Issue - meetings

This report provides an update on content and progress of the Build phase of Safer Epsom and Ewell programme.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)       Note content and progress of the Safer Epsom and Ewell programme.

The Committee received a report that gave an update on content and progress of the Build phase of Safer Epsom and Ewell programme.

Councillor McCormick gave a verbal statement to the Committee.

The Committee considered the following matters:

a)             Spaces for motorbikes: In response to a Member question on whether there was any data on the usage of two new spaces for motorbikes the Head of Housing and Community stated that he would need to provide that information after the meeting.  In response to a further Member question regarding how the council were encouraging the use of these two spaces and making it known they were there, the Head of Housing and Community stated that communications were in the process of being drawn up and once out advertised may lead to increased usage.

a)             Increased crime levels: A Member noted with interest the increasing levels of crime reported in the appendix to the report and asked why Monday and Thursday afternoons crime levels seemed to be particularly raised. The Borough Commander spoke about transient crime and targeted policing which was intelligence led that may skew the data at particular times. In response to further Member questions the Borough Commander went on to describe how the police worked with retail premises and facial recognition as well as county lines work.  He also stated that the police were improving their communications and social media and were getting stories out into the public.

b)             Physical Interventions to reduce crime: A Member spoke of physical interventions put in place by the Council and asked the Borough Commander if there were any other physical interventions that would be useful to the police.  The Borough Commander stated that the chicanes put in place were very useful.  In response to a question regarding funding for projects the Head of Housing and Community stated that most projects would be Capital funded but he would check if the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) process would accommodate applications.

c)             NESCOT: There was a discussion around crime and policing of the Nescot area.  It was highlighted that there was a large amount of transient offending and as an educational establishment was very proactive with such things as knife crime. Also, young people were affected disproportionately more by crime and naturally NESCOT has a high density of young people. Nescot had proved very willing to work with the council.

Following consideration, it was unanimously resolved to:

(1)       Note the content and progress of the Safer Epsom and Ewell programme.