St Leonards Safer Neighbourhood Panel Meeting
St Leonards Church, 10 June 2009
Minutes

1.Welcome and Apologies

Lee welcomed the attendees, including CI Rob Harper, Rhaoul Bhansali the Conservative candidate for Parliament, Cllr Brian Palmer (Liberal Democrats), Cllr Roger Giess (Liberal Democrats), Cllr Clive Bennett (Liberal Democrat), PC Matt Watts who joins the SN team and replaces PC Rebecca Young, Oliver Murray now working as an analyst with the SN team and DelThomas from Love Streatham.

Apologies were received from:

Philip White
Caroline Pidgeon
Pat Sawyer
Wendy Newall
Nicky Gore
Claire Mathys

2.Minutes of the meeting held on 01.04.09 and matters arising

The following matters were highlighted:
Love Streatham website – correction required
Hostels/ ‘bunkhouses’ – no updates for the police
A newly established NCCZ has generated complaints from residents about a telecommunications company, an energy supplier and church. Those organisations have now been contacted.

The minutes to the previous meeting were accepted, signed and adopted.

3.Tackling Drugs in Lambeth

Megan Jones, Manager of the Lambeth Drug and Alcohol Team gave a short presentation highlighting her team’s work. She distributed contact details and leaflets entitled ‘Tackling Drugs in Lambeth’ (produced as part of a national ‘Tackling drugs Week’)

Drug and alcohol abuse remains a major problem in the St Leonards Ward and a concern for local residents. The team’s work consists of 4 strands:

Prevention – Providing education in schools. Targeting the young people most likely to succumb to addiction and working in collaboration with social workers

Treatment – A complicated process. £4 million has been spent on enhancing community treatment services e.g. Smart (run by Mainliners) in the St Leonards Ward.

DIP (Drugs Intervention Programme) tests individuals within the Criminal justice system. By law, those who test positive are required to attend 2 treatment appointments following their release. However, the success rate with those sent via the criminal justice system is not as high as with individuals who come forward voluntarily. Providing a single point of contact for former prisoners is complicated and only some are picked up via the community treatment programmes.

A number of pilot schemes have involved service users. They have been asked to provide feedback on the service they received. Funding is obtained from the Home office because of the clear link between drug abuse and crime.

Collaboration with Police – Looking at supplier reduction especially where drugs are sold openly e.g. Brixton was targeted recently and in April police identified and arrested 16 Class A dealers.
It is acknowledged that prostitution and drug abuse are connected. The team are in the process of drafting a strategy to provide support for the women whilst the local police will target men who use prostitution.

Reassurance – Picking up on concerns from local residents and implementing solutions e.g. improving street lighting, increasing police patrols and identifying crack houses.

4.Issues for discussion at the GLA

Caroline Pigeon our local GLA member was unable to attend the Panel meeting. She asked that the group highlight issues for discussion. The following were raised:

Prostitution and Vice – The Metropolitan Police does not regard vice as a high priority at present. The local community support police are the main method for dealing with it. Many residents feel that this complex problem requires additional resources. A number of residents also question whether the shift patterns / working methods of the Safer Neighbourhood team are conducive to resolving the vice issue?

Pavement narrowing / Transport – There is some concern about changes to the High Road and its impact on road safety. The junction next to St Leonards church is also problematic. This was to have been remodelled as part of the proposed redevelopment scheme but nothing has happened yet. The area is heavily congested which must pose problems for emergency vehicles and incidents of ‘road rage’ are common.
A number of buses currently terminate outside the St Leonards church rather than the bus deport. Consequently, drivers have no rest room facilities and have been seen using the graveyard. Local residents have complained to the bus company but have not received a satisfactory response.

Anti Social Behaviour - A widespread problem within the ward e.g. the dip

5.Police Update

Matt Watts (previously worked for the Lambeth Vice Team) joins the Safer Neighbourhood team and will be able to provide invaluable input on local vice issues.

The dip - The police have been busy tackling common complaints e.g. vehicles sold on the street, dog fouling, littering, abandoned vehicles etc. They have also run joint initiatives with the council to deal with problems arising from the dip. Residents have complained about shops selling wares on the pavements and groups of men congregating outside the Somali coffee shops. There have been leaflet drops and the council have looked at Health & Safety / Hygiene issues relating to the complaints. The police will continue to explore issues with the community itself.

Somali youths continue to cause disturbances. This is problematic. The younger generation are uncooperative with the police and their community elders. The council may implement yellow lines in Gleneldon Mews as a result of some of the complaints but other long term solutions need to be explored.

Holiday Youth Schemes – The police are supporting a number of summer schemes and youth projects being run this summer. For more information, please visit http://www.lambethsummerprojects.co.uk/

Streatham Green / Continuing Anti Social Behaviour - The previous dispersal zone did not resolve the problem. Setting up an alcohol free zone in Lambeth could help but is a slow process requiring a lengthy consultation period. The area is being used almost exclusively by drinkers but the police are powerless to make arrests unless culprits are being disorderly or aggressive. The police have suggested removing the seats but local residents have mixed views about this. The police have reservations about re introducing the dispersal zone because it requires 2 or more people being anti social before they can enforce it. Sitting drinking is not enough to make arrests.

ACTION - A long term resolution be explored as part of the GLA discussion next time. In the meantime, residents should report problems by telephoning 020 79264000. Statistics / information can be compiled for future use.

Vice and Prostitution - The main female suspect has appeared in court and has been issued with an Interim ASBO.
There have been very few incidents reported recently despite the recent good weather. The police will continue to target the men who use prostitution.

Elderly and Vulnerable Residents - Kerry and Jed (PCSOs) continue to run initiatives to help elderly / vulnerable residents living in the ward e.g. ‘message in a bottle’ (listing any medication required close to hand) and bells on purses (to deter theft). They recently met residents at the doctors’ surgery on Prentis Road.

Burglary - Still a priority for police. Oliver Murray joined the Safer Neighbourhood Team in January as their analyst. He has been tasked with providing analytical support on crimes which have been prioritised by the team. He will help to identify characteristics / trends and will make recommendations to the police based on the findings. His work has helped to challenge popular assumptions about certain crimes. As a result, the team should become more effective in their response to burglary.

August is the peak time for burglaries in the ward (summer holiday season) and unsecured properties remain the most common cause.
In the past three months, the number of burglaries has declined, robberies were up by 1, criminal damage remained the same and vehicle and pedal cycle thefts were down.

CI Rob Harper highlighted a new trend in burglaries. Gangs are currently using a ‘Z’ shaped tool (widely available in hardware stores) to break into homes fitted with UPVC doors. The tool is fed through a letter box and used to pull down the handle. This is easily prevented if the door has been locked properly.

ACTION - CI Harper urged all Neighbourhood Watch groups to highlight this crime to members and asked residents to ensure that they keep their front doors locked.

6.Officer’s Reports

Chairman’s Report:

Town centre management Board - A new Town Centre Manager is being recruited. Lee Alley has applied for the post. The group will look to set up a Business Improvement District and will involve new local businesses in resolving local issues e.g. vice

Streatham Action - The Head of planning for the Council presented the plan for Streatham for the next 15 years. Development plans cover 4 distinct areas. For more details, please consult the website http://www.stleonardsward.org.uk/ which welcomes the views of local residents.

Amanda Austin (Vice Chair):

The main issue of Vice had already been covered earlier in the meeting.

Ben Everitt (Secretary):

Anti Social Behaviour issues had been discussed earlier in the meeting. Street rubbish largely connected with drinkers using the green remains a problem.

7.Any Other Business

Fran Strachan highlighted the negative impact of issues in the dip area on local businesses. She has been in contact with the council on a number of occasions but has yet to see any long term resolutions. It was decided to continue the discussion in a different forum.

Love Streatham update - Residents can now contact the group via lovestreatham@hotmail.com. The street pastors will qualify by the end of July and 6/7will be working in Streatham from October. Their hours will be from 10pm – 4.30pm. They provide social action and community links. In addition to talking to people out on the street in the early hours, they will help individuals to get home safely and target youths living on some of the local estates.

Use of Khat - It was reported that an individual had openly been selling khat on Gleneagle Road. This was identified as an Anti Social Behaviour issue and should be reported by telephoning 020 79264000 or by contacting Trading Standards.
There are varying views about criminalising the use of cat. Lee Alley voiced his personal opinion that making it an illegal substance could potentially result in more problems for the area.

Dangerous Dogs - Rosalie Lawlor attended a very informative meeting organised by the Metropolitan police. They clarified the current legislation covering dangerous dogs and identified which breeds are banned. She proposed inviting the police officer in charge to present to the Safer Neighbourhood group.

ACTION - Ask other Safer Neighbourhood panels if they wished to attend. Rosalie to liaise with Sgt Louise Miller about organising the event. It was also suggested that a representative from the Wandsworth dog unit team attend. Sgt Miller would follow up. A venue would need to be sourced. Once details are confirmed, Neighbourhood Watch groups should invite their members to ensure a worthwhile turnout.

Anti Social behaviour - Street drinkers / Streatham Green. CI Rob Harper pledged hat street drinking would be a focus for the police and that he would lead on a problem solving process to tackle this in the long term.

Vice – CI Harper also reassured the group that the burden of dealing with this issue did not rest solely with the Safer Neighbourhood team. There are 24 hour response teams operating in the area who receive hourly updates. Patrol cars and police officers will target areas of vice and work from intelligence provided by the Safer Neighbourhood team. Whilst the problems appear to have declined recently, the resources will continue.

Appointment of a New Borough Commander- DCI Nick Ephgrave has been appointed. He was heavily involved in the reinvestigation of the Damilola Taylor case which resulted in the successful prosecutions. CI Harper informed the group that there is now three year tenure in place for the post.

8.Priorities discussion

It was agreed that the priorities should remain:

Vice
Burglary
Anti Social Behaviour on the Streatham Green It was decided that Anti Social issues in the dip would be reviewed at the next meeting

9.Date of next meeting

The next meeting is to be held on Wednesday 5 August at 19.00, St Leonards Church. The following meeting will be held on Wednesday 7 October 2009.

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St Leonards Safer Neighbourhood Panel AGM
St Leonards Church, 10 June 2009
Minutes

New Appointments

Appointment of a new Panel Chair

Lee Alley has now stepped down as Chair of the St Leonards Safer neighbourhood panel after 3 years in the post. He started with 3 clear objectives:

• To improve the reporting / cooperation from the local police
• To use technology to report
• To see clear results in the community arising from the work of the panel

It was widely acknowledged that Lee had succeeded in achieving these aims and had made a significant impact on the group. Improving its organisation / structure and transforming it into the most efficient / effective Safer Neighbourhood group in London. He will continue to attend future panel meetings and support the group.
Lee nominated Ben Everitt to replace him as Chair. Fran Strachan seconded.

Appointment of a Vice Chair

Lee Alley proposed that Amanda Austin continue in her role as Vice Chair. Ruth Edwards seconded.

Appointment of a Secretary

Lee nominated Fiona Brent for the role of secretary and was supported by Amanda Austin.