Meeting at a glance
The meeting covered the Panel's local community-safety priorities and other matters raised by residents, police and partners.
RobberyVehicle crimeAnti-social behaviourVAWGRoad safety
Robbery
- There had been 5 robberies in the past month. Not great, but better than the previous year.
- SNT had been engaging with Graveney students, as there had been a trend towards younger robbery suspects, as well as victims. A strategy was in place to tackle school thefts.
- There was now a new ‘Child and Young People’ role within the local police team. They were doing more workshops in schools around safety issues and explaining police actions such as stop and search.
- Car (theft of/from)
- There had been a reduction in the number of incidents.
- SNT would be patrolling overnight (ie changing their shift patterns) in order to catch perpetrators.
- Funding had been obtained from the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) for interceptor units. Applications had also been made for funds for free steering locks or other car safety measures.
- On a question about expected response times if a car is reported stolen, AS said there were 3 grades:
- Immediate (7-12 minutes) – if the call was made at the time of theft
- Standard (1 hour) – if the theft had happened recently
- Extended (SNT visit) – if the theft happened some time ago
- SNT would be alerted to an ‘immediate’ call if they were in the area at the time. ANPR would also be alerted.
- Question about what type of cars were being targeted – basically high-performance cars.
- The public were urged to report people trying car doors in a street.
Anti-social behaviour
- The SNT had been able to talk to a number of people for a variety of ASB offences with a graded set of responses (eg warning, fine, or arrest).
- People were encouraged to report ASB anonymously via the SNT or Crimestoppers.
- Fly-tipping: this was a council as well as police issue – Ben Tickle was the council officer dealing with this. Cameras had been put up in fly-tipping ‘hot spots’. Police would stop vehicles loaded up with rubbish. NB pointed out that a licence was needed to carry rubbish and so that could legitimately be checked. The police were liaising with the council and refuse collection companies (eg Veolia).
- Ongoing issues re cyclists and moped users around the Eardley Rd/Blegborough Road/Leverson Street triangle. Residents reported that the measures so far put in place had not made any lasting difference. MB advised that Highways needed to be involved in producing a scheme. It was requested that Henry Cheung from Highways be asked to attend the next meeting.
- It was suggested that signage should be put up to direct cyclists via Anvil Close/Besley Street as a safe route. MB said this could be looked at after further cameras had been installed. He also said that enforcement officers could be asked to be there at appropriate times.
- It was advised that if residents wanted to request further action, a petition to Wandsworth Council needed 51% of residents on the street to sign.
Action: MB/SS to invite Henry Cheung to a site visit and to next meeting
Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG)
- TH reported that the Cassandra Centre had not been able to get the funding they needed. JG offered to speak to them and PC Cressida Wilson (VAWG lead for the area) said they were welcome to email her.
Action: TH to connect Cassandra Centre with JG.
- Operation targeting licensed premises around Tooting Broadway – giving advice, handing out safety devices.
- CCTV cars were targeting ASB hot spots.
- New council contractors would be cutting back bushes by the route from North Drive to the bus stop to make a safer route.
- More action was being taken to build on current safe spaces.
Action: MB to send details for safe spaces (app and advice).
Any Other Business
- Advice leaflets would be available for ‘crash for cash’ scam. AS was looking to implement a pilot scheme to target this in Furzedown which, if successful, could be rolled out across London.
- Mental health concerns: the SNT had been speaking to residents and had enabled some to access the appropriate help they needed.
- As part of a cost-cutting drive, dedicated faith officers posts were being scrapped, as well as front counters at police stations being closed.
Source: the meeting-minutes document supplied to the Furzedown Safer Neighbourhood Panel website. The source document does not state a separate draft/approved status, so this page labels it simply as published meeting minutes.