PRESENT: Chair Karen Leakey, Vice-Chair Pam Freegard, Treasurer John Freegard, Secretary and Archivist Kevin Leakey, Diana Banner, Muhammad Chaudhry, John Clark, Vi Clark, Paul Izquierdo, Kate Johnson, Cluniford Mason, Madge Sutton, Ros Timlin, Pat Townsend, Roy Townsend, Bob Walter, Robert Williams
ALSO PRESENT:
NPT Sgt McLaughlin, Sue Lee - sex worker for prostitutes, Tim French, Kathryn Hawke
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Kay Malko, Evelyn Mason, Rebecca McIntosh, Mark Walker – SBC Town Centre Locality Lead, Frances Barrone – SBC, Julie Wright – ward councillor, PC Atkinson - Broad Street Area Beat Manager, PCSO Millarvie, PCSO Rogers.
NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE TEAM :
There was no Broadgreen NPT representation present at the drop-in, but Sgt McLaughlin gave the crime statistics for August on behalf of PC. Atkinson.
NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE TEAM STATISTICS: 01 August 2014 to 31 August 2014
Criminal damage – 2 (2013 – 16)
Assaults – 5 (2013 – 11) (2 x domestic incidents, 1 x assault against Police)
Theft and Handling – 12 (2013 – 25) (8/12 relate to commercial premises)
Drugs – 3 (2013 – 7)
Dwelling Burglary – 5 (2013 – 4) (please see below)
Robbery – 0. (2013 – 0)
NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE TEAM REPORT
Year to date for August 2014 incidents of crime are reduced across all key crime areas with the exception of dwelling burglaries, which has slightly increased. We believe the 5 burglaries, which have taken place last month, are attributable to the same suspects. These individuals have been arrested, charged and remanded in custody, and as a result since arrest action has been conducted we have had no further burglaries across Broadgreen.
In the 12 months up to August 2014 complaints of anti-social behaviour have reduced 14.7% compared to the 12 months up to August 2013. This is a pleasing reduction and is representative of the positive enforcement action we as a team have taken place using the Section 30 dispersal powers, as well as robust enforcement of the designated public place order. I am still aware of some problems with street drinkers around Ponting Street, Alfred Street and Lagos Street and have visited residents in these areas. If any residents around the Broadgreen area have any further details regarding this issue then please notify me and I will be happy to come out and see you. Anti-social behaviour is still a priority for the Central Neighbourhood Policing Team and we will continue to target persons causing issues in the future. I attended the Partnership anti-social behaviour, tasking meeting at Swindon Borough Council last week, in which current issues in Broadgreen were raised. Central NPT, Swindon Borough Council ASB team and Licensing will be carrying out partnership working in the area across the next few weeks looking at the Off-licences and Breakfast Club at St. Luke’s Church with regards to any associated ASB, which is taking place in and around these locations.
We are currently contesting licensing applications for new off-licenses on Manchester Road and I have been working alongside Police licensing and Swindon Borough Council licensing to provide evidence in relation to this. I’d also like to thank the Community Council for the detailed letter provided to assist us on behalf of the residents of Broadgreen. There will be a licensing decision made in the next few weeks in relation to the application for 42 Manchester Road and hopefully we will have a positive outcome.
There was a large Police presence around Alfred Street yesterday afternoon (02 Sept) in which a portion of the road had to be closed. We apologise to residents and local businesses if this had a negative impact on your activities during the day. Unfortunately I cannot provide any specific details other than to tell you that Police were in the area as part of an ongoing investigation rather than responding to a live incident and Officers had left the location by around 6pm.
The treatment by the Police of the person wrongly taken away, and his family, during and after the Alfred Street Police raid had raised concerns from some of his neighbours. The family’s baby was not put in a child seat when taken away in a Police car and the suspected gentleman was very upset and visibly shaken following his release.
