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EXECUTIVE MEMBER
REPORT TO COUNCIL WEDNESDAY, 15TH SEPTEMBER 2004
SPOTLIGHT ON MIDDLESBROUGH
You will be aware of the visit to Middlesbrough last month by the Leader of the Opposition. What came out of the coverage was that Middlesbrough is seen as a progressive forward-thinking hub within the region - a place where we have a clear focus on what needs to be done, and a clear idea on how to do it. At national level politicians prefer to be associated with success – and in terms of attracting inward investment, this coverage works only to our benefit.
On 25 August, I accompanied the Mayor to meetings with civil servants in the Downing Street Policy Unit and Home Office’s Anti-Social Behaviour Unit who are all interested in the work going on here.
Finally, Middlesbrough’s Chris Tomlinson (Long jump) and Chris Newton (cycling) competed in the Olympic finals. There is a motion on the council agenda to recognise and celebrate their achievements and I have written to congratulate them and inviting them to help support our agenda for developing Sport & Leisure activities.
CRACKDOWN ON ALCOHOL-FUELLED DISORDER
One of the great strengths of operating an integrated council Community Protection Service is that although it may appear to comprise of a selection of discrete services, the effect of integration is to ensure each maintains a focus on crime and disorder reduction, thereby contributing fully to the overall effort of the Council, Police, and Partners.
In July, our Trading Standards service was approached by Cleveland Police to contribute to Middlesbrough's participation in the nationwide Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign organised by the Home Office, ACPO and the Police Standards Unit.
The work, undertaken through July and August, was aimed at providing the Government with a comprehensive picture of alcohol misuse in the country via weekly returns submitted by selected BCUs throughout the country (Middlesbrough being the only one in the area). The Trading Standards contribution to this effort involved the carrying out of test purchasing operations over a six week period using young volunteers to visit off licenses where they attempted to buy drink. Given the condensed timescale of the campaign, considerable extra effort has been involved recruiting and briefing additional volunteers (all of which has to be
done in compliance with a detailed Code of Practice). The labour intensive nature of the work, at the peak holiday period, and given that the service continues to suffer severe staffing difficulties meant that almost all other functions had to be put on hold.
The most recent figures available for how the scheme is progressing nationally were published on 12 August at which stage, amongst a total of 14150 visits to licensed premises there had been 493 off licence test purchases. The Middlesbrough contribution to this total was 25 which, given that there are a total of seventy-seven participating areas equates to 5% of the national figure. Our performance therefore compares very favourably with the national average of 6.4 visits. Only 1 of the 25 premises supplied alcohol to the children. Investigations continue.
In response to both public and trade demands, our Trading Standards section has historically invested a lot of time and effort into the control of age restricted products both through education and direct enforcement. Last year, for example, over 130 visits were made using young volunteers. It is likely that this level of activity has had an impact on the results achieved during the present campaign where only one illegal sale has been made (a rate of 4%). This, once again, compares very favourably with the national sale rate which, on 12 August stood at 29%.
CCTV
The CCTV Centre has become the centre of operations for the Town Centre Task Force (Dedicated Police/PCSO's/Street Wardens/parking patrol ). All information from the cameras and radio circuits is directed to the team on the ground for immediate and effective action.
A concerted and directed approach to the monitoring of all cameras (now 144) has been achieved with the increase of trained monitoring staff within the control room. Two additional Police officers on loan have greatly assisted in the re-organisation and are actively participating with operations and tape reviews, their knowledge has greatly assisted the operators identify individuals seen acting suspiciously.
Five new units in Hemlington and Pallister Park have had an immediate effect on nuisance and Harassment activities – feedback from residents and wardens indicate activity has been reduced by up to 70% in one area.
CCTV have taken possession of 2 new Rapid Reaction Cameras for overt/covert operations - both are now on operational activities including car crime and drug offences. This brings our total mobile units to 10; 8 being deployed within the WMNT area.
