The Police update was given by Detective Superintendent Paul Warnett.

The Group was informed that the BCU (Basic Command Unit) would go live in its entirety on 19^th February. Local police teams dealing with matters such as rape and child abuse would be set up locally. Police officers had been invited to submit their preferences for where they would like to be based. The applications/preferences were now being processed. Five new Superintendents were now in place and a BCU update would be provided to LBB on 12^th July.

Mr Warnett expressed the view that the impact of the tri-borough BCU would be less in Bromley than in many other local authorities, and that most residents would not experience any difference in the way that the police carried out their duties. There would still be a CID unit in Bromley, together with two District Ward Officers in each ward. Neighbourhood policing would remain largely unchanged.

The Group heard that this year there had been an increase in knife crime; dedicated patrols had been set up to try and combat this. Extra weapons sweeps had been carried out and presentations had been given in various schools. Three targeted patrols had been undertaken by uniformed and plain clothes officers. Good interventions had taken place, and various weapons had been recovered, including knives, hammers and ammonia.

Mr Warnett mentioned the football World Cup which sometimes resulted in greater incidences of ASB and domestic violence, especially when England was playing. The Group was advised that over the last year, ASB offences had fallen by 6,000, which was a decrease of 18%. 

The Group was briefed around response times to I and S calls. I calls were the most urgent calls where a response was required within 15 minutes. S calls required a response of within one hour. I calls had been responded to within the target time in 88% of cases, and S calls within 85% of cases. The target response was to attend the calls within the time frame in 90% of cases.

Mr Warnett stated that gun crime was low in Bromley, and that the use of CS gas (tear gas) was more likely. A member asked if Bromley had a problem with ‘county lines’ and the answer to this was no. Sharon Baldwin asked how involved the BTP (British Transport Police) were with the MET in St Mary Cray. It was agreed that Ms Baldwin would discuss this matter with Mr Warnett outside of the meeting.

The Chairman enquired if the police were preparing for any spikes in crime during the summer months. Mr Warnett responded that the police were not particularly anticipating spikes in crime during the summer, with the possible exception of a limited rise in ASB. He pointed out that some of what the public may report as ‘nuisance’ was in some cases just kids being kids. Knife crime remained the overarching concern. 

Ms Baldwin mentioned that young people aged 10-14 needed somewhere where they could go to ride their bikes. They were not allowed in the High Street, and often were not allowed in parks. She suggested the use of school playgrounds. Mr Warnett responded that this would be a local authority decision. However it was pointed out that in most cases it would not be the responsibility of the local authority as most schools in Bromley were now Academies. Ms Baldwin asked if two schools could be opened for this purpose, as they would provide a safe environment and could be manned by volunteers. The Executive Director for Environmental and Community Services said that he would speak with Ms Baldwin concerning this matter outside of the meeting and that it was a matter that he would pick up. It was also noted that some parks (like Norman Park) allowed cycling and part of the problem could simply be solved by signposting to the correct location.

Terry Gooding (LFB Fire Commander) stated that the LFB needed funding for bicycles. It was noted that the police could supply bicycles. Betty McDonald (LBB Head of Youth Support and Youth Offending Services) stated that the YOS (Youth Offending Service) ran a bike repair service, and so it may be possible for them to help with the servicing of the bikes provided to the LFB by the police.

RESOLVED that the police update be noted and that the Executive Director for Environmental and Community Services look into the matter of school playgrounds being opened in the summer so that they could be used by young people as a safe place where they could ride their bikes.