To receive a presentation from Chief Inspector Anwar Mohammed, West Yorkshire Police on the Leeds District Neighbourhood Policing Enhanced Model.
(Verbal Presentation)
Minutes:
The Leeds Neighbourhood Policing Chief Inspector, West Yorkshire Police submitted a report which informed Members of the enhancements to the neighbourhood policing model in North East Leeds which would be implemented from 26th March 2018.
The Chair introduced and welcomed to the meeting Chief Inspector Anwar Mohammed, Inspector Richard Horn, Sergeant Iain McKelvey and Sergeant Jon McNiff from West Yorkshire Police.
Addressing the report Chief Inspector Anwar Mohammed provided a summary of the proposed changes:
· An increase of 1 Ward Officer and 1 PCSO in North East Leeds
· An uplift from 100 to approximately 110 Ward Officer PC’s, the appointment of a named Partnership Working Area (PWA) Inspector and an increased number of PWA Police Sergeants across Leeds
· An appointment single strategic lead to oversee neighbourhood policing across the district – Chief Inspector A Mohammed
· Inner and Outer PWA’s merge to create area PWA’s, resulting in a reduction from 11 PWA’s to 6
· Consistent deployment of PWA Ward Officers – dedicated to partnership working to solve local problems
· Linking problem solving to wider policing aims, reinforced by strengthened supervisory model and improvements in I.T.
· Ward Officers and PCSO’s allocated defined geographic areas
· Continued recruitment and training of PCSO’s
· Bespoke training to support PWA officers and equip those working in neighbourhood policing for the first time.
· Development of a corporate community engagement framework
Members sought clarification as to where the base of operation would be located for officers working in the North East Area
It was confirmed that Stainbeck Police Station would be the base of operation for officers working in the North East Area of the city.
Would the number of police vehicles remain at the same level.
It was confirmed that the number of police vehicle would remain at the same level.
Members suggested that following the retirement of the Area Community Safety co-ordinator the connection between the City Council and the Police appeared to be reduced.
Chief Inspector Mohammed gave an undertaking that co-ordination meetings with the police and officers from LCC would take place on a quarterly basis.
The Chair said it would be ideal if the first of these quarterly meetings could be arranged for the end of May.
On the issue of police recruitment in the West Yorkshire district it was reported that 500 officers would be recruited within the next 18 months, but it was understood that approximately 250 existing officers would be lost as a result of natural wastage.
Members noted that 167 would be deployed to the Leeds District, but where would the remainder be allocated.
Members were informed that the requested information was currently not available but it would be supplied to all Members of the Committee as soon as it became available.
Members raised the issue of cyber-crime suggesting that it appeared to be a growing trend and questioned if any additional resources were been allocated to tackle this issue.
Chief Inspector Mohammed reported that a lot of investment was going into cyber-crime for every district. At a national level a central fraud reporting mechanism had been established to report: scams, fishing and hate crimes. Locally some PCSO’s had been trained to explain to elderly/ vulnerable people the dangers of internet fraud.
Members queried if the Council could do more in the prevention of internet fraud.
In responding Chief Inspector Mohammed suggested that engaging with local people / training sessions to highlight the dangers of cyber-crime/ internet fraud would certainly be beneficial.
Members queried if the City Council could do more to prevent “terror threats”
Inspector Richard Horn said lonely/ vulnerable individuals within the community required protecting. It was therefore essential that the Council engage with the community and build cohesion in order to prevent individuals from feeling isolated, if this was done correctly if could have a huge impact.
The Chair thanked Chief Inspector Mohammed and his colleagues for their attendance and participation commenting it had been an informative discussion.
RESOLVED –
(i) That the report and accompanying presentation be noted.
(ii) That details about police recruitment and deployment across the Wes Yorkshire district be circulated to Members once the information becomes available