To receive a verbal presentation from Herts Constabulary on their work in the Southern Rural area.
Decision:
A verbal presentation was received from Guy Westwood of Hertfordshire Constabulary.
Minutes:
Audio Recording: 3:08
Sergeant Guy Westwood, Hertfordshire Constabulary, provided Members of the Committee with an update on crime and police matters in the Southern Rural area. This included:
· The Neighbourhood team has been split into three teams across North Herts, which has freed Alan Clarke up to do work behind the scenes;
· The Police priorities used to be set every three months, they are now set every 6 months with a 3 month review;
· The three priorities are: Fly tipping, Residential burglary and Speeding;
· Fly-tipping always comes up and remains a priority in this area;
· Covert cameras are being placed in regular fly-tipping spots;
· Residential burglary was a priority to focus on as the team believed there would be an increase of crimes due to the public returning to work;
· Would have expected all crime to increase from previous year due to lockdown;
· Hertfordshire as a whole has seen an crime increase of 4.3%. North Herts has seen a 1.5% decrease. Southern Rural has seen a 13% decrease in all crimes, from 890 last year to 774 this year;
· 19% decrease in arson and criminal damage;
· 35.8% decrease in public order offences;
· 33.6% decrease in theft;
· 37.3% decrease in vehicle offences;
· 50% decrease in theft from motor vehicles;
· 60% decrease in business burglaries;
· 50% decrease in racially aggravated crimes; 2 this year;
· 57% decrease in shoplifting;
· Increase in hate crimes – could be down to encouragement to report it;
· 110 hate crimes this year compared to 96 last year;
· Sex offences have increased from 23 last year to 49 this year, a 113% increase;
· Business robberies have increased from 0 last year to 1 this year. Personal robberies have increased from 3 to 4;
· Residential burglary has seen a 55% increase, 31 this year and 20 last year;
· Drug offences have seen an increase from 20 to 26;
· Theft of motor vehicles have increased by 33%. 18 offences to 24;
· Fraud crimes are not included in these figures, as where the crime is reported is usually not where it is originally happening;
· The team have been asking members of public to report any non-emergency reports on an Echo Link;
· Police priorities are directly influenced by consultations with the public, through Echo Link reporting and OWL surveys.
The following Members asked questions:
· Councillor Faye Frost
· Councillor Sam North
· Councillor Claire Strong
· Councillor Mandi Tandi
· Councillor George Davies
In response to questions, Sergeant Guy Westwood advised:
· Plain clothed police officers have been assisting in Offley to focus on drug offences;
· Members of public might not think there is a police presence when unmarked police vehicles are patrolling;
· The team will post on social media when the priorities are reassessed;
· Over the last 5 years the team size has stayed the same; Covid has been a problem but numbers have remained;
· The team does liaise with the Bedfordshire police team, can be difficult to get them to engage with a problem they don’t see as a priority;
· The OWL survey and Echo Link is where information is gathered as well as a Member’s meeting;
· The Bedford Road camera van is not affiliated with the Neighbourhood team;
· Personally handing the speeding letters to members of the public is a good way of preventing further offences;
· Individual wards crime statistics can be provided outside of the meeting;
· Anecdotal evidence can always be reported.
The Chair thanked Sergeant Guy Westwood for his report and for his team’s work in the area.