calls, especially within rural areas of the Borough. Inspector Berry advised that residents should refrain from revealing any information about themselves to uninvited callers as they could be scammers and that they should visit the national fraud website for more information. The Group were pleased to learn that Nottinghamshire Police had recently introduced a cyber and fraud team.

In response to a recent incident at a local school, the Group asked for more information regarding the number of armed police within the Borough and were advised that the provision of armed officers was a regional resource but that will change under the new local policing model.

The Vice-Chairman thanked Inspector Berry for attending the meeting and for answering the Group’s questions.   

It was RESOLVED that:

a)    the report of the Executive Manager – Neighbourhoods be noted.

b)    the presentation of the Police Inspector be noted.