Sgt McLaughlin said it was a very specific response to a very serious offence; they were as polite and as quick as they could be, the gentleman had been spoken to by Officers about the situation, but if there were any further issues about it, Sgt McLaughlin would encourage him speak to the Police and he and his Inspector would come out and it could be explained in more detail.
Policing is an Intelligence driven business and the NPT would urge you to contact Wiltshire Police on 101 if you have something you need to tell us. Or alternatively email Community Beat Manager PC 2410 Luke ATKINSON on luke.atkinson@wilthire.pnn.police.uk
COUNCILLORS REPORT:
No councillors were present but Cllr. Julie Wright forwarded the following report -
Enforcement I have requested a meeting with the relevant Officers to ask for an update on enforcement taken in the area. We have continued to identify areas where enforcement is needed to officers but are concerned about the apparent lack of action. We therefore want details that we can present to the Community Council (as some may still be confidential) about enforcement action taken.
Parking Still problems with people parking illegally in the area. We continue to report to Parking Officers and have submitted photographs of offenders. I have requested a report from Parking Services to show the amount of parking notices that have been served in the Broadgreen area over a month period. I hope to be able to provide the information as soon as it is received.
A review of the residents parking in Broadgreen will be taking place in September. Please come along and let Officers know your views.
Broadgreen Community Centre Another meeting has been arranged to discuss the future of the Centre on Tuesday 9th September. Please come along to share your views.
Kimmerfield Court We have had meeting with residents of Kimmerfield Court about the problems they are currently experiencing with heat in the flats and communal areas, noise, anti social behaviour etc. We organised a meeting with housing officers and residents to discuss the problems and look at solutions. Although the building is managed by the Council it is owned by Green Square and therefore a further meeting is being sought to include Green Square, the police and other agencies to look at the issues in further details.
Breakfast Club I visited the Breakfast Club to raise the problems with street drinkers in the area. Before my visit I did walk around the area to see whether there were any signs of street drinkers but I did not witness any. The Breakfast Club seems well run and they told me that they do emphasis to their customers that they are not to drink in the area. I also told them about the problems with defecating in the area. The Breakfast Club could not understand why this was happening as they have toilets within the facilities. After visiting the Breakfast Club I did another patrol around the area but still found no evidence of street drinkers. I have asked the police to treat the problem with street drinkers as a priority and they have taken action. We have also asked them to provide patrol reports for you.
I spoke to the Anti Social Behaviour Team about this matter and they told me that they have conducted regular visits to the Breakfast Club and have patrolled the area at various times and dates but have not seen any problems. It is therefore extremely difficult to build a case against the Breakfast Club without the necessary evidence that it is their users who are causing the problems.
Rubbish We continue to report flytipping etc . On the same day as I visited the Breakfast Club I met with Pam and John. There was a huge amount of rubbish along Gladstone Street and in the alleyways. Luckily I met one of the street cleaners whilst walking the area and highlighted the problem to him. The street cleaner told me that unfortunately as soon as an area is cleaned, more rubbish appears.
CORRESPONDENCE and PLANNING
SENT – Objections to licensing re. Application for licence by LJ Foodnwine Ltd - 42 Manchester Rd.
RECEIVED – Invite to an SBC drop in session at the Broadgreen Community Centre on Tuesday 9th September from 4pm – 7pm in the main hall to feedback thoughts on the future of the centre.
Changes to the dates of two SBC meetings at the Broadgreen Centre –
Parking review - now changed to Thursday 25th Sept, from 4 – 7pm in the activities room.
Waste Management meeting - now changed to Thursday 2nd October from 4 – 7pm in the Lounge.
PLANNING
S/ADV/14/0868 - Football Stadium - County Ground SN1 2ED - Display of a non-illuminated signage - Application Pending Consideration - Case Officer - Mr Tom Buxton
S/PRIORH/14/1252 – 3 Alexandra Road SN1 1DR - prior Approval Notification for the erection of a single storey rear extension measuring 5.4m (from original rear wall), 2.55m (maximum height) and 2.35m (height to eaves) - prior Approval NOT required - Case Officer - Mr Edward Snook
TREASURERS REPORT - to 03 September 2014: John Freegard
The monthly Treasurers report was distributed to all Members present.
