NORTH LANARKSHIRE COUNCIL REPORT To: North Local Area Partnership Subject: Joint Community Safety Report From: Housing & Social Work Services Strathclyde Police Strathclyde Fire & Rescue Date: 21 July 2010 Ref: 1 Introduction The purpose of this report is to update members of the North Local Area Partnership on developments with the current joint work taking place between Strathclyde Police, Housing and Social Work Services and Strathclyde Fire and Rescue for the period from March 201 0 to May 201 0. 2 Background 2.1 Under the Government’s “Promoting Positive Outcomes: Working Together to Prevent Anti-social Behaviour in Scotland National Framework for preventing anti-social behaviour, has allowed the wider public sector to move in the same direction, work together as equal partners and importantly, allow collective contribution from all the public sector partners. 2.2 Tackling anti-social behaviour contributes to all five of the Government’s strategic objectives but primarily supports making our communities safer and stronger by focusing on National Outcomes 9 (we live our lives free from crime, disorder and danger) and 11 (we have strong, resilient and supportive communities where people take responsibility for their own actions and how they affect others. 3. Statistical Information 3.1 The report includes information from each of the partners and a ward by ward summary of notable incidents. Appendix 1 shows the Hotspot map for the North area, Appendix 2 Housing & Social Work Services, Appendix 3 Strathclyde Police and Appendix 4 the Tactical Assessment from Strathclyde Fire & Rescue. 3.2 Overall anti social behaviour statistics for the period have increased, with the number of complaints received having increased significantly, from 47 to 80. Joint working between partners and the willingness of tenantshesidents to make complaints has seen a marked increase in the number of both complaints received and actions taken over this period, with the actions taken to combat anti social behaviour increasing from 23 to 63. The majority of complaints dealt with in the North area are related to noise. Referrals to the Housing Mediation Service have increased from 1 to 7 since the last report and positive outcomes achieved. Housing staff and the Police will continue to promote the use of this early intervention technique as a positive, effective way of reducing neighbour conf licts. 39 Over the period there were four Road Traffic Collisions in the five ward area. In two separate incidents fire appliances from Cumbernauld were involved in extricating persons from their vehicles Two of the collisions took place on the A80 (not at the same location) . Fire Service personnel were involved in extricating two casualties at separate incidents, both casualties had minor injuries. Strathclyde F&R have attended 252 fires. This has stretched the resources of not only Cumbernauld Community Fire Station but that of Strathclyde Fire & Rescue as a whole. As an example. On the 8* May appliances attended a grass fire at Fannyside Loch at approximately 14:OO we closed the incident at 09:30 the following day, at its height we had ten appliances attending from all over Strathclyde. Fire casualties There have been 4 Fire Casualties over the reporting period; they have been minor in nature with mild smoke inhalation being the major contributor. 40 4. Ward by Ward Reports Ward 1 Kilsyth There are currently 16 ASB cases being investigated in the Kilsyth area and there is one case with Legal Services. There was a breach of ASBO in this ward which has resulted in the tenant’s case being transferred to the legal team for further action once the breach case has been heard in court. During this period there have been 8 First Warnings issued, 4 Final Warnings and 1 ASBO interview carried out. There were 1015 incidents and 214 crime reports raised during the period to Strathclyde Police. Kilsyth is predominately residential and has everyday issues which require police involvement. Youth disorder in the area, particularly in the vicinity of Garrell Road continues to be a periodic problem along with Burngreen, Market Street and Main Street. Regular meetings are held with Housing Services to discuss issues relevant to the area and liaison also continues with the relevant partner agencies to discuss a joint approach to the recurring issues affecting the community. Acts of disorder, assault, theft, vandalism, drugs and drinking in public were a large percentage of the crimes/offences reported for this area & numerous persons have been reported for these crimes & offences. Croy There were 68 incidents and 10 crime reports raised during the period with Strathclyde Police. Anti-Social Behaviour and parking complaints are the main cause of concern for the residents in the Croy area. The main areas of concern are Smithstone Crescent and Constarry Road. These issues are being addressed through pro-active partnership working Acts of vandalism and neighbour complaints/anti-social behaviour are prominent in the crimes reported to the police. The area