Agenda item

Report of the Head of Community Services

The Stronger and Safer Community Team Leader gave a presentation to Members updating them on the current position with anti-social behaviour in the District.  Sergeant Jon Sharpe was also in attendance to provide information from the local beat perspective.

Councillor M B Wyatt was pleased to see the item on the agenda as Coalville had suffered from anti-social behaviour in the past 12 months.  He expressed concerns that the local people’s view of the police was poor as they felt that issues were not being tackled by police and therefore were reluctant to report incidents.  Sergeant Jon Sharpe stated that a lot of work was being undertaken in the Coalville area and urged people to report incidents.  He explained that police officers were not always able to attend reported incidents but everything was logged to create a bigger picture and this assisted in tackling crime in the area.  He added that an anti-social behaviour car was used for hot spots and officers regularly talked to youths, took away alcohol and spoke to parents.

Councillor M B Wyatt asked if Coalville could have an alcohol free zone to stop people drinking in public areas.  The Stronger sand Safer Community Team Leader explained that it was something that could be investigated but it was important for people to report incidents so that a case could be created to apply for these kind of court orders.

Councillor K Merrie raised issues with motor cycles in his ward, which seemed to be a seasonal problem.

Councillor T Eynon concurred with the importance of reporting all incidents of anti-social behaviour, but would prefer if there was something on the council web pages to refer people to.  She asked if reporting through facebook was appropriate and if Public Protection Orders were effective.  Sergeant Jon Sharpe asked for reports not to be made via Facebook.  He explained that the police website has recently been updated to make reporting incidents easier and this was the preferred method of contact.  Regarding a Public Protection Order, he stated that it was a lengthy process but was effective.

In response to a number of questions from Councillor C Benfield, Sergeant Jon Sharpe stated the following:

-     Anti-social behaviour statistics were not currently broken down by age although it was predominantly younger people.

-     When reports were made in relation to vehicle noise on roads, PCSO’s were sent out in the first instance and contact made with owners if registration was known.  If anything on the car contravened traffic regulations, then a request to change it would be made and enforced.

-     Additional funds for more officers would be great but he felt it was not necessarily the answer to improve anti-social behaviour levels.  He believed it was more important to prevent young people committing the offences in the first place.

Councillor J Geary made a statement on his opinion of the police force and that he did not believe it to be a deterrent any more.  Sergeant Jon Sharpe provided information as to why young people were not taken to court in the first instance, and expressed the importance of providing them with education on what else was available.

It was moved by Councillor G Hoult, seconded by Councillor C Benfield and

RESOLVED THAT:

The report be noted.