British Transport Police

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Central Sector Neighbourhood Policing Team PACT Meeting Minutes

Author: PCSO 4294 Shaun Hardcastle Date: 19/01/2010 10am Location: York Railway station, Academy 1, Platform 9

1. PRESENT:

Sergeant Steph Reynolds (BTP) SR PC Kev Andrews (BTP) KA PCSO Shaun Hardcastle (BTP) SH PCSO Cara Andrew (BTP) CA Ian Middleton (Salvation Army) IM Chris Goodwin (Network Rail) CG Gayle Enion-Farrington (Royal York Hotel) GE-F Stephen Whalt (Northern) SW Steve Soards (East Coast) SS Paola Vitolo PV Jackie Scott (NYP) JS Tony Barge (NYP) TB Linda Riding (ISS) LR

DISCUSSION

of 7 NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE SR PCSO 9275 Cara Andrew is leaving the NPT to become a PC with the British Transport Police at Leeds, thanks for all your hard work and commitment and good luck in your new job.

It was agreed that the minutes from the previous meeting were an accurate record.

ACTIONS FROM PREVIOUS MEETING

HOMELESSNESS

SR At the previous meeting it was stated that toilets on the trains stabled overnight on platforms 1, 6, 7 and 8 at York Railway station were being used and because of how the toilets are flushed it meant the track along the platforms was becoming unhygienic and therefore Network Rail were contemplating not cleaning the tracks in these areas.

Officers have patrolled the area since the last meeting and no further reports have been made about this. A point was raised in this meeting to encourage staff to be vigilant in order to make sure people aren’t getting onto the train.

POSTERS

SR In the last meeting an Action was raised regarding producing a poster to put up around the station displaying where to find homeless shelters around the York area and information about them. IM said that it might not be appropriate to put posters up around the station as it may be seen as over advertising but a information posters for staff would be beneficial so that staff and officers could direct homeless people to the relevant place.

GE-F suggested a poster containing such information would also be Page 2 of 7 NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE useful to the hotel staff as they have homeless people trying to shelter in their facilities.

ACTION: Get information (leaflets, contact cards etc) from IM to give to GE-F Royal York Hotel so staff can advise homeless people where to stay.

Op GARLAND

SR On December 3rd 2009 the ECML NPT commenced Operation GARLAND. Op Garland continued over the holiday period and was aimed at increasing passenger safety and promoting crime reduction/prevention. Officers also patrolled trains and stations talking to passengers about Drink Awareness and combating Anti-social behaviour. This was achieved by the team setting up promotional stands at York and Newcastle offering information and giving away items relating to drink awareness. Similar anti-social behaviour operations also took place at Doncaster. The event at Newcastle involved working with other agencies and groups such as Safer Newcastle, the Street Pastors and the Street Rangers. Unfortunately at York we were unable to secure the attendance of other agencies due to it being a busy time of year and other organisations were already committed.

ACTION: IM to facilitate contact between BTP and Street Angels so when it comes to future operations we can work together.

TRAIN LOGS

SR The NPT have been receiving Station Logs from East Coast for roughly 6 months and at the last meeting an enquiry was made suggesting that we should receive Train Logs from other TOCs as it would be beneficial to receive information that may not be reported to the Police. This action has already been raised by the Northern Sector team.

CHARITY BOXES Page 3 of 7 NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE

SR As a way to offer a more restorative approach to homelessness and begging in the vicinity of York railway station, it was suggested in the last couple of meetings that the station should consider the installation of charity boxes.

This action has been carried over from the previous meetings and the duty station managers and Ian Middleton have agreed to try and find out about the installation and usage of such boxes in time for the next PACT meeting.

WEATHER

CA As everybody knows, the weather has recently been poor across the area. CA said that she was surprised at how well the travelling public have coped with the delays. This enabled the station and train staff to deal with the delays and their day to day jobs.

Problem Solving Plan

CA The Problem Solving Plan in place in the central sector to monitor the issue of graffiti in the Cinder Lane area to the rear of York station. Although that particular area will not affect the running of the trains, it is a busy route which commuters use as an access route to the railway station. Graffiti is an ever growing issue faced by us. We have been working with our technical support unit and will be fitting a new CCTV camera in the near future. Over the last few months we have made 2 arrests for Criminal damage in the Cinder path vicinity, this was due to a member of the public reporting and incident and the team conducting regular patrols there. We are also working with Chris Goodwin (CG) from Network Rail to look into other options available.

Cycle Tagging Page 4 of 7 NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE

SR In the next couple of weeks the team will be carrying out cycle tagging in York Railway station in an effort to cut down the theft of bicycles. This will be in conjunction with the new North Yorkshire Police initiative called Op Spoke. Whilst the stock of cycle tags is still available we will continue to fit them but shall also be offering UV (Ultraviolet) marking as well. This is designed to stay on your bicycle through rain, sleet and snow without being seen to the naked eye, only visible to ultra violet light.

TB North Yorkshire Police are involved in system called Shopwatch. It involves Shops, the Police and other agencies in and around York City centre. Staff under the ShopWatch scheme are linked up by radio and are able to keep in contact with each other and alert the Police to anything happening. Conversations took place in relation to whether BTP Officers could become part of this.

ACTION: PCSO Barge is to find a point of contact for the radios and possible availability of this.

TAXI RANK

KA The issue was brought up about the taxi driver marshals misusing the spaces allocated to them in the portico opposite the taxi office which was authorised by GNER some years ago. It was explained that allowing this to continue would mean less room for customers using the drop off point, also causing traffic congestion and a mockery of the signage.

ACTION: Steve Soards said he understood the situation and will be looking into changing the arrangements.

TEA ROOM SQUARE Page 5 of 7 NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE

PV Another issue raised was smoking outside Coopers Bar in Tea Room Square. It was agreed that its not nice to walk out of the portico into groups of smokers and also the mess that’s left behind after they leave mean that the cleaning staff have to perform additional cleaning duties. As most of the people who go out to smoke are transient it is hard to enforce. Officers already move people out of the portico and think it would be over the top to move them out even further unless there was a massive improvement to accommodate smokers and therefore improve signage.

GE-F The Flower beds in Tea Room Square are also becoming a mess, instead of being full with flowers. It was stated that it is unpleasant for Royal York Hotel customers as they can see the mess from their bedroom windows. Royal York has said that they would be happy to take over the maintenance of the flowers beds and maybe have a plaque if it could be agreed.

ACTION: Paola said that she would have a word with the Cleaner who comes to the front of the station to clean the areas where smokers frequent. Also Royal York and the East Coast management need to see what can be arranged with the flower beds.

The meeting was closed at 1135 hours. Everyone was thanked for their attendance.

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ACTIONS ARISING FROM MEETING

REF/ITEM ACTION WHO DEADLINE Progress enquiries with the MD of East Coast C-03-05 regarding the installation of charity boxes at SS Re-task York station – Would East Coast agree to this in principal? Get information (leaflets, contact cards etc) from IM to give to Royal C-07-01 SH York Hotel so staff can advise homeless people where to stay. Ian is going facilitate contact with Street C-07-02 IM Angels with a view to working together. PCSO Barge is to identify a point of contact C-07-03 regarding the availability and use radios TB linking our team up to Shopwatch Steve Soards to clarify the situation of the C-07-04 taxi marshals arrangement of parking in the SS drop off point in the portico. Paola said that she would speak to the Cleaner who comes to the front of the station to clean the areas where the smokers go as C-07-05 VP GE-F well. Also Royal York and the East Coast management need to see what can be arranged with the flower beds.

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