continues to be the focus of police attention, particularly at peak times on FridayKaturday evenings and there is close working with housing services. Queenzieburn There were 47 incidents and 7 crime reports raised during the period. Traffic complaints and Anti-Social Behaviour are the main cause of concern for the residents in the Queenzieburn area; again these issues are tackled through partnership working. Banton There were 21 incidents and 1 crime report raised during the period with Strathclyde Police. Anti-Social Behaviour and vandalism are the main cause of concern for the residents in the Queenzieburn area and work is ongoing with partners to deal with these areas of concern 41 Cumbernauld North Currently there is 1 anti social behaviour case under investigation and a further case being monitored. Over the period housing services have issued 4 First Warnings. Balloc h/Eastf ielcVWestfield There were 498 incidents and 108 crime reports raised during the period with Strathclyde Police. The ward is made up of residential housing estates which have few amenities in their Immediate location. Recent construction has now added considerably to the number of large, exclusive dwelling houses. Traffic offences, theft, possession of drugs, youth disorder, street drinking & incidents of anti-social behaviour are the most common crimes that have been reported. A large number of the thefts relate to thefts of fuel from petrol stations. Work is ongoing with partners to address these issues. Wardpark/CarrickstoneNVesterwood/Dullater There were 449 incidents and 79 crime reports raised during the period with Strathclyde Police. A high number of the reported crimes for this area relate to thefts. The majority of the incidents are road traffic related & the area continues to be relatively settled during the report period. Ward 3 Cumbernauld South At the present time there are 8 Anti Social Behaviour cases being investigated and a further 14 cases being monitored. Joint working with the police in this area has resulted in 15 First Warnings being issued. Housing Services have also carried out 2 ASBO interviews with tenants in this ward. Cumbernauld Town Centre There were 356 incidents and 151 crime reports raised during the period with Strathclyde Police. The nature of Cumbernauld Town Centre continues to provide various policing challenges. Whilst the main focus of daytime policing continues to be concentrated on the Town Centre in relation to thefts from the numerous business premises & any incidents of anti-social behaviour, particularly during the school holidays. Night time policing activity continues to be focused on the numerous licensed premises & nightclub regarding disorder & anti-social behaviour activities. Several additional hi-visibility patrols have been carried out in the area in order to deter incidents of this nature. The Communities Unit at Cumbernauld are working closely with nightclubs providing additional security measures to resolve the issues. Additional work with relevant partners is ongoing. Carbrain There were 807 incidents and 217 crime reports raised during the period with Strathclyde Police. Carbrain is split into North and South. The area as a whole provides a challenging policing environment due to several factors, none more so than the geographical layout of the town keeping roads and housing apart. 42 The area is served by a series of footpaths and underpasses which appear to attract acts of disorder. The main causes for concern for the local residents are youth disorder, assaults, vandalism and drugs. The majority of reported crimes for the area include assaults, vandalisms, street drinking, drug offences, thefts, breach of the peace and road traffic offences. There is a high level of detection for acts of youth disorder, street drinking and assaults as the Communities Unit at Cumbernauld police this area intensely. Pro active joint working with partners is ongoing to alleviate the challenges being experienced in the area. Seafar/Ravenswood There were 535 incidents and 90 crime reports raised during the period with Strathclyde Police. The area is predominately residential with several high rise blocks of flats. The area is served by numerous footpaths and underpasses, many of which are frequented by youths who gather and become a nuisance to the public. A number of reported incidents in the Seafar/Ravenswood area also occur in the area of the local off sales and licensed grocers. Youths attempt to obtain alcohol through agents purchasing same for them and are thereafter involved in acts of anti social behaviour & drinking in public. G reenfauIddRavenswood There were 354 incidents and 74 crime reports raised during the period with Strathclyde Police. The area is predominately residential and is also home to 2 secondary schools. The main cause for concern for the local residents is youth disorder. Joint working is ongoing with housing, social work and other partners to address these issues. The majority of crimes recorded for the period include assaults and road traffic offences.