To receive a presentation from Sergeant Alan Clarke, Hertfordshire Constabulary.
Decision:
Sergeant Alan Clarke (Hertfordshire Constabulary) thanked the Chairman very much for the opportunity to address the Committee.
The Chairman thanked Sergeant Clarke very much for his presence, and very informative presentation. Sergeant Clarke was also thanked for all of the work he and his team had undertaken for the Baldock and District area.
Minutes:
Sergeant Alan Clarke (Hertfordshire Constabulary) thanked the Chairman very much for the opportunity to address the Committee. Sergeant Clarke pointed out that across the ten Community Safety Partnerships that make up Hertfordshire, North Herts was the third safest place per crime per thousand of the population in the whole of the county. He stated that Baldock in particular was a very safe area in North Hertfordshire. Sergeant Clarke provided the Committee with a brief overview and breakdown of some of the crime figures in the Baldock and District area as follows:-
Staffing
Baldock Safer Neighbourhood Team, (SNT) consisted of Sergeant Alan Clarke, PC Shaun Deal, PC Katie Golledge and PCSO Sara Masella.
Crime Figures
Overall crime data figures were current and up to date for that Baldock Area Committee meeting. The figures gave comparisons of the period of 1st April 2016 – 4th March 2017 and 1st April 2017 – 4th March 2018. The data showed a slight increase in “All Crime” recorded over those periods, but showed less in Baldock than in the rest of North Hertfordshire. There had, however, been less of an increase in overall crime recorded in the County as a whole. Sergeant Clarke explained that the increase in North Hertfordshire could be attributed to there being much stricter National Crime Recording Standards rules, in that, there were more ways to report crime and active encouragement from the Constabulary for victims of crime to report them.
Burglary
Baldock had bucked the CSP (Community Safety Partnership) and county trend of increases, remaining the same in the number of burglaries to people’s homes. North Herts was placed 2nd in Hertfordshire in terms of safest CSP (Community Safety Partnership) for burglary to dwellings. The number of burglaries carried out to residential non-dwelling that included outbuildings or sheds not considered integral parts of an address, had remained the same, at only seven. Premises not directly linked to a person’s residence that included allotments, community halls and businesses, had shown a decrease of 2 offences during that period.
Motor Vehicle Crime
North Hertfordshire was placed first in terms of safest location for motor vehicle crime in the country. Baldock had seen a small increase in that crime type, but it had been a smaller increase than North Hertfordshire as a whole. Theft from Motor vehicles made up 37 offences carried out in Baldock and keyless entry to Ford Transits was still caused concern.
Domestic Abuse
It was reported that there had been an overall increase in Domestic Abuse recorded throughout the Constabulary. Due to active encouragement from the Police of victims to come forward and report such crime, enabled better safeguarding of those vulnerable which ensured positive action was taken against offenders. The outcome rate (crimes solved) in North Herts was the second highest in the county.
Violence Against a Person (Victim Based)
The increase in offences recorded in Baldock mirrored that across the county. However, the outcome rate in Baldock was higher than that in both North Herts and the county.
Criminal Damage
Baldock had seen a 21% decrease in criminal damage caused during that period. Again, that figure had bucked the CSP (Community Safety Partnership) and county trend, both of which had seen an increase in offences.
Theft from Shops
Baldock had seen a massive 65% decrease in offences. Once more that was in contrast to the CSP (Community Safety Partnership) and the county. Of the offences recorded, 52.6% had been solved, which was an impressive number and partly attributed to the close working relationship the local officers had forged with Tesco and other outlets to ensure early reporting and evidence captured.
Neighbourhood Watch
Sergeant Clarke reported that Neighbourhood Watch membership had continued to grow, thanks to the excellent work carried out by Mr John Hammond. He stated that there was a very pleasing approximate 1,000 membership for the town of Baldock.
Sergeant Clarke went on to answer and make comment on a few questions as follows:-
A member made comment on the issue of van break in’s and the theft of work tools, asking how that may be prevented. Sergeant Clarke confirmed that it was a tricky offence to deal with, but confirmed that the Police were always thinking of ways to help cease that particular criminality. He informed the Committee there was financial constraints on their own buying power, however, there were several types of “after market locks” that could be fitted to vehicles. He pointed out, however, that superior locks and devices were unfortunately extremely expensive and not everyone wanted to fit what were rather large, unsightly steel devices. Sergeant Clarke informed the Committee that in several previous cases, victims of such a crime had been given by the Police, shed alarms that victims of such a crime could fit onto their vehicle. Sergeant Clarke further informed the Committee that the Police also ran tool marking events which helped aid the chance of tool recovery.
In answer to a member’s question, Sergeant Clarke confirmed that in more rural areas, the type of crimes committed were mainly theft of plants, criminal damage to crops and “hare-coursing”.
The Chairman reported on behalf of a member of public present, that there was an issue of illegal parking on both Sun Street and Church Street, particularly from large vans and lorries. She had informed that she resided where both roads met and had been witness to a continual blocking of those roads due to unlawful parking on double yellow lines, thus prohibiting emergency access and was deeply concerned. Sergeant Clarke informed those present that it was paramount to report that type of crime as it happened in order that action could be taken by the Police.
The Chairman thanked Sergeant Clarke very much for his presence, and very informative presentation. Sergeant Clarke was also thanked for all of the work he and his team had undertaken for the Baldock and District area.