Agenda item

FAIRFIELD ROAD AND COLHAM ROAD, YIEWSLEY

Councillors Peter Davies, Ian Edwards and Shehyrar Wallana attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillors.

·         Had run the corner shop in Fairfield Road for a number of years.

·         Had been personally robbed 4 times and this was having an effect on his whole family.

·         There was a lack of support in the area from the Police for residents and businesses.

·         Fairfield Road was a main thoroughfare to and from the High Street and was used for criminal activity in and around the area over the past ten years.

·         All incidents that occur in the area were not being reported due to the lack of police support.

·         The installation of CCTV at the two locations requested in Fairfield Road and Colham Avenue would support the police in catching the culprits of crime/anti social behaviour.

The Wards Councillors made the following points:-

·         Supported the petitioners in their request for permanent CCTV cameras to be installed as mobile CCTV was not felt to be sufficient.

·         109 residents had signed the petition and the Council must take note of this.

·         The reason for the lack of reporting of crime in the area was due to the lack of support being provided by different agencies.

·         The current fixed CCTV at the corner of Yiewsley High Street and Fairfield Road does not cover the area covered by this petition.

·         Youths congregate in the area acting in a menacing and threatening manner.

·         There was a Church, children's centre and residential properties close by.

·         Understand that resources are stretched but the expense was justified to protect our residents and give them peace of mind.

·         The Council needed to put residents first and with the support of the law enforcement agencies this can be done.

·         It was felt there would be a backlash if a major incident occurred.

·         Request that permanent CCTV was installed at Fairfield Road and Colham Avenue to deter and detect criminal activities.

·         Recognised that the number of incidents being reported were small but urged the installation of CCTV in the requested locations.

·         Installation of temporary CCTV cameras would provide the information required to look at a more permanent solution. 

The Cabinet Member for Community, Commerce & Regeneration recognised that the activities being carried on in this area were not tolerable but that there needed to be further information on the number and times of incidents.  The residents were urged to report all incidents as without that information the solutions would be limited, as the provision of fixed CCTV would need to meet specific thresholds.  Residents concerns were understood and would suggested that local residents establish with the support of their Ward Councillors set up an active Neighbourhood Watch in the area.  This would provide support in the local community and self action so that residents were aware of what was happing in the area.

Officers were asked to contact the local Police Inspector for the area highlighting the concerns being raised by the local community and that residents felt that the local policing was inactive.  A request should be made as to whether the Tasking Team for the south of the borough could be utilised in the area, to provide extra support and give reassurance to local business and residents.

The Cabinet Member explained that CCTV was not always an answer but that the immediate installation of mobile CCTV in this case would provide visual support and be a deterrent.  It would also hopefully pick up anti social behaviour and make it difficult for criminals in the area.  

The Cabinet Member asked officers to produce a report in September /October 2015 on what information had been provided by the CCTV and how useful it had been in providing evidence for the police.   It was felt that the installation of CCTV and the increased police presence would go a long way to increase the confidence of the local community.

A Ward Councillor informed residents that at the next Ward Panel meeting the Borough Commander would be present and urged as many residents to attend as possible.

Resolved

1.         That temporary CCTV cameras be installed Fairfield Road and Colham Avenue as soon as practicable.

2.         That officer's produce a report in September / October 2015 to the Cabinet Member and Ward Councillors on the information provided by the CCTV cameras, how useful the information obtained had been and whether it had been used in evidence in any anti social behaviour /criminal cases.