Inspector Pete
Sparrow gave an update on matters relating to the use of Bourne
Hill, as requested at the previous meeting. He also gave the latest
Community Policing Update. These updates and one from the Police
and Crime Commissioner were circulated at the meeting, and are
attached to these minutes.
The Updates included
the following:
·
19 new Cadets had started the previous week. These volunteers would
be meeting weekly.
·
Community Messaging – sign up to this service to receive
regular updates on what is going on.
·
A Green Travel Plan was being created.
·
There was now a divided workforce, with teams briefing together
online from separate locations. This needed to be resolved so
Officers were in the same building together at the start of their
shifts.
·
Some issues had been raised through the recent Bourne Hill planning
application by residents. 5 letters were received in objection; the
Police had met with the residents to reduce their concerns.
·
There was no custody unit in Salisbury; prisoner transport units
were available to take people to Melksham.
·
Thieves had been targeting jewelleryand cash recently; Police had
made 2 arrests in Harnham, with the suspects now released on bail.
One further person was arrested this week, and had since been
released with no charge.
·
Officers continued to investigate criminal damage to vehicles,
thought to be caused by a catapult type weapon.
·
There had been a marked improvement to the levels of new graffiti
around Salisbury following 4 arrests.
Inspector Sparrow
asked whether the Board could put together a letter on behalf of
the community on what impact the recent spate of graffiti has had
on them.
Action: CEM to liaise with the Board to produce a response.
Questions and
Comments were then received, these included:
- The Graffiti culprits should be the
ones made to clean it up. Answer: To use community resolutions
would be suitable for people who had admitted to what they had
done, however for those who did not, it was down to the court to
decide. Also some of the damage equated to several thousand pounds,
so it was necessary for us to deal with each case on its own
merits.
- Steve Godwin - The BID was
interested in the situation of the graffiti, as the BID rangers
were recently out with Serve-On and removed all the ring road
graffiti. Businesses had been feeling quite vulnerable over past
few months. The Police manpower reductions stated were quite high.
BID would be reporting back to Inspector Sparrow if it saw a rise
in crime as it would affect our purple flag status. Answer: The
cuts had been across all areas, but majority from back office
staff. Streamlining the process with the removal of several ranks
in the structure. This was a very different workforce than was the
case 20 years ago.
- The parking issue in College Street
was a serious issue for residents around Bourne Hill. A physical
issue which needed to be sorted. There were 10 spaces which could
be brought into use, some with ivy growing in them and 2 for pool
bikes for green travel plan. Answer: Raise this with your local
Councillor and we will take this forward.
- When the Police station was on the
Wilton Road, there had never been any complaints from residents.
The problem would smooth itself out in time. It was better to have
the police in the city rather than sitting in Amesbury.
- There seemed to be a lot of small
scale, low level antisocial crime at the moment.
Answer: The important thing was that all crime should be
reported. Staffing was at a critical level, which meant that the
police were not able to be as visible as they used to be. Unless
they were told which areas needed additional cover, they did not
always know where they need to be.
- Was there a timeframe when you
expect to fill these vacancies? Answer: There was a natural waste
through retirement; there were four new Officers due to start after
November. Work was underway to get the vacancies filled as quickly
as possible.