Agenda and minutes
PDF 28 KBVenue: Foxwood Community Centre, Cranfield Place, YO24 3HY
Contact: Catherine Claudius-Cole Community Officer
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Agenda Introductions Ward Budget and Ward Grants Celebrating Our Community and Residents Police Update Area Walk Abouts and Neighbourhood Caretakers Have Your Say
Minutes: Westfield Ward Meeting Minutes Thursday October 9th 2025 Foxwood Community Centre Agenda Drop In and meet councillors and local police Police Updates for the Ward Ward Grants updates and Budget Neighbourhood Walkabouts Civic Trust Project Celebration of Residents and the Community Have Your Say
6.30pm Meet and great councillors and community groups 7.00pm Cllr J Coles opened the meeting and welcomed residents, speakers and community groups, and asked councillors to introduce themselves. Cllr E Nelson introduced herself, stating she was a resident of Westfield and proud of Westfield as a ward, and was grateful to the residents who contribute to the ward’s positive activities. Cllr A Waller introduced himself as Cllr for Westfield Ward. C Claudius Cole introduced herself as the Community Officer for the ward and minute taker for the meeting.
Police updates Serg Ben Amble introduced himself as the acting police sergeant for the area, having served in neighbourhood policing for five years. He currently has 2 PCs (L Warburton and C Jenkins) and 6 PCSOs working in the area. 1 PC is specifically assigned to Westfield ward, reflecting the high demand in Westfield with Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB).
Ward priorities are set with the chief inspector. The priorities are:
ASB has the highest policing demand than any other ward. Burglaries have reduced across the ward, but occasionally spike. The current trend is for targeting sheds and garages for expensive bikes and motorcycles. Retail crime is not as high as other areas. Organised Crime priority relies upon community intelligence, especially in relation to drug dealing; often has links to organised crime.
Hate crime in the form of racist graffiti in Hatfield Walk, The Chinese Takeaway and Chesney Fields was an issue. Intelligence suggests that this has been done by young people. Police have a applied a problem-solving approach under Operation Unity. This has a focus on engaging young people with inputs around hate crime and the impact this has.
Police are taking a proactive approach in patrols, which ties in with their ASB plan. Current shift patterns make policing ‘hotspots’ problematic but plans to change a shift pattern should offer more coverage. There are some changes to policing planned to allow for a more comprehensive management of ASB, using every intervention possible prior to enforcement.
Cllr Coles invited questions.
G Campbell Thomas asked there was a correlation between the flags and a rise in racist incidents, graffiti and hate crime. Srg Ambler stated that he could not make that correlation as the intelligence suggests that a young person (persons) are responsible for the graffiti, whilst intelligence suggests that adults are responsible for the flag mounting.
Cllr J Coles asked if primary schools were also engaged in the police Operation Unity Campaign. Srg Ambler confirmed the operation involved both primary and secondary schools.
F Reilly from Acomb Library praised the swift police response to a recent incident when library staff requested police assistance. Staff felt safe and supported by the police.
Resident ... view the full minutes text for item 1. |