Agenda item

a)    Parish Councils and Community groups

b)    National Armed Forces Day – Update

c)    Community Policing – local issues and priorities

Attendance from the Community Policing Team

The Board received the following updates:

Parish Councils and Community Groups

There were no updates this time.

National Armed Forces Day

The Community Engagement Manager updated on this three-day event which would take place on the last weekend in June 2019, in Salisbury.

There were a number of ways people were invited to get involved. The big flag initiative was one. The CEM would be travelling around the community area to take a series of photos with the flag, at feature locations and with a selection of community groups. Karen asked anyone with ideas for photo locations to let her know.

Community Policing – Local Issues and Priorities

In addition to the written report in the pack, Sector Inspector Pete Sparrow gave a verbal update on some of the issues across southern Wiltshire.

A decision had been taken to split the area into two sections. Pete would take command of the Salisbury end and a new inspector would be coming in for the Amesbury section.

Knife crime and the County lines drug running was touching on all communities, from cities and then filtering out into the wider rural community. Parents and grandparents needed to look out for family members who had come in to sudden wealth, if the children were not getting it from you and they are not earning, they are getting from somewhere. There were other parts of the county where they have not dealt with this quickly enough and it led to issues of violence.

The Special constabulary had already provided over 1500 hours of service this year. This was an amazing contribution.

There had been a series of shed/out building theft incidents of tools and machinery. We recommend that you mark up your machinery in a distinctive way, record serial numbers and check security on outbuildings.

The Police had attended a positive meeting held in Landford this week with over 100 people in attendance who came out to speak about theft issues there.

Questions and comments:

·       Chairman - How many of the Special’s hours were working as independent Officers? Answer: The specials are always paired up whether they are qualified or not. Whether that is with a constable or another special.

·       Local Member Cllr Randall, thanked the Police for attending the emergency village meeting in Landford. The parish had been very concerned about theft, there had been an influx in recent weeks. The clerk for Landford has been talking to other clerks to try and sort something out. Landford will be made secure, the concern is that the problem would be dispersed to other areas. Problem is right across the south, wondered if the AB could get involved to do something? Answer: Target hardening does encourage the problem to go elsewhere, and make your area safer. It is then for the other places to do the same. There are plenty of products out there to help protect yourselves.

·       The Chairman noted that he would give some thought on a special themed session.

·       Keith Rodgers – When you get the new money from the precept increase, would you come to give a report on how that was being spent? Answer: I can confirm that the increase would be put towards an increase in Community Policing and the removal of our tri force agreement with Avon and Somerset. We would also be increasing our Community Coordinators, we have 2 currently in Salisbury. They help me to look at the demand and get the officers where they are needed.

·       Cllr Devine - You say we have no knife crime in Salisbury – can I suggest that with the increase in precept and the 40 Officers coming in, you can find another car and come out to the rural areas to patrol, having a visible presence would impact on the level of out building theft. Answer: The basic principles for Policing in the beginning, are still the same. We all have a duty to protect our communities, the only difference between me and you is that I have a warranted power. There are occasions when we have an area of 160 miles squared covered by just 3 Officers, that is the reality of Policing at the moment.

The Chairman ended by saying that we were all responsible for community safety and all had a part to play.