30 minutes is allocated for questions to the Gwent Police representative.
Minutes:
The Presiding Member welcomed Chief Superintendent Carl Williams, Local Policing Commander for Newport and Monmouthshire, who provided council members with an update on Police issues within East, West and Central Newport.
The Presiding Member invited the Leader to put questions to Chief Superintendent Williams.
The Leader expressed her thanks to the Chief Superintendent on behalf of all elected members for engaging with councillors and working in partnerships at ward level. It was really productive and helpful and at this time, most welcome. The Leader also passed on her thanks to Chief Inspector Davies for the information sent out to all colleagues who also found the briefing very helpful.
The Leader referred to hate crimes and that she and colleagues attended a vigil outside the Westgate Hotel to remember and pay tribute to the life of Brianna Ghey. It was profoundly moving to see representatives from all communities but particularly our trans community. To hear them pay tribute but also talk about their fears, that also included mothers talking about the children and young people too. In light of this, what assurance could the Chief Superintendent give that all communities within Newport were safe.
The Chief Superintendent mentioned that these were some of the most harrowing incidents. The stance within Gwent Police is that this behaviour was intolerable. Specialist hate crime support officers were in place when these incidents occurred to provide additional support. Zero tolerance was supported in these incidences to bring those people to justice. The neighbourhood policing team assurance was crucial to show that the Police stood in solidarity and the strongest action possible would be taken. The race action plan and an action plan for violence against women and girls was recently put on the strategic policing requirement. A representative police force that acted appropriately and one that did not tolerate this sort of behaviour was needed in all areas.
Questions to the Police raised by Councillors:
§ Councillor Harvey mentioned that there were a few incidents of attempted burglary within the Alway ward and Somerton. Councillor Harvey had been in touch with the local policing team, however the inspector was currently away and therefore requested extra teams to patrol Alway, Somerton and outskirts of Ringland ward. The Chief Superintendent assured Councillor Harvey that the police did not tolerate burglary and would look at putting on extra patrolling for the area. Whilst the inspector was on leave, there were other officers who could assist in carrying out that role. There had been a reduction in residential burglaries across Newport, however one was too many.
§ Councillor Routley referred to potholes on A48, Coldra roundabout to Hillcroft. The Presiding Member asked that this be raised with the Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Assets, not the Police.
§ Councillor Cleverly raised the problems around the Bettws in Bloom building. Since last October vandalism had taken place involving a certain group of young people and it had happened again this weekend. The Bettws Councillors had got in touch with the local PSCOs but also requested raising the patrols in this area. Large groups were also congregating in the park and Bettws Club. The Chief Superintendent was aware that this was an ongoing issue and some youths were identified and letters were issues. There was a problem-solving plan in place, working with Newport City Council to drive this down, however extra patrols would be put in place.
§ Councillor Reeks and Morris referred to e-scooters and e-bikes, which are a regular occurrence and there was a recent incident involving a car and a young person on an e-bike. What were the implications for the driver and what would happen in relation to insurance for the youngster on the e-scooter. The Chief Superintendent advised that this was a nationwide issue and was taken seriously and that e-bikes should be taxed and insured for road use. The police were taking action and seizing e-bikes. The Chief Superintendent dealt with an incident recently. There was a clear strategy and advice given from the National Police Chief Council in terms of action to take if the most serious violence occurred. There was also the balance of what proportionate action could be taken although they could be a danger to road users but unless they were committing a serious crime, it was not the police’s stance to chase them.
§ Councillor Whitehead echoed the comments of Councillor Cleverly and had sight of a recent video of teenagers trashing the Bettws in Bloom building, which was very close to the police station and although there were police cars outside, no action was taken. There were also teenagers causing unprovoked fights and were also loitering outside Monnow Primary School and smashing windows during the day. Councillor Whitehead asked for heightened police patrol on foot. The teenagers seemed more emboldened on a weekly basis and intimidating elderly residents. Councillor Whitehead also spoke with local PSCO and considered putting in an application for CCTV funding, for the school area. The Chief Superintendent reiterated that there was a problem-solving plan in place. In relation to police cars outside, the Chief Superintendent would check to see who was there at the time including response officers and would make these issues were included in briefings.
§ Councillor Reynolds supported the comments of the Leader regarding the co-operative approach taken. In Rogerstone West there were historical issues with drugs and e-bikes. The PCSOs and local neighbourhood police however did work closely with ward councillors, attend ward surgeries and had attended walkabouts which made a difference. There was a recent incident reported to the police and when the residents saw the action taken by the Police, it made a difference and reinforced confidence in residents. The Chief Superintendent thanked Councillor Reynolds for his comments.
§ Councillor Hourahine mentioned an unpleasant incident in St Julian’s before Christmas where there was a so-called bully dog attack, which resulted in two small dogs being killed. The local community was outraged, and a resident contacted Councillor Hourahine and gave him a name and address of the person involved with the attacks, which was then passed to Inspector Cawley. Councillor Hourahine wanted to thank the member of the public for passing on this information and added that everyone knew or lived close to someone who committed a crime. If people could come forward to report these issues, the sooner they could be addressed. The Chief Superintendent echoed the Councillor’s comments and referred to e-bikes and off -road bikes, if residents knew about these owners, they should be reported whenever possible to the police completely anonymously.
§ Councillor Horton echoed Councillor Reynolds comments and thanked Inspector Cawley and his team on behalf of Maindee ward for their presence and help for residents with issues they were experiencing.
§ Councillor Watkins referred to Operation Absorb in Tredegar Park and Marshfield and asked if data could be sent on to local members for their information. The Chief Superintendent agreed and would pass on this information.
§ Councillor Mogford said that he owned an e-bike and asked the Chief Superintendent to clarify if he was talking about legal electric bikes or e-scooters. The Chief Superintendent confirmed that e-bikes that used peddle power are legal. He that those which used a press button to start the electric engine were illegal. Councillor Mogford went on to say that legal e-bikes however had a speed chip which could be manipulated to double the speed, to 30 MPH. The Chief Superintendent advised that anyone breaking the law would be stopped.
Councillor Batrouni referred to an issue raised at Council before in relation to ‘cuckooing’ and asked what was being done with Registered Social Landlords, Newport City Homes and the council to raise awareness for the potentially vulnerable. The Chief Superintendent advised that there were some positive outcomes across Gwent and this often happened to vulnerable individuals. The police did their best to educate vulnerable people when they were identified and took the strongest action using intelligence linked to this. The police had worked in Broadmead Park recently with RSL and were able to identify a premises subject to anti-social behaviour and cuckooing. The Police worked with RSLs and all appropriate agencies including third sector to protect those vulnerable within the communities.