Agenda item

The Safer Neighbourhood Team will talk to you about their priorities and give you an update on their activities.

3.1             PC Danny Barrow presented an update on the Hull Road Safer Neighbourhood Team and their recent activities. The following points were made:

3.2             The team structure is changing, with two new PCSOs having recently joined and another two due to join next month.

3.3             Crime in general is down 15% in the first six months of this year. Auto crime is down 70% compared to last year.

3.4             Cycle theft is currently being targeted by the police, owing to a recent spate of thefts in the area.

3.5             Police are also publicising their ‘Light Up, Lock Up’ campaign. If residents are out of their houses in the evening over the darker months, they are encouraged to leave some lights on and to ensure that the property is secure. Statistically, dark houses are more likely to be burgled between 4pm and 9pm than those with lights left on. To help achieve this, there are free timer switches and energy saving light bulbs available from the police.

3.6             Please stop and talk to officers from your Safer Neighbourhood Team when you see them out and about, and let them know if there is anywhere you would like them to patrol. Their number is 0845 60 60 247.

Residents had the following comments and questions:

Q         Has the team cut the number of PCSOs? None have been seen around Badger Hill lately.

A            Badger Hill is patrolled at least twice a week. They run surgeries with the kids in the school and then go out around the shops.

Q         There has been a problem with cyclists around Tang Hall Lane not putting their lights on in the dark. Sometimes they have their headphones on and are oblivious to the pedestrians around them.

A         An operation that was run last year caught many cyclists in the area who were not using their lights in the evening; students and other residents too. These operations cannot be run incessantly as they are very time consuming, but police are warning and educating these cyclists when they see them.

Q         Cars have been parking around Yarborough Way corner. It’s dangerous.

A            Parking offences have been decriminalised, and unless there is an obstruction to the footpath or a junction then the matter is for Parking Services. We will go and take a look at the area.

Q         There are also cars with ‘For Sale’ signs left parked outside other people’s houses for weeks at a time.

A         Again, the police can only deal with obstructions. Parking Services should be contacted for any other problems.

            Cllr Pierce added that it is an offence only if someone has two ‘For Sale’ cars parked closer than 60 metres together.

Q         Who deals with cyclists going up one-way streets the wrong way? There is a problem with this on Simon Street.

A         The police will look at that.

3.7       Cllr Pierce added that a police office has recently been opened in the ward, meaning that there is less travelling back and forth from Fulford for officers on patrol. PCSOs are now able to patrol until midnight.