Sue Lee - sex worker for prostitutes, explained to those present that she was a temporary sex work outreach worker based at the Isis women’s centre and employed by the Nelson Trust. The post had been financed for one year via a grant from the Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner. Sue had previously worked for twelve years as a drug and alcohol worker in Swindon.
The post was for 37 hours per week operating from a silver van, financed by Wiltshire Police for last seven years, and would be offering very assertive, active outreach to sex workers in the area. Sue had been in the post for two months and had done 8 to 9 outreaches with other agency partners, and was looking to carry out two night outreach patrols per week. There were up to ten regular female prostitutes and the majority were drug users, addicted to heroin and crack cocaine, they also had other associated problems. There was also a connected multi-agency meeting to discuss around thirty women, although they were not all on the streets.
Sue offered to bring along the van she used to a future BSACC meeting, so people could see what was offered to the prostitutes.
The following issues and points were raised
Concerns that a one year temporary post would have little effect on the situation in the area, and what would happen when the post went?
Why would the outreach work this time, what is so different, there had been many programs before that had not worked.
Residents were not a priority; it was all about the ‘poor girls’.
One resident had lived in the area for 46 years and had heard the same speeches many times.
Not a red light area as was described on the radio recently, when the problem was highlighted there was an upsurge in people driving around the area.
Why were kerb crawlers not named and shamed in the press?
Sue Lee - in 2005 PC Matt Barnett had approached her as the drug and alcohol worker in the Police Station, to do some outreach work, and some had taken place, but what was hoped would be different this time was that the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) had identified the need for this post. Although it was an isolated post and there was no magic wand to solve the issues, Sue hoped it would last not for one year, but for ten years and hopefully after the first year the PCC would see that the statistics showed it was good and would want the post to continue. Sue grew up in Manchester Road in the 1970’s and there were prostitutes there then and they were still there now. Sex sold and they would probably remain but she did not want to see them consistently on the street. By having targeted outreach, specifically engaging with them and getting them into treatment, it would move them out of the area. It had only been 2 months so far, so we should give it a chance to see if it worked.
Sgt McLaughlin - in the past the things that had been tried had been in isolation, what they were trying to do this time, and he chaired a meeting of the managers of all the organisations involved, was to make sure things were being done consistently and were maintained. To ensure that in a couple of month’s time, or after two ‘change’ courses (for kerb crawlers), it did not stop and was maintained he was writing a strategy for Swindon.
Sue’s boss was looking how the position of sex work outreach worker could be funded to keep going, this would allow PC Kuklinski to work with Sue, but to switch to a more Police enforcement role rather than having to deal with sorting out the prostitutes. The models, from Liverpool where they had cut the problems drastically and Ipswich where they had eradicated the problems, were now being followed in Swindon.
With regards to naming and shaming kerb crawlers, if they went to court and were convicted they could be named, that had not happened recently. If they were first time offenders, as the majority that had been caught recently had been, they would be offered the chance to go on a ‘change’ course, which is was what those caught had done. This was an option not offered to repeat offenders, who would now be named and shamed if prosecuted.
The Chair gave Sue and Sgt. McLaughlin a copy of a statement written in 1984 by the then Secretary of the BSACC, indicating that the prostitution problems expanded into Broadgreen, from the railway station area, in 1981.
The following issues, points and information were raised and discussed
Manchester Road was a clearway, but vehicles were being parked there, and lorries were being unloaded outside of the designated bays. – NPT Sgt McLaughlin said that Manchester Road was not a clearway, if it was the Police could act.
Parking in the alleyways.
Drain cleaning in alleyways.
Street drinkers.
It was agreed to try and organise a meeting with Council Officers, councillors and other relevant agencies, to discuss the problems in the area.
Drop-in closed 8.45pm
