Agenda item

Crime and Disorder in Surrey Heath

Meeting in its capacity to scrutinise the Borough’s crime and disorder function, to receive a presentation from Inspector Bob Darkens, Surrey Heath Neighbourhood Commander, Surrey Police, on crime and disorder in the Borough.

Minutes:

Inspector Bob Darkens, Area Commander, Surrey Police, gave a briefing in respect of the work of the Surrey Police force to tackle crime and disorder in the Borough.

 

It was reported that the Surrey Heath area had the lowest recorded crime figures when compared to the other boroughs in Surrey Police’s Western Surrey Division.  There had been 18 fewer recorded incidents of criminal damage, 87 fewer recorded Drugs Offences, 48 fewer Non-dwelling Burglaries, 7 fewer Serious Sexual Offences, 35 fewer Simple Thefts and 16 fewer recorded incidents of Vehicle Crime than in the same period in the previous year.  However there had been increases in the number of recorded incidents of Serious Acquisitive Crime (13 more), Domestic Burglary (20 more), Fraud and Forgery (6 more), Other Sexual Offences (7 More), Robberies (3 more) and Violence with Injury (4 more) than during the same period the previous year.

 

It was also reported that there had been 245 more recorded incidents of Violence without Injury than in the previous year.  This sharp rise in numbers had resulted from a review of all cases reported to the Police Call Centre following criticism from the Police Inspectorate about the way that Surrey Police had been recording incidents reported to them.  It was stressed that the category included a significant number of very low level incidents for example name calling and did not constitute a significant cause for concern.

 

The Surrey Heath Neighbourhood Team had conducted a number of operations during 2015/16 including case building work that had resulted in the eviction of a problem family from a property in Bisley following a significant number of incidents of anti-social behaviour.  A Partial Closure Order had been served on a premise on the A30.  The order meant that a drug dealer operating from the premises being banned from entering the property and a vulnerable adult living at the property had been safeguarded.  Work was now underway to rehome the vulnerable adult to more suitable accommodation.  A Partial Closure Order had been issued on a property in the High Street following incidents of drug use and anti-social behaviour.  An application for a Full Closure Order would be heard by the Courts on 17 February.  If granted this would prevent anyone but the landlord of the property from entering the premises.

 

Over the last fortnight, the Neighbourhood Team had made 11 arrests for Possession with Intent to supply.  The offenders had been bailed whilst evidence was gathered to enable a decision to be taken on whether any charges should be brought against them.  None of the people arrested were Surrey Heath residents and their bail conditions banned them from entering Surrey.

 

Following reports of the illegal sale of Nitrous Oxide cylinders, test purchases had been carried out and in excess of 3000 cylinders of the compound had been seized. 

 

A prolific criminal, with a reputation for preying on vulnerable people in the Borough, had been sentenced to two years in prison.

 

The Neighbourhood Team was working with officers at Surrey Heath Borough Council to introduce Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs).  These would be used to curb anti-social behaviour at specified locations and would focus on areas known to be susceptible to aggressive begging, dog fouling and the illegal use of psychoactive substances. 

 

Notwithstanding these successes, Surrey Police faced a number of challenges in the Surrey Heath area including tackling public perceptions about Surrey Heath not being a safe place to live and work, the under-reporting of crime, ongoing issues relating to the supply of illegal drugs and resource constraints that meant that crimes against people would always take precedence over crimes against property.

 

Arising from Members’ questions and comments the following points were noted:

 

·         Concerns about the adequacy of safeguarding measures at the homeless shelter located in the Scout Hut on the A30 were being explored with the appropriate authorities.

·         Incidents at Coldingley Prison in Bisley were included in the police crime statistics.  Surrey Police was working with the Prison to address criminal activity within the prison.

·         All reports of hate crimes were reviewed on a daily basis.  To date, there had been no notable increase in the number of hate crimes reported following the referendum on 23 June 2016.

·         There had been no noticeable increase in the number of burglaries taking place at night as a result of Surrey County Council’s decision to turn off streetlights after midnight.

·         The majority of reports of internet and cyber-crime were referred to the national Action Fraud Team.  A significant proportion of the work around cyber-crime related to educating people about the dangers and actions that they could take to reduce their risks and joint work to raise awareness was taking place with Surrey Fire and Rescue Service as part of the Safe and Well Checks.

 

The Committee thanked Inspector Darkens for his update.

 

 

 

 

 

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