St Leonard’s Safer Neighbourhood Panel Meeting
10 December 2008 Meeting Minutes
1.Welcome and Apologies
This meeting was chaired by Chair Lee Alley. A list of attendees is available on request.
Apologies were received from:
- Ben Everitt (Secretary)
- Cllr Brian Palmer
- Cllr Roger Geiss
- Lorraine Paul (Lambeth Living)
- Nickie Gore (Stanthorpe Triangle NHW)
- Moya Heggie & Bob Edmondson (St Leonard’s Church)
2.Minutes of the meeting held on 15.10.08 and matters arising
The minutes to the previous meeting were accepted and adopted. There were no matters arising. All action points arising were completed.
3.Officers’ Update
Chairman’s Report
Apologies for having been absent and therefore hadn’t updated website/sent reminder to people for the meeting hence reduced attendance.
PRIORITY REPORT: Burglary – sadly up. Will be covered under police reports.
Vice Chair’s Report
PRIORITY REPORT: Vice - Amanda reported noticeable improvement in the prostitution issue around the north and centre of the ward. Could be the cold weather, could be increased police activity. Will continue to monitor.
Secretary’s Report
Ben Everitt unwell so not able to attend. He sent off the various letters arising from Actions at the last meeting. These are available for inspection.
PRIORITY REPORT: Licensing/street drinking– Amanda reported that the meeting took place about EDO licensing and a Review was submitted by residents. A date has been set for the Review Panel – 16 December. The Police have been very supportive and the residents’ very committed. Street drinking seems improved too.
Community Safety Report
Nabil Mezoughi reported street drinking has improved with more joined up response. Also commended police and shop owners for a fantastic response in reduced issues/problems with selling fireworks this year. This was down to a cohesive joined up police and Lambeth approach to the issue.
Treasurer’s Report
As ever, Ruth treasurer’s report was short because we still haven’t got any money and we therefore haven’t spent any. Ruth requested that the panel position/role be ‘retired’ until we have some money. The Panel agreed unanimously. The position will be reviewed constitutionally at the next AGM.
The chair thanked Ruth for all her support and help over the last 2 ½ years and announced that the meeting will be changing venue for a while to St Leonard’s Church to give her a well earned break!
4.Police Officers’ Update
Inspector John Duffy introduced special guest Superintendent Dave Musker, head of operations for Lambeth South.
Mr Dave Musker has considerable experience in the Ward having been the 1997 Sergeant in charge of Vice. He has worked in the borough since 2002 and has worked in Brixton for the past 2 years.
The Reviews: He explained the north/south management plan and the reorganisation and various reviews. He reassured residents that the changes will bring improvements to the service delivered. The uniformed response and Safer Neighbourhoods’ Teams will remain constant. There is a different management team and more streamlined CID response which should result in better reduction of crime rates as well as detection.
Vice: Dave Musker acknowledge that since serious violence had been made a borough priority, we saw an increase in vice. However he reassured the panel that he has a new plan to focus on the issue with a view to a longer term strategy for solving the problem. He will be happy to talk to residents in detail about the plan and will be held accountable for tackling the issue effectively.
Licensing – Mr Musker has dealt with the issue strongly in Brixton and undertook to do the same here. As a result the White Lion and Blue Ice Bar have been closed and he will tackle other trouble-makers accordingly. He believes a long game is more effective – building a case, training officers on the details of the Licensing Act, covert and unformed visits, liaising with the public and Lambeth to ensure that Streatham is a nicer place to live!
Street Drinking /ASB – Mr Musker is aware of the drinking hot spots in Streatham (the Green and St Leonard’s church yard) and will use TSG as appropriate.
Burglary – Mr Musker is aware that our Ward statistics contribute to the poor record of the borough’s performance on burglary. We are 37th of 37 poorest performers and this is unacceptable. Antisocial behaviour, violence and burglary are his top priorities and he will ensure that things change and criminals are locked up. He has allocated budgets and resources to tackle the issue on a borough wide scale.
Councillor Bennett – thanked Mr Musker for his firm straight talking and commended John Duffy and his team to Mr Musker. With regards to burglary and vice Councillor Bennett emphasised that this is very much a resourcing issue and welcomed the news that this would be a priority. With regards to licensing issues he welcomed the support and the review of the EDO bar as these sorts of issues are litmus tests for the public of their confidence in the police. Lambeth has set standards and welcomed the news that there is a plan for holiday visits to all licensed premises.
A resident posed a question to Mr Musker on the effectiveness of Section 222s and collaboration with Wandsworth Council. Mr Musker explained that this only one of many tactics and devices available for tackling vice. The police have good relations across the wards and Wandsworth and Lambeth are getting on better! He is confident that this is the best way to go about the issue but reassured people that if it doesn’t work, he has other ideas that will!
Peter Lloyd – commented on the improvement of street drinking and related litter. He asked some questions about the future of Streatham Police Station and estate/asset review programmes. Mr Musker responded that the review was outside his remit but confirmed that the police station is unfit for purpose with vermin and other problems. The Asset Management Review is currently on hold but he acknowledged that everyone feels that a base will be needed in the South of the borough and the police would want a local south site. Mr Musker agreed to do a pod cast for our website on this and other issues.
The panel thanked Mr Musker for making the time and effort to attend the meeting and thanked him for his support and reassurance that the Ward will be looked after under him!
