Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils
Democratic Services

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Agenda item

Verbal update from Inspector Shawn Wakeling

Minutes:

10.1           Inspector Shawne Wakeling began the update by informing Members that a presentation would be forwarded to Members after the meeting with details of the update. 

 

10.2            He continued that two PCSOs had been appointed in January and March 2019 on a two-year fixed contract. The Officers worked opposite shifts to cover the district.  They worked five days a week covering the core hours from 8:00am to 6:00pm with access to vehicles and bicycles.

 

10.3            There existed a referral process, and a form was available in the Members area on Connect, which Councillors could use. The referral would be logged, reviewed and if the referral was within the PCSOs duties, action would be taken, and the officers would report back. A reference list was available, but most referrals were related to parking issues. 

 

10.4            The PSCOs had issued 25 adversary notices and had received 237 Parking referrals, mostly for parking issues outside schools at certain hours and speeding issues.  The PCSOs also produced intelligence reports, which had an impact the work being undertaken for County Lines and drug dealing.

 

10.5            The PCSOs worked in role appropriate, proactive tasks and were highly visible in the community and at local events. They visited regular community events such as ‘meet-up’ Mondays and responded to issue and incidents in the local schools. They provided also talks to students and children in schools in the District. 

 

10.6            Councillor Humphreys thank the Inspector for his and the PCSOs’ services; they had made a difference in the community and in Stowmarket due to their visible and effective presence.

 

10.7            Councillor Fleming agreed and asked if the shift pattern would change to cover more evenings, especially in the summertime to deal with anti-social behaviour. Inspector Wakeling responded that currently the contract covered the hours previously mentioned, however future arrangements involved other PCSOs not just those funded but the Council.

 

10.8            Councillor Welham asked if Ward Members would be informed of referrals in the line with Parish Clerks. He also asked for a breakdown of urban and rural referrals, speeding referrals and if PCSOs could issue speeding tickets. In relation to issues with drug dealing, should Members still contact the police and not the PCSOs.

 

10.9            Inspector Wakeling asked that Members referred any drug related activities to the PCSOs. Officers could issue warning letters but not speeding tickets. Rural areas were covered by a rota, and villages and areas were delegated a day or half a day depending on need, whilst Stowmarket was covered by a week at a time.

 

10.10         Councillor Welham then enquired if parking tickets’ arrangements would change, when civil enforcement was introduced.

 

10.11         Melanie Yolland, the Community Safety Professional Lead and Safeguarding Lead and Prevent Lead, clarified that the new regulations would come into force in October 2019, and the situation would be reviewed then.  In relation to notification of Ward and District Councillors this was open up in June to Town and Parish Councils Clerks, referrals to District Councillors had also begun and this would continue.

 

10.12         Councillor Richardson enquired if there would be an opportunity to meet the PCSOs and was informed that arrangements were underway.

 

10.13         Councillor Eburne directed her question to the Portfolio Holders and asked what performance measures had been established to measure success and when would the funding for the PCSOs be reviewed.

 

10.14         Councillor Flatman, Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing responded that performance measures were revived periodically and that statistics would be produced after the two-year period had ended.

 

10.15         Councillor a Morley added that a performance metric to determine the impact would be made available on Connect and Melanie Yolland clarified that performance measures had been part of the set-up of the project.

 

10.16         In response to Councillors Matthissen’s question regarding Blue Badge holders and traffic issues, Inspector Wakeling asked this this was put in a referral to the PCSOs.

 

10.17         Councillor Ekpenyong said that residents were concerned that there were not enough visible police in certain areas to deal with issues such as County Lines and asked what could be done about this. Inspector Wakeling explained that recent reduction in staff resources had been an issue but that this had now been resolved.

 

10.18         Many Members had expressed their thanks for the service of the police and the work conducted in the Community by the PCSOs through-out this item.