Minutes:
The Borough Police Commander updated the Committee as follows:
The response to I calls (those requiring a 15 minute response time) was running at 89%.
The response to S calls (requiring a response within 60 minutes) was running at 83%.
The number of ASB related calls had increased by 17%.
The Chairman explained that the main focus of the Police Update would be knife crimes in the Bromley Borough. Members would be able to ask questions on other crime-related matters afterwards.
The Borough Commander updated the Committee with respect to gang and knife crime. In the rolling 12 months, there had been an increase in knife crime offenses from 162 to 314. There did not appear to be a specific area where the offences took place; they occurred in different locations at various times. The offences had peaked in February, but had subsided in the last four months. Proactive operations had been undertaken to combat knife crime.
The Borough Commander commented that previously, there had been a move away from stop and search operations. He expressed the view that this should be changed and that stop and search operations should be increased. He stated that his officers were undertaking daily weapon sweeps. It was noted that the new Mayoral Strategy pertaining to knife crime had recently been published, and the link had been emailed to all councillors.
The Committee heard that two main gangs operated in Bromley, and that 30-40 gang nominals had been identified. Operations had recently been undertaken in Penge, and 30 stop and searches had been carried out—this had resulted in 8 arrests. The main areas for gang and knife crime currently, appeared to be Penge, Cator and Crystal Palace. Bromley Police had contributed to Operation Sceptre, and were also involved in presentations at schools.
The Vice Chairman enquired if a knife amnesty was still in force. The Borough Commander informed that there was a weapons bin outside of Bromley Police Station, and three weapons a week on average were deposited in it.
Councillor Kim Botting noted that knife crime had increased by 80% and expressed concern that aligning with Croydon and Sutton in a BCU (Basic Command Unit) would only make matters worse. The Borough Commander stated that no final decision on BCUs had been taken. It was also the case that the success or otherwise of the two BCU pathfinder sites would need evaluation. The final decisions regarding BCUs would be undertaken by the London Mayor and by the Police Commissioner. The Borough Commander pointed out that all of the surrounding boroughs (except for Bexley) had bigger gang problems than Bromley. Councillor Botting felt that representations should be continued to prevent a BCU alignment with Croydon.
Councillor David Cartwright commented that the newly published Knife Crime Strategy was good, but that it did not appear to have any targets. The Borough Commander confirmed that this was the case, but that nevertheless it would require the allocation of additional resources. It was also the case that other crimes were increasing, and that extra resources were having to be allocated to deal with other matters such as safeguarding. Councillor Cartwright wondered how the police could be held accountable for implementing the Knife Crime Strategy without targets.
The Borough Commander responded that when targets were applied to MOPAC 7, there was criticism of this, and so it was difficult to get the balance right.
Councillor Mary Cooke asked for an explanation as to what was classed as ‘knife crime’ and what the age range was of those involved. The Borough Commander answered that the main age range was 13-25, and that the definition of knife crime was any crime where a knife or bladed instrument was used.
Councillor Hannah Gray referred to question 2 for the Portfolio Holder. The question asked for data around the number of knife related robberies and possession of a bladed article offences in Bromley since March 1st 2017. She also asked for an explanation concerning outcomes subsequent to arrest, and asked how this trend could be stopped.
The Borough Commander responded that as much prevention and education work in schools should be undertaken, and that the number of weapons searches was increasing. Seventeen individuals had been charged with carrying knives or bladed articles, and 12 individuals had been charged with robbery offences.
The Borough Commander declared that it was the aim of the Police that as far as possible offenders received custodial sentences. However, he expressed the view that this was not the case with other partner agencies; they seemed to operate with KPIs aimed at keeping young people out of the criminal justice system. The Borough Commander cited a gang related incident that had taken place recently in MacDonald’s Penge, and had involved youths from Lewisham. This was a serious and frightening incident where a machete and a very long knife were used. However, there was no application from the Youth Offending Service for a custodial sentence. An incident had occurred on the evening before the PPS/PDS meeting--also in Penge. The Police were looking for a robber when two unarmed officers were threatened by a young person brandishing a shotgun. The matter was being investigated by officers from Operation Trident.
Councillor Gray asked if the Police could put forward their wishes to the court in terms of sentencing and bail conditions. The Borough Commander confirmed that the Police would normally ask for bail conditions, but it was the courts that made the final judicial decisions. He felt that it was important that the Police continue to make effective use of social media like Twitter, and increase stop and search activities. In his view, the policy concerning not chasing motorbike offenders should be repealed, and that feed-back from as many partners as possible advocating this, should be communicated to central government, the London Mayor, and the MET.
Councillor Botting asked what resources were available for dealing with crime and disorder associated with pubs and clubs. The Borough Commander informed that Operation Equinox patrols were deployed in Beckenham and Bromley on Friday and Saturday nights. The patrols would consist of 5-6 officers backed up by special constables.
Councillor Julian Benington asked how many knife offences were committed within close proximity to schools. The Borough Commander did not have this data with him at the meeting. He stated that the provision of data was becoming problematical without the use of crime analysts. It was noted that the peak crime periods for knife related crime were between 3.00pm to 6.00pm (school related), and 9.00pm to midnight (night time economy).
Councillor Cartwright expressed grave concern regarding the number of crimes where motorbikes were involved, and the fact that the Police were not allowed to give chase. He suggested that a cross party letter be sent to the London Mayor, expressing LBB’s concerns regarding motorbike crime. This was agreed and passed as a resolution.
The Chairman cited an article in the Evening Standard which stated that schools were not to blame for these problems, but that rather it was the parents that were to blame. She asked what was being done to engage families. The Borough Commander responded that any person aged 17 or younger would need a responsible adult with them at the police station, and that this was normally an older family member. They would be shown the offensive weapon and invited to knife crime workshops.
Councillor Botting enquired if Bromley Police used School Liaison Officers. The Borough Commander confirmed that a Young People’s Team of 11 officers existed. They focused on secondary schools and engaged with young people in schools, giving talks and presentations. A series of school visits was planned for the following week.
The Vice Chairman praised the Borough Commander for his excellent use of social media, particularly Twitter—the updates were informative and in real time.
Reference had previously been made to the proposed 12 new commanders of the BCUs (‘super boroughs’) if the BCU scheme was implemented. Mr Terry Belcher enquired if the Borough Commander was likely to be one of these. The Borough Commander stated that this was unlikely, and that he would assess his options after the new BCU command structure was established.
Councillor Gray wondered if the schools education programme was effective and if not what else could be done. The Borough Commander mentioned the ‘Troubled Families’ initiative, but he was unclear how this was joined up with other agencies. He added that there needed to be greater networking and integrated working with other agencies across the board.
The Chairman referenced a previous advertising campaign aimed at reducing gun crime. The campaign showed a picture of a corpse in a mortuary accompanied by the words, ‘Carrying a gun can get you into the coolest places’. She asked how effective the advertising campaign was. The Borough Commander stated that he would look into this and get back to the Committee.
Post meeting note:
According to an article dated 14th November 2007 in the Evening Standard, this was part of a three year campaign that helped to reduce gang violence in London by 15%, and increased cooperation with the black community by 86%. The campaign consisted of posters, tv advertising, internet campaigns, petrol pump adverts and an anti-gun rap song.
The Borough Commander concluded by stating that a significant number of officers would be supplied with tasers, but it was still currently the case that plain clothes officers were not allowed to use them.
RESOLVED that a cross-party letter be drafted to the London Mayor. The letter to express the Committee’s concerns around motor bike crime and the current restrictions imposed upon the Police which limit how they can respond to crimes where motor bikes are involved.