Agenda item

Inspector Hornigold will provide the Committee with an update on Policing in King’s Lynn.

Minutes:

The Chairman introduced Inspector Wes Hornigold and Sergeant Tom Metcalfe to the meeting. 

 

Inspector Hornigold provided the Committee with the last 6 months recorded crimes, which had been broken down into the neighbourhood areas.

 

Information was also provided on the street drinking and anti-social behaviour in the town centre, and the work undertaken to prevent this.  It was reported that as many stakeholders as possible within the town centre had been engaged.

 

Inspector Hornigold also explained that 48 shops were now signed up to the retail loss group, which helped to prevent shoplifting and had reduced the number of calls for the Police to attend.

 

The Committee was also informed of the work which had been undertaken, with help from key stakeholders, in relation to Project Gravity, which had resulted in 7 people being charged and imprisoned.

 

Other issues over the summer months included:

 

·        Speeding along Vancouver Avenue;

·        HVG’s along Loke Road.

 

In relation to speeding along Vancouver Avenue, it was explained that this was an on-going piece of work and he had met with the Speed Watch Co-Ordinator. 

 

Inspector Hornigold hoped that the Committee were receiving the monthly newsletters.

 

Work had been carried out with the Year 6 pupils in schools in King’s Lynn with regards to cycling in the town centre.  The children produced posters and a presentation evening was held with the winner receiving a new bicycle.

 

Inspector Hornigold added that it had been a challenging few months with staff being lost to assist in other areas with major incidents.  However, overall the results had been good over the last 6 months with the crime figures lower than they had been. 

 

Sergeant Metcalfe then outlined the Anti-social behaviour numbers.  He explained that the 941 anti-social behaviour calls in King’s Lynn were split into three areas:

 

·        Environmental

·        Nuisance

·        Personal

 

The Committee was informed that the greater number of calls was in the nuisance area.  The types of anti-social behaviour were broken down into the following:

 

·        Alcohol related calls

·        Youth

·        Fighting

·        Rough sleepers

·        Drug related

 

The highest number related to alcohol and youth incidents.

 

Sergeant Metcalfe also outlined to the Committee the measures that were available from written warnings through to Community Protection Orders and Acceptable Behaviour Contracts.  It was explained that two Criminal Behaviour Orders had been issued and both received prison sentences for breaching the Orders.

 

The Chairman then invited questions from the Committee, some of which are summarised below:

 

In response to a question from Councillor Mrs Wilkinson regarding the Vancouver Speed Watch, Inspector Hornigold acknowledged that there had been some issues in setting up the Community Speedwatch Group, but these had now been resolved.

 

Inspector Hornigold also explained that the crime data was broken down into Neighbourhoods but the system which was used would not break the figures down in to housing estates.

 

In relation to HVG’s using Loke Road, it was explained that signage at Loke Road was clear and it was very much being considered.

 

Inspector Hornigold advised that the vacancy to fill the youth offender post would be filled by the end of the year.

 

In relation to a query regarding begging and busking in the town centre, it was explained that there was legislation regarding aggressive begging and explained the procedure.  He advised that the profile of the beggars needed to be looked at as some of the beggars were housed and not homeless.  However it was important to find out who needed help and signpost them to the relevant support services.  If they were not in need of help then enforcement action would be followed.

 

It was suggested that busking in the town centre should have a designated area and a rota system.  Inspector Hornigold advised that the Council were involved in a piece of work regarding this. 

 

Inspector Hornigold informed the Committee of the work being undertaken in relation to racial hate crime and terrorism.  He advised that in relation to hate crime, this needed to be recorded properly so that it could be investigated and any safeguarding put in place.

 

With regards to terrorism, he outlined to the Committee the Prevent Strategy, and confirmed that no referrals had been made to the Prevent Strategy from King’s Lynn.  It was also confirmed that King’s Lynn had a low number of recorded hate crimes.

 

It was highlighted that there was a Code of Conduct for Buskers on the Council’s website.

 

Reference was made to the crime figures given at the meeting, and it was asked whether historic figures could also be given as a comparison.

 

The Chairman thanked Inspector Hornigold and Sergeant Metcalfe for attending the meeting and their valuable contributions.

 

AGREED:       That comparison figures be included for the 6 monthly update from the Police to enable the Committee to put these into context.