Inspector Garry Neill will be in attendance to give an overview and answer questions about policing and any community safety matters in the Tynedale area.
Minutes:
Inspector Garry Neil was in attendance to give an overview and answer questions about policing and community safety matters in the East and West Tynedale command areas which he was responsible for, as well as the Rural Crime team. He reported that crime was low in Tynedale and it was a safe place to live. Priorities which they concentrated on included:
· Domestic abuse and safeguarding of high-risk domestic abuse victims at high risk of serious injury or murder and those at medium risk.
· Monitoring of registered sex offenders and compliance with orders.
· Repeat victims of crime (2 crimes within 3 months).
A significant amount of time was also spent on road safety, speeding and parking. He advised that Community Speed Watch volunteers were recruited and vetted through the Northumbria Police website. Concerns could also be reported through the Citizen & Policing Section of the website. Police Community Support Officers also carried out speed watch duties leading to the issuing of letters to educate motorists. Enforcement was carried by constables and sergeants. The van was deployed to locations where they received complaints, accidents or data that speeding was a problem. Any areas where Councillors were receiving reports of speeding issues could also be passed on.
Local issues included:
· Drug related investigations were currently focused in Haltwhistle, Hexham and Prudhoe due to a common link between the towns. Warrants had recently been exercised which had resulted in the recovery of a significant amount of Class A drugs. They needed intelligence.
· Antisocial behaviour. Previously any report of a Covid breach had been logged under this category. Levels had now reduced with the relaxation of restrictions.
· Off road motorbikes in Slaley, Wark and Kielder. Unfortunately, due to the distances involved, riders had dispersed by the time the police arrived. Further work would be carried out during the winter months when the problem was more prevalent.
Key crime categories:
East Tynedale – 522 incidents violence against the person primarily without injury (harassment, stalking, public order offences). A significant amount of these related to assaults on staff or other residents of care homes and at Ferndene Hospital. 87 burglary offences in last 12 months including shops, vacant properties, building sites as well as houses. 55 incidents of vehicle crime which included cars, quad bikes from farms and damage.
West Tynedale – incidents of violence against the person primarily without injury (harassment, stalking, public order offences) in institutions such as care homes, young people’s homes and Hexham Hospital. 55 burglary offences in last 12 months mainly in industrial estates at council depots and builders’ merchants whereas the incidents in dwellings was low. 53 incidents, damage, theft of TWOC.
The following issues were raised by Members:
· Graffiti and damage to the surface at the Sele play park. CCTV was to be checked by officers in Public Protection. Inspector Neill stated that it was useful to know if a particular ‘tag’ had been used.
· Information on registered sex offenders was not shared with anyone unless they needed to know for monitoring in case the information leaked and they became the victim of a serious attack.
· Information on speed monitoring activity on Allendale Road, Hexham would be provided to Councillor Kennedy.
· Joint young drivers events by the police and fire and rescue service were beneficial and he would check if these could be resumed.
· Speeding motorbikes were an issue on roads around Allendale, Brampton and Hartside. Some riders were holidaying in the county so that they could use their bikes and unfortunately there had been a recent fatality. It was not an offence to have a noisy bike although they tried to engage with riders at popular gathering places. He agreed to raise at a monthly partnership meeting which included representatives from the fire and rescue service. The Inspector requested details of speeding locations be forwarded to him so they could monitor.
· The police required intelligence regarding drugs so the police could investigate and take action. The Inspector was willing to speak to individuals regarding concerns and confidentiality.
· Registration had recently re-opened for Community Speed Watch volunteers.
· The police worked with all schools regarding drug prevention.
· Publicity regarding police activity could only take place when cases went to court.
The Chair thanked Inspector Neil for attending.
RESOLVED that the update be received.