Agenda item

The Committee to receive a presentation.

The Chairman welcomed Phil Vickers, the Chief Inspector for Lincolnshire Police (North and South Kesteven).

 

The Chief Inspector for North and South Kesteven Lincolnshire Police updated the Committee on neighbourhood policing issues, PCSOs in South Kesteven and Anti-social behaviour:

 

·       That Lincolnshire was a safe place to live, work and visit.

·       The breach of covid lockdown regulations were recorded as an anti-social behaviour incident.

·       Over the last 2 years, crime had reduced, however, anti-social behaviour had increased nationally. This was due to public space offences.

·       The police had greater enforcement and prevention ability to reduce crime during lockdown.

·       Lincolnshire Police had been the lowest funded force in the country for a prolonged period. However, the performance of the force was in the top quartile.

·       That the technical ability, infrastructure, and the operators of the CCTV in South Kesteven were the best in the county.

·       South Kesteven could consider more proactive use of legal powers.

 

The Chairman requested further information in relation to the South of the county (Stamford, Bourne and Deepings area).

 

The Chief Inspector highlighted points in relation to specific areas:

 

·       Offenders being enforced against in Stamford were predominantly from Peterborough and surrounding areas. Another crime area of Stamford was links to the A1 and The Meadows.

·       That the Peterborough ‘drug-scene’ impacts Bourne and Market Deeping more than Stamford.

·       That the police work to identify future offenders and victims of domestic abuse to prevent it happening.

·       As of 31 March 2022, there were 1205 full-time police officers working in the force and 80 PCSOs working across the county.

·       The Police and Crime Commissioner had committed to delivering neighbourhood policing, roads policing team and rural crime team.

 

One Member raised concern over the lack of PCSO presence in Bourne and that this adds to the recent issues relating to break-ins, vandalisms, thefts and commercial burglaries.

 

The Chief Inspector highlighted that in 2019, he had lost two inspectors and five sergeants posts which had impacted on the ability to police in South Kesteven. This was necessary as part of the policing budget.

 

The Vice- Chairman requested that a representative of the police force attends Parish Council meetings when necessary. It was confirmed that PCSOs could attend meetings where there was a specific issue that needed to be addressed.

 

One Member requested more visible police presence in Stamford in order to be more preventative and proactive for people coming into Stamford from Peterborough and surrounding areas to commit crimes.

 

A query was raised on whether there had been a domestic uplift in domestic heating oil theft and the recommendations around prevention to minimise the risk.

 

It was confirmed that the police had not seen a significant increase in the number of oil theft in Lincolnshire, however, there had been an increase across the broader region. Preventative physical measures that could be followed by rural businesses could be CCTV, lighting, location of tanks and security of access points. There had been a significant increase in the theft of horse boxes and flatbed trailers.

 

The Community Safety Lead provided the Committee with a presentation that outlined neighbourhoods and CCTV within the Council. The responsibilities of the neighbourhoods, public protection team consisted of:

 

·       Anti-social behaviour (ASB) including vehicle ASB

·       Noise complaints including noisy animals

·       Neighbour disputes

·       Untidy garden/land

·       Pests

·       Abandoned vehicles

·       Fly tipping and other waste offences

·       Graffiti

·       Littering and dog fouling

·       Parking enforcement within Council owned car parks.

 

The CCTV scheme provides coverage of retail, commercial, residential, recreational, car parks and open space areas located in South Kesteven. The purpose of the scheme was to help provide a safe public environment for the benefit of those people who live, work, trade, visit, service and enjoy the facilities of the town centres. It was highlighted that 197 CCTV cameras throughout the District, which were operation 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 

 

The partnership working between the police and the Council were provided to the Committee.

 

One Member raised a query regarding 2 jobs that involved car park enforcement as part of their remits and whether these were the only employees who patrol the Council owner car parks. A further issue was raised in relation to Stamford bus station being used as a car park and disrupting the ability for buses to park in designated spaces.

A request was made for the neighbouring team to attend Stamford Meadows to give out litter fines to offenders.

 

The Community Safety Lead confirmed that one officer in the team completed car park enforcements on a full-time basis and another office was part-time. It was highlighted that staffing was sufficient. Stamford bus station was owned by South Kesteven District Council; however, it was not on the Car Parking Order.  

 

One Member raised further queries:

 

·       Why the Council were not using protection orders and community protection warnings as much as North Kesteven District Council were.

·       How many CCTV cameras were constantly monitored in real time due to several being internal.

·       What the legal position was around authorising and issuing littering fines.

·       Whether the CCTV email address was monitored 24 hours a day.

 

The Community Safety Lead confirmed that the email was monitored 24 hours a day but should not be utilised instead of calling the police. A community protection warning had to be issued before a community protection notice can be issued and the Council and the police had the powers to issue them.

 

It was highlighted that 130 CCTV cameras were constantly monitored and there were 62 cameras within the Council’s premises, which are only monitored if an issue arises. An authorised officer of the Council would be able to issue littering fines.

 

A Member highlighted the struggle of getting through to an operator through the Customer Service number provided.