Agenda item

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Locality Partnerships

The report of the Head of Locality Partnerships introduced a discussion around the current issues in the Inner East area with Elected Members and Partners.

The following were in attendance –

·  Sergeant Tom Goringe – West Yorkshire Police

·  Neil Bowden – LASBAT

·  Pete Wadjner – Housing

·  Craig Blair – Youth Services

Sergeant Goringe addressed the meeting.  He reported that there had been a slight increase on crime across the three wards.  Burmantofts and Richmond Hill had seen the largest increase with theft from motor vehicles being a problem.  There had been a small increase in Gipton and Harehills although a concern rise in the number of robberies.  There had been a slight decrease in Killingbeck and Seacroft.

Sergeant Goringe highlighted key issues and areas of work across the three Inner East Wards:

·  Killingbeck and Seacroft – work on Brooklands Close, New Leedswatch Camera, quadbikes – there had been 3 seizures and 1 arrest. Tackling drug dealing in Seacroft, work at Seacroft Shopping Centre.

·  Burmantofts & Richmond Hill – Tackling Urban Street Gangs, issue of closure orders with LASBAT, parcel theft at Echo House, problems with parking at Railway Street and Saxton Lane.

·  Gipton and Harehills – There had ben over 200 arrests in the past 9 months with 30 people remanded and £57 in cash assets seized.  There had been seizures of illegal cigarettes and tobacco.  Focus on untaxed vehicles.  Off Licence Reviews – a new system of issuing warnings was being trialled.

In response to questions, discussion included the following:

·  Referrals were made to the relevant organisations for cases which involved problem drinkers.

·  There had been a change in the policy for the use of stingers and risk assessments had to be undertaken before deployment.

·  Sentencing for young offenders – it was suggested that concerns be raised with the Deputy Mayor for West Yorkshire for Police and Crime.

·  Members requested further details on the locations of theft from motor vehicles in Burmantofts and Richmond Hill so that residents could be contacted.

·  Concern regarding the rise of applications for off licences in Burmantofts and Richmond Hill in areas that suffered from anti-social behaviour and crime and there was a need for the relevant partners to object to these applications.  There was further concern that problem drinkers had migrated to the area due to the introduction and success of the Cumulative Impact Area in Gipton and Harehills.  It was suggested that the problem areas in Burmantofts and Richmond Hill may be suitable for a Cumulative Impact Area.

·  The crime figures in the report related to serious acquisitive crime.  Further detail on other crimes including violent crimes could be supplied.

·  Success of Operation Dieselcrest.

·  Problems with electric scooters.

·  Future of Killingbeck Police Station.

Neil Bowden of the Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team addressed the meeting and referred to statistics detailed in the Update Report.  Highlights of the teams work included the following:

Gipton & Harehills – applications had been made to get premises closed where there had been the sale of illegal cigarettes and alcohol.  Cases had been to court and adjourned until January.

Burmantofts & Richmond Hill – ‘Cuckooing’ of premises had become a problem with vulnerable tenants being targeted.  Organised crime gangs had been involved in this and a multi-agency problem solving group was looking at how to tackle this issue.

Killingbeck and Seacroft – issues in Brooklands Close – there had been partnership work with Housing to tackle problems with a problem property.

Further issues highlighted included partnership work with the police and housing that had led to closure notices and evictions; bonfire night arrangements; success of the PSPO to tackle nuisance vehicles; work around prevention of child exploitation and involvement in urban street gangs;  work at Seacroft Shopping Centre and the introduction of mediation officers into the triage team.

Pete  Wajdner, Area Housing Manager highlighted areas of work that Housing had been involved with.  These included tackling cuckooing; identifying people who self neglect and had alcohol/drug issues and referring them to relevant service and raising awareness with regards to domestic violence.  Reference was made to the Community Action Day on the Hazelwood Estate which involved the Police, LASBAT and other partners.

Craig Blair gave an update on Youth Service activity in Inner East Leeds.  There had been 319 sessions delivered which included mobile and detached working. Kicks sessions remained popular and the Ping Pong 4 U project was due to commence.  Other Youth sessions included Brave New World drama; the Inner East Girls Group and work with public health that covered sexual health and vaping.

There had been diversionary work during the bonfire period and a piece of work around youth violence with a focus on deterrent.  This had been done in partnership with the Police.

There had also been a number of trips which had received Youth Activities Funding from the Community Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report and discussion be noted.