Issue - meetings

To receive the report on the borough’s performance for 2009-10 against the key community safety targets.

The Committee received the report on the end of year crime figures, presented by Haringey Borough Commander Dave Grant.  The Committee noted that the Community Safety Team had concentrated on reducing gun crime and violence due to gang activity.

In response to the Committee’s concerns the Borough Commander assured members that the reduction of 6% of violent incidents and 11% fewer serious violent crimes was sustainable.  Committee members noted the initiatives in place and that fewer knives were being carried by young people.  

The Committee asked what was being done to encourage the reporting of rape and noted that the Community Safety Team consulted at police level and with partners and the inspector ranks when a rape was reported.  The number of reported rapes rose last year due to new ways of reporting rape, the investigation of sexual assaults and the way crimes were classified. The Police also worked with the Council to provide support to victims. The Borough Commander recognised that it was still difficult to get people to come forward to report such crimes.

In response to the Committee’s concerns about squatters taking over residents’ properties while residents were away, the Borough Commander stated that there were certain laws which protected occupier status and encouraged people to ensure that neighbours watched their homes while they were empty and informed Police at the earliest opportunity.  A resident would only be protected if they had been away for a maximum of 2 weeks.

In response to the Committee’s asking whether crime was increasing in betting shops the Borough Commander explained that whilst no betting shops had been closed down Police had raided some shops with the assistance of the management.  It was noted that there was a rise in drugs being sold in vacant shops surrounding betting shops and that Police were working on prevention of criminal damage of betting shops, which took a lot of Police time.

Further to enquiring the Committee noted that despite financial cuts every secondary school and college would have a full time Police Officer assigned to it by September 2010. 

RESOLVED that the report be noted.