Safer Neighbourhood’s Team Report
The crime figures from the police are attached in Appendix A.
Previous actions outstanding - At the meeting in October the panel asked if there is a pattern to the timing of the assaults that are recorded in the figures, as this may be related to other issues such as vice or Street Drinking / Anti Social Behaviour (ASB). Sgt Miller reported that there does not seem to be a link with this and standard licensing hours. Outstanding action point therefore closed and completed.
A23 Team - Sgt Miller introduce some of the A23 Team set up on 23 June 08 with it’s main remit to support businesses on the High Road. PC Chris Evans and PC Matt Watts explained that they cover the length of the High Road from Christchurch Road near Brixton Hill down to London Road in Norbury. They therefore cover 4 wards. Since their conception they have made 120 arrests. They support our SNT with street drinking around the church and on the green. It was noted that the improved visual signs by the church have already made an impact. They confirm that they also cover the stations and look into phone grabbing/snatch and grab/robbery and cycling on the pavement along the High Road and do liaise with British Transport Police too.
The Panel thanked them for attending and for supporting the SNT on street drinking which enables them to focus on our priorities.
Burglary – sadly up by 23 offences. The SNT will leaflet every home in the area about awareness and what to do to avoid being a target.
Resident questioned Safer Lambeth if Lambeth Planning were taking advice on new builds/developments to ensure better security. Nabil confirmed they were. The Police also make residents aware that Landlords have a duty of care to ensure adequate security. They had identified (with Nabil) a budget of £50k to improve the 250 most needed premises in the Ward but despite their best efforts Lambeth have withdrawn this fund. The panel noted everyone’s disappointment about this.
To tackle burglary greater intelligence is needed as our figures are impacting more widely on the borough’s performance. Police have a short list of suspects and forensics are supporting and helping. Sadly however Lambeth has a poor record of detection as CID is not efficiently managed on this area. We also have a big area to cover. John Duffy confirmed that Mr Musker has this on his radar and we can expect results. Councillor Bennett undertook to write to Mr Musker on this issue to voice concern too.
Residents noted that with the economic downturn and the season of holidays etc this problem was likely to increase that residents are the front line of defence. Residents are asked to be vigilant report non-urgent things to the SNT or their local Neighbourhood Watches. Or in the case of seeing something suspicious to call 999. John Duffy said “If in doubt call 999!”
Robbery – much, much improved with great results.
Vice - Reported a noticeable drop due to concentrated efforts supported by the change in weather. The Panel were asked if we would be sympathetic to the use of a dot matrix sign for a few weeks over the holiday period to warn people that the area is under surveillance. The police are sympathetic and understand that not all residents would like such a thing, but as it is only temporary perhaps could be useful?
The Panel members undertook to consult with residents in the area but that in the meantime Sgt Miller should obtain it with a view to putting the sign up on the area the common over the Xmas break. If residents are not happy we will revisit the idea.
Fireworks - This provided a two week distraction to burglary with the result thought that there were 23% few calls this year compared to 2007. This was because efforts were targeted on sales and supported by Lambeth. Residents commended both police and Lambeth for their efforts as the results had been noticeable.
Licensing Update - Inspector Duffy reported that a review had been raised by residents and would take place on 16 December for the EDO bar. The residents seemed committed and the police said they had a reasonable case to support them.
Across the Borough over the holiday period police will be making spot-checks and covert visits to all licensed premises to ensure that laws are observed.
5.Trading Standards – No Cold Calling Zone presentation
There is already a No Cold Calling Zone in Thurlow Park Ward. The aim is to target small areas and the team is looking at setting up one in the south of the St Leonard’s. Areas around Hambro road were in the process of undertaking consultation. Others interested should talk to Sgt Miller.
Previously the panel voted strongly to support No Cold Calling Zones. It would like to see them rolled out across the Ward where appropriate in support of action on burglary.
6.Peter Lloyd letter on Streatham Police Station
At the previous meeting the panel accepted Peter’s letter and thanked him for his well composed and evidenced approach. A letter has now been sent from the Secretary to the Mayor, but the panel recommended that Peter’s detailed letter should also be sent independently with reference to its adoption by this Panel.
7.Street Drinking
Lambeth Environment and landlords are working together and enforcement is working as the issues of litter and the scale of the problem seems to have improved. It was noted that it was a shame that nobody from Environment had come to meeting. Councillor Bennett will ensure that Richard Godfrey is made away of the meetings. The process is on course and working however and Lambeth and the police are working well together on this issue. A pilot programme in Tulse Hill could be rolled out in St Leonard’s if there are signs that it works.
8.Any other business – The panel does not need to issue invitations to anyone to attend this open public meeting, as it is free to anyone to come. However a reminder of the dates does need to be sent to Lambeth Housing (Simon Hague) and Environment in future.
9.Priorities discussion
The priorities were discussed and it was agreed that they should be:
i.Vice
ii.Burglary
The dropping of Street Drinking from the priorities list is a dependent upon the A23 team picking up this responsibility. The panel agreed to continue to monitor this.
10.Date of next meeting
The next meeting is to be held on 11 February 2009 at 19:00
NB – NEW VENUE at St Leonard’s Church, Streatham.
11.Appendix A – police crime figs. to be attached.
