Agenda item

Councillors Keith Burrows and Judith Cooper attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillors.

Concerns and suggestions from petitioners included the following:

• A senior member and cashier at the Community Centre had been seriously assaulted from an unprovoked attack which resulted in him being hospitalised for several days.
• There have been a number of incidents of stone throwing from school children from nearby schools, particularly Uxbridge High School.
• There have also been incidents of passing motorists throwing missiles at innocent bystanders.
• There have been a series of incidents of verbal abuse given to users of the mosque which was making people fearful of attending.
• At a previous attack at the community centre, money was stolen and windows smashed.
• The community sought reassurance for their safety and well-being to enable them to feel safe in their homes and when visiting the centre.
• The introduction of CCTV would help the community feel safer when leaving their homes.
• There had been indiscriminate and possibly targeted dog fouling which took place outside people’s houses.

Both Councillors Keith Burrows and Judith Cooper attended the meeting and spoke in support of the petitioners’ request and raised the following issues:

• Hillingdon was a multi-cultural and diverse community and all residents should feel comfortable and safe throughout the Borough.
• All different cultures and religions within the Borough should be embraced.
• Some of the low level incidents were not reported to the Police and they should be reported to enable these incidents to be investigated.

A police representative attended the meeting and reported that crime in the area was on the increase with in the last 12 months, 23 assaults, 20 burglaries, high incidents of damage to property, thefts, high numbers of harassment cases and 28 Anti-Social Behaviour offences. As way of comparison figures from the previous year would be provided.

The Community was urged to report all crimes, even if they were low level, to enable the Police to bring the perpetrators to account. Reference was made to dedicated Police Community Support Officers and the Safer Schools Police Officers which worked closely with schools and it was suggested that the activity of the children from local schools be monitored and officers speak to the schools concerned.

Residents were reminded of the police emergency telephone numbers and of the Crime Stoppers number which should be used by residents who suffer any crime.

The Cabinet Member, Cllr Douglas Mills, listened to the concerns and responded to the points raised.

Councillor Mills expressed his concern at the incidents which had been reported at the hearing, from petitioners and from local Ward Councillors and reinforced the comments made, particularly that Hillingdon was a racially and culturally diverse community, and that all residents of the Borough should be able to live without fear.

Residents were urged to report all incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour to the Police who would work very closely with the Council’s Community Safety and Anti-Social Behaviour Service Team to provide reassurance to residents in the area.

RESOLVED - That the Cabinet Member:

a)     Noted the views and concerns of the petitioners.

b)     Discussed with petitioners whether the measures taken to date had been effective in addressing the reported concerns.

c)     Instructed officers to investigate the feasibility and desirability of implementing additional CCTV (whether permanent or for a short period) and report back to the Cabinet Member with any recommendations, including possible sources of funding.

d)     Requested that Hillingdon Police’s Intelligence Unit undertake research into crimes in the Chiltern View Road and Cowley Mill Road area over the last 12 months to see if it is a crime hotspot which needs CCTV to increase security in the area.

e)     Requested that Hillingdon’s Strong and Active Communities Partnership make contact with community groups, schools, Councillors, students, residents and other agencies working in the area and make enquiries about people’s views about living in the Uxbridge South and Brunel Wards.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION

Further inquiry is needed to understand the needs of residents and visitors in the Cowley, Uxbridge South and Brunel area, in order to consider any long term improvements.  In the short term, Hillingdon Police keep in close touch with the Muslim centre and faith groups in the area, and will respond quickly to any incidents which might occur.

If it is assessed that CCTV would aid the security of the area, subject to police advice, and then a technical feasibility study can be undertaken.

Hillingdon Council and the Police are committed to improving the lives of all those that live and work in Hillingdon and engage with communities to build stronger and safer communities for all. Recent events around the Cowley Mill Road Area have led to two high profile police investigations. The assault on the 6th July led to a large scale police investigation that would have been assisted by Local Authority controlled CCTV in the area. Due to the nature of the incident, Hillingdon Police would support the expansion of the town centre CCTV to this area as long as there was community and Council support for this programme.

Hillingdon Inter Faith Network are part of the Strong and Active Communities Partnership and the sub group and are working together with faith groups in the area to ensure they are fully involved in the process and in any activities that take place as a result.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED

None at this stage.