Prostitution: Intelligence continues to be gathered and passed to the appropriate officer for legal actions, and operations continue with the vice team.
Drugs: Continued activities being monitored and all intelligence passed to the relevant enforcement agencies. Drugs officers have been co-ordinating operations with the Control room resulting in access and arrests.
Begging & Car Washers: All sightings are taped and passed to the enforcement officer who is progressing ASBOs and injunctions.
ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR ENFORCEMENT
Pallister Park
An 18 year old who is subject to a 2 year Anti Social Behaviour Order is now facing the consequences of repeatedly breaching the Order. The individual is currently on remand, awaiting a prison sentence.
A further application has been made to the Courts for another Anti Social Behaviour Order against a 17 year old youth who is responsible for causing serious nuisance, alarm and distress to both staff & residents living & working on the estate. If successful, the individual will be banned from many parts of the estate including Pallister Park Pavilion were he has caused extensive damage & made serious threats to the Park staff.
Priestfields
A tenant and her partner who were recently evicted & subject to injunctions banning them from the Priestfields estate, have continued to breach the order. The tenant’s partner has been seen on the estate by several local residents. As a result legal action is being sought, which may result in committal to prison.
Newport
On 30th July 2004 a property in the Teare Close area was closed down by Police for 3 months under a “Crack House” Closure Order. Local residents have provided a mass of evidence that has also enabled an application to be made to the Courts for an Eviction. An injunction application is to be made alongside the eviction, preventing the tenant from returning to the Newport area.
Hemlington
Residents in the Dodford and Fonteyn Court areas of Hemlington had previously been experiencing increased levels of anti social behaviour. The complaints ranged from youths drinking into the early hours, fires and damage to property. A letter drop was carried out to approximately 200 residents, to encourage their involvement in reporting such incidents.
With the assistance of Street Wardens, residents & the newly installed CCTV system, the Enforcement Officer was able to identify several of the main perpetrators. This has led to 8 joint interviews being carried out with both the parents & young people responsible. These actions have led to a rapid decline in asb reports from within the area. At the request of local residents a visit is to be arranged to the CCTV centre.
Vaughan Shops – Netherfields
A multi agency forum has been set up to look at ways of preventing a reoccurrence of anti social behaviour that existed in the Vaughan Shops area throughout the winter months. The area became a magnet for large groups of youths. The forum, consisting of approximately 20 officers from a variety of agencies, is currently looking to enhance the existing CCTV system, which is to be part funded by local businesses. Youth diversion & increased street lighting are also in the pipeline.
North Ormesby
A presentation was conducted at The Trinity Centre on 11.8.04 by The Operations Manager and Enforcement Officer, based on ASB Enforcement and the introduction of the Shield Project. The presentation was very well attended by local residents, and it is hoped this will increase residents’ involvement in tackling ASB in North Ormesby.
A private tenant of Tunstall Street recently handed keys in after an eviction notice was served following many complaints of serious anti-social behaviour from both the tenant and her children. The Landlord is now a member of The Shield Project and prospective tenants are now being vetted.
A drugs raid was carried out on a property in Stainton Street. The tenant had been residing at the property for only 3 weeks, however numerous complaints were received regarding alleged drug dealing/visitors to the property. The E.O immediately contacted the landlord and carried out a Tenancy visit. On arrival, Police Officers were at the property and 3 people were arrested. The property was secured immediately via the Shield Project, and the landlord became a member of the Project. This was an excellent result of multi-agency working and resident involvement.
Grove Hill / Beechwood
Grove Hill Problem-Solving Group continues to grow in strength and now has a number of successes including the clean up within the Bishopton Road area, the closure of a Crack House on Ashfield Avenue, and the dramatic decrease in vehicle fires due to the positioning of boulders in various locations preventing access.
A separate group including the Enforcement Officer, has been established to look at the most prolific offenders within the area. Working together, the multi-agency group intend to seek solutions through prevention or enforcement to prevent the offending behaviour continuing.
Two ASBOs for perpetrators of ASB within Beechwood area, and one from Saltersgill, are awaiting court dates.
Whinney Banks
A Stockton youth who persistently causes problems for residents in the West Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Trust area appeared in Court on Thursday 26th August when an ‘Interim ASBO’ application was granted. The youth is barred from central Whinney Banks until the full trial later in the year, to give the residents and witnesses some respite from his anti-social behaviour.
Update on Beggars
An injunction was granted against a prolific car washer/beggar following ongoing incidents of begging and racial abuse against a Street Warden. The injunction prohibits the perpetrator from abusing any Middlesbrough Council employee & also bans him from entering any council car park within Middlesbrough.
Enforcement and Police Officers have compiled evidence against another beggar, responsible for causing alarm and distress to town centre shoppers. This beggar is currently on remand for robbery however the asbo application is still being processed.
POLICE AUTHORITY UPDATE
· AGM – “new” police authority constituted. Chaired by Ted Cox. Cllr D McLuckie is Vice-chair. Hazel Pearson, Ron Lowes and myself represent MBC and I’ll continue to report on activities.
· Question-time – new public question time to be introduced, with appropriate safeguards, to be reviewed after 6 months.
· PFI – Members of authority briefed re selection process for PFI partner to build new police accommodation at Middlesbrough, South Bank and Hartlepool. Short-listed companies will present, and decision taken, later in month
· Airwaves – new state of art ultra-secure communications system comes on line in Middlesbrough on 5 September
· Public consultation meeting on Policing to be held 6.30 – 8.30 in main town hall on Monday 13th September
· Best Value review of Air Support – group set up to conduct review following concerns re cost and operations
· BCU scrutiny – meetings continue. Following AGM, members will begin to move round districts and I will spending some time at Langbaurgh BCU group
BIG FINE FOR ILLEGAL WASTE DISPOSAL
Middlesbrough Council’s first prosecution under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 Duty of Care has been successful. The proprietor of a hairdressing salon in the Town Centre had for the last 15 months, been disposing of his waste without a proper contract. Evidence collected by the Community Protection Service and Streetscene, including photographs and eyewitness statements, showed that the staff had been throwing bags of rubbish, including waste hair, over the rear yard wall into the alleyway, leaving a mess for others to clean up. A legal notice demanding proof of a waste contract was served; it could not be produced as a contract did not exist.
Accordingly, Middlesbrough Council prosecuted the proprietor.
A fine of £200 was imposed and the council’s costs of £786 were awarded.
All businesses have a Duty of Care to dispose of waste properly. I hope that this responsibility is taken seriously by everyone, as the Council will not hesitate to use the law to its full extent to pursue the irresponsible minority who do not meet their waste disposal and environmental responsibilities.
MIDDLESBROUGH ENVIRONMENT CITY
The Middlesbrough Environment City Partnership (MEC) continues to develop community based initiatives. Recent examples are:
Environmental Play for All, is a scheme co-ordinated by MEC and funded by Barnardos, the Children's Play Council and the New Opportunities Lottery Fund until December 2004. Since the scheme started in March 2004, 580 children have participated in schemes involving activities linking sustainable lifestyles to the local environment, including earth walks, den building, multi media artwork and nature sculpting with recycled materials. Twenty play group practitioners have already received training.
The Compost Crew/Home Composting project, has held community events to train over 200 people in home composting since April 2004, and each participant has been issued with a free compost bin and handbook. The project officer is also collecting garden waste from club members to be used on a site at Lingfield Countryside Centre. We are hope to continue developing the project in 2005.
The Middlesbrough Cycle Centre is the region's only secured bike parking facility. Another milestone has been achieved with the 300th member being signed up in August 2004. Total membership now stands at 310, with 30 cyclists a day using the Centre this summer. The Centre also offers guided bike rides, free cycle maintenance advice and provides work experience placements.
INDIVIDUAL EXECUTIVE DECISION MAKING MEETING
Managing Unauthorised Caravan Encampments