Agenda item

a) Parish Councils and Community groups

b) Community Policing – local issues and priorities

·       Community Policing report - Nov

·       Police response to theft and criminal damage

In attendance: Inspector Pete Sparrow or PC Matt Holland

Community Policing – Acting Inspector John Hutchings

Simon Nash – PCSO also in attendance.

Attention was drawn to the written report in the agenda. Wiltshire Police were supporting the ‘Movember’ initiative, which was an annual event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of men's health issues. The force hoped to raise money for the charity and welcomed any donations.

Friday 30^th November would see a 100km row at Salisbury Leisure Centre, where Officers and staff would be rowing for 10 hours straight. They would also be challenging people to join in and compete against the Officers.

In the south of the county it had been very busy since the last report. At the last meeting I promised to endeavour to provide a Police presence at any community event you asked us to attend. We have delivered 100% on that. We would continue that commitment, and we would still focus on our visibility. Rural patrols in the rural areas had also been increased.

Special Constables had been amazing, providing 63k hours of community service across the county, with 5.5k hours here in the south. Whatever the teams are working on, the Specials were at the heart of what we do, and we could not manage without them.

Questions:

·       It had been reported that Wiltshire has the worst record for numbers of Officers per heads of population. Answer: The PCC has struggled over the last 2 years to get the funding in our favour. We are seeing from national crime statistics this week that we are being treated unfairly. However we are doing our very best to respond to calls for service. Our Officers are very committed to community policing and do give above and beyond.

·       Fly tipping – your report mentions 10 perpetrators were being questioned, was this as a result of the AB camera? Answer: Cannot tell you that but as of the result of the incident at Lode Hill we have caught up with 10 other people of interest. It was not a Policing led issue, but an environment issue which we supported. Chairman: I remain of the view that an actual prosecution would act as a deterrent

·       Downton has had issues, thank you for your support, however the Neighbourhood Policing Task Group has not taken place for some time. We used to have four meetings a year, covering a large area. This enabled a good means of two-way communication, could these meetings be started up again? Answer: I agree that these are a benefit to the community, however these are community led, so if you start them up, we will support it.

·       What do you mean by community? Answer: Usually a PC and some members of the community. Touch base with PC Matt Holland.

·       In August you had targeted patrols in Shrewton on the B3086 to monitor HGVs, we have the same problem in Downton but do not seem to have any patrols. Answer: It is difficult here due to the length of the road. If you want to raise it as a community issue I will look at it as one of our priorities. Other areas run a lorry watch scheme and they have been quite successful. The Highways officers at WC can liaise with their counterparts in Dorset.

·       I came to the AB in 2013 with this problem of the lorries. 5 years on we have got nowhere. The village is so congested now. Answer: You cannot engineer out the problem, it makes it difficult, you are down to a level of enforcement. Chairman: I recognise the importance of this issue locally – I would suggest that when you get your NTG up and running, you make this the first item for discussion. Tom: Lets look at the Bradford on Avon Lorrywatch scheme and see how they have funded that.

·       In Downton there has been a spate of Antisocial behaviour incidents. The Police have spoken to residents, some situations have been very serious, with a block of flats being targeted. One resident was found lying on the floor after three days. A group like this would solve communication issues. It would be nice to know that something was going on. People are getting worried and fed up we understand there is a pressure on resources, but we want something done. Chairman: Can you give some reassurance that you are listening and give some guidance? Answer: We have responded, and we have created a targeted patrol in Downton. We have reduced the number of calls to report that type of activity since we have made the targeted patrols, and we will continue to do that. The catapult issue has been a problem across the south of the county, it is not just an individual but seems to be a small group. We will respond. Officers and PCSOs will be monitoring the calls and will be focusing attention to targeted areas.

·       Can we give our thanks to the Officer hospitalised during the Novichok attack, and hope that he is recovering well. Answer: Thank you he has received well wishes